Mathematics is an inherent part of our daily lives and is a crucial life skill and an important academic subject. Learning Maths promotes logical and critical thinking and is a mandatory subject until Class 10.
Online teaching platforms are improving student engagement in Mathematics.
The Importance of Maths
But maths anxiety is prevalent amongst students. Many students face stress and are fearful of the subject. At Kompanions, we have come across many students and parents anxiously seeking class 8 solutionswithout even understanding the core concepts.
Maths anxiety can set in the early years of a child as well. This impacts the child’s ability to enjoy and engage with the subject, thus diminishing the learning outcomes.
Last year, a news report by India Today reported that 82% of students from classes 7 to 10 are fearful of Math. In Class 7, one in seven students is fearful of Maths concepts, which snowballs into one in four students in Class 10.
The online forum- maths anxiety trust reports that one in five adults in the United Kingdom grapples with basic numeracy skills and hence are unable to budget and struggle with money because of this.
How to address Maths Phobia
Researchers agree that math phobia is even gained from parents and teachers who present Maths as a complicated subject that can cause stress and anxiety. It also has to do with the traditional teaching methods employed in school curriculums.
Maths is generally taught as a subject with fixed answers which are either right or wrong. Students are not encouraged to express the concepts or solutions in their way and must adhere to the fixed set of steps. This promotes rote learning, even in maths.
Fortunately, maths phobia need not escalate and can be controlled at a young age by relating maths with positive feelings and real-life applications.
At Kompanions, as a leading eLearning platform for K12, with vast experience in scientific pedagogy, we encourage kids to be more creative in their approach to learning maths.
Yes, the basic facts do not change, but students are not limited with regards to the variables and can express themselves. We have observed that students gain more insights, apply logical reasoning, and are more intrinsically motivated if they are allowed some liberty to express their version in problem-solving.
For example, if a teacher is discussing the surface area of cylinder, the concept will be taught as:
Total surface area of cylinder = 2πr(r+h), where r = radius of the cylinder, h = height of cylinder. Instead of noting it down on the blackboard and asking students to copy it, teachers can use familiar and well like objects to help students visualize geometric shapes. For example, show them a can of coke to calculate the surface area of cylinder.
We suggest that each part of the triangle- teacher-student-parent- contributes to diminishing maths phobia. Teachers and parents can exude positivity about maths applications.
The focus of learning should not be only to score well in the examinations but equip with essential life skills through practical applications of Maths.
Fun Ways to Improve Student Engagement in Math
Let’s look at how teachers can increase student engagement and make maths fun. We hope this guide can help make it more stimulating for children.
- Harness Technology
New ways of learning through ed-tech are making learning fun and engaging. Online teaching platforms like Kompanions offer interactive learning by harnessing new technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality to make content engaging and immersive. Blended learning combines the best of offline and online modes.
- Videos and Animations
Exciting and informative 3D videos and animation can explain concepts more comprehensively and simplify abstract concepts. Added to this, it attracts students’ attention more over learning on the blackboard. Kompanions has created class 8 maths solutions using AR and VR in videos to explain complex maths concepts.
- Gamification
Animations and gamification can spice things up in a maths class. Some examples of maths gamification can be as:
- Distribute badges instead of grades
- Using leader boards to promote healthy competition
- Using memes to engage students and for better concept retention.
- Challenges and Solutions-Identify and work on a real-world problem with more than one solution.
- Milestones Timeline- Students can maintain their milestones on a timeline and be rewarded for achieving one.
- Shoutouts and Cheers- Cheering each other leads to intrinsic motivation.
- The Hot Seat strategy- wherein each student will be asked for responses, ensuring participation. Students also enjoy these peer to peer activities.
Use Real Objects
- Students grasp and retain better if they can relate the concept to something they use in real life. For instance, to teach kids how to calculate the surface area of cylinder, show them a real soda can of their favourite soft drink.
- Teachers can pick from a variety of real-world objects to teach topics on measurement, geometry, addition and subtraction, such as
- Play money
- Abacus
- Spheres, prisms and other shapes for geometry
- Blocks and clocks
- Small kids can be taught with candies, gummy bears, buttons etc.
- Flashcards
- Favourite foods like pizza or chocolate bars.
How does Kompanions create fun ways to improve student engagement in Math?
Kompanions is a pioneer in online classes for K12 and adopts a revitalized pedagogical approach through the methodologies of:
3E- Explore- Evaluate – Excel
DIVE – Discover, Innovate, Visualize and Explore
AIR – Awareness, Investigation, Remediation
COLD- Continua of Learning and Development
No matter what students are learning, fun and positive environment is a foundation for academic and personal success. So whether students are working on class 8 solutions, a positive classroom environment will create a strong foundation for students’ academic success in maths. Kompanions maths lessons offer a variety of approaches that cater to students’ individual needs, and our students love our innovatively curated maths lessons.
