Mathematics learning through the lens of the new normal

By:

RoSeNDa T. aRabe,

Teacher I, Mathematics Department Jaro National High School We are living in perilous times. Our schools have been disrupted in ways we have never seen in the past, and public health is at the top of everyone’s minds. Although no one can anticipate how education will evolve in the future months, it is in our learners’ best interests to plan for how we can best meet their needs. Learning mathematics, whether it be in modular-print or web-based, presents questions, challenges, and potential burdens on the part of the learners. It is believed that the learning area itself can be best learned with the physical supervision of the teacher.

To address this concern, well-thought-out strategies and solutions should be put in place by our educators and school leaders to lighten the load induced by this pandemic. In this way, the school could provide assurance to parents and to the learners themselves that, even though distance learning is the most appropriate mode of learning in these trying times, mathematics can be effectively and efficiently learned even in the comfort of their own homes.

There are fun ways of learning the concepts of mathematics in distance learning that can be done with the use of manipulatives like interactive games, simulations, and other online applications. These could encourage and enhance learners’ critical thinking skills, even in a web-based approach. These online activities and digital tools are proven to really support math instruction. Good learning styles and study habits are just the ingredients needed to sustain the demands of these new learning modalities.

But we should bear in mind that technology is not a solution to the problem. It is reliant on well-trained teachers, who are crucial in guiding and motivating children to use new technologies and will continue to be important players in the educational process. As a result, the government will have to spend money on teacher training to develop approaches that are tailored to each teacher’s grade and type of learner.

And through the lens of the new normal, it’s now time to make technology’s promise in math learning a reality. With its distance-learning and digital demands, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for a math education revolution. As we near the conduct of limited face-to-face instruction, everyone is hopeful that a bright and technology-driven future awaits these math learners.( Contributed article)