Online
Assignment
Topic: Ways
for stimulating and maintaining interest in learning Mathematics
PRAVENA P M
INTRODUCTION
To arouse and maintain the student’s interest in mathematics is a
major problem for the teacher. The teacher knows very well that loss of
interest is the major cause of the student failure. If the student has to be
thought properly, the natural curiosity should be awakened among the student.
This awakening of the curiosity would create interest in them and would develop
their attention towards the subject. This can be safely done for the elementary
classes by introducing play method. Later on, according to psycho-
physical requirements, other methods
such as cross-word or quiz etc. May be resorted to. If by allowing them to
resort to these methods, an attempt is made to explain to them the methods
also, the teaching would be interesting and useful.
The
teaching can be made interesting and useful by correlating the present problem
with interesting things already studied by the students. The elements of novelty, usefulness and
curiosity are the first thing to awaken the interest. The teacher should always
try to keep interest alive by making the teaching practical and useful for day
to day life. Interest in the subject can be effectively aroused and maintained
by numerous special devises and activities. Some of these are given below.
TECHNICS
TO BE EMPLOYED TO DEVELOP INTEREST IN LEARNING MATHEMATICS
Intellectual
Activity
It is possible to arouse the
students interest by stimulating curiosity. The work in mathematics should
challenge the intellect of students.
This stimulate their curiosity and mental powers help in awakening their
interest. The intellectual activity is governed by thirst of knowledge, love of
truth and beauty and desire to interpret and control environment. The interest
will be maintained if it remain challenging to their mental power. This means that we should not
present Mathematical facts to pupils in the readymade form as this will
encourage only cramming. We should
maintain heuristic attitude in our teaching. Curiosity is the power full urge
which stimulate effort to understand and learn certain things.
Emphasising
Practical Application
One
is always anxious for a thing which one considers more and more valuable.
Generally students interest is aroused by pointing out the application of Mathematics to some other field with which he
is already familiar. He comes to know that Mathematics is an important subject
worth learning. When he realise the unity of the subject his interest is
aroused and maintained in mathematics.
Correlation
with other subject
Mathematics
is related to so many subject and the teacher should make full use of this
correlation to arouse students interest in Mathematics. It is thus desirable to
take up relevant problems of
Mathematics from other subjects
while teaching Mathematics.
Recreational
Activities and Mathematics club
Mathematics
club has a great role in developing interest in Mathematics among students.
Recreational activities such as puzzles, riddles etc. Make the subject lively
and interesting active Mathematics club is one of the sure signs of students
interest.
Practical
Work
Practical
presentation of matter should precede its abstract form small children cannot
understand and appreciate much at abstract level. The children like to observe
and handle various objects. They may be asked to verify Mathematical truths by
making experiments.
Variety
A topic should be continued for
too long a period, otherwise monotony is would set in and students interest
will be lost. Similarly in the same method aid will lead to loss of interest.
Thus the teacher should try to bring some novelty or variety in his day to day
teaching.
Good
Teaching
For
good teaching a teacher should prepare his lesson plan and use correct method
of teaching. A good teaching is sure to keep student interest in the subject,
Mathematics.
Use of
Teaching Aids
The
teaching can also made interest by proper use of teaching aids. The teaching
aids provide a departure from routine teaching and help in making understand
even difficult ideas. Preparation of aids and application can be a regular
activity of the learner.
Suitable Physical
Conditions
Physical
discomforts should be eliminated. Distraction should be avoided. Psychological
conditions for study should be observed. There should no over crowed in the class.
Rooms should be well ventilated and black board should be well painted.
Individual
Attention
The
teacher should pay individual attention to various categories of students. All
are not interested in the same things. Some can be motivated by the challenging
situations, some by practical work and so on. In the usual class teaching, some
of the pupil may not understand certain steps, which is indicated by their
blank note book, such student begin to lose interest. The teachers should make
sure that all understand what he teaches.
A reference to
historical back ground of different Mathematical terms and ideas give good
start for learning them. The teacher should strive to make the subject matter
attracted and pleasant.
The
aim of teaching mathematics for fun and pastime should receive some attention.
Organisation of a Mathematical workshop can provide a combination of
recreation, activity and learning.
The
teacher can think of many other ways and
means to arouse and maintain interest of his students in his teaching.
He should himself be interested in teaching. Only then he will take pains to
make his work interesting to the students. He should also try to understand his
students, their general level of achievement, interests and developmental
stage, this will help him in selecting and adopting better motivational
procedures. These techniques will stimulate and maintains interest in the
subject and which lead to development of proper attitude towards the subject.
Reference
- Teaching of Mathematics- Sundhir Kumar &
D N Ratnalikar
- Teaching of Mathematics- Dr Annice James