4AS IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS

NICKO D. DAAG

The 4As tool is a collabborative way for students and teachers to make a meaningful and creative learning experiernce, especially in Mathematics. Based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory, this tool aims to approach the child holistically, and acknowledges the past schemes of the student and integrating it to a new one. This format will bring out what has been in stored and what has been missing will be filled in eventually towards a deeper knowledge of the lesson. "Activity'' will bring understanding to what the learners already know and clarity to what learners should learn further. At this early stage, the student should already have a retrospect of what they will be learning through the activity that will be presented. Through a learning activity, learners experience and acquire new knowledge and skills. "Analysis" is a more in-depth understanding of the lesson. It is another phase where the students will process and classify what is valid and not. The teacher, in this part, will ask further questions and will also lead as a facilitator rather than mere lecturing and sharing facts and ideas. The students know gains a wider view of the lesson but at the same time draws closer to the main topic. Learners need time to process or analyze their experiences. New knowledge and skills have to be linked to what they already know and can do. They have to think about how they can use their new knowledge and skills. "Abstraction'" is where the teacher will now focus entirely on the lesson being presented and ask more lead questions to reinforce what the students know and should know more. The student here starts to feel more the importance of the lesson to her and see the necessity of it to his/her life. Through processing or analyzing their new experiences and linking them with existing experiences, learners begin to demonstrate new understandings and apply new skills. "Application" describes the stage as bringing the student to a more practical way of using HOW are they going to use what they have learned and thinking of new ways on how it can be improve further. The final stage in the learning model is the practical application and trying out of new skills and learning. Successful application leads to learners beginning a new activity and beginning a new 4A cycle.

-oOoThe author is Teacher III at San Vicente Elementary School, Lubao North District.