Summary And reflection on "BATTLEGROUND SCHOOL"
Summary:- The whole article adresses standards of math curriculum and teaching criteria followed during last sanctury.Primarily,it shows a clash betwwen prgressivists and conservatives for standards of knowledge of math from a teacher to a student.
The Progressivist form during(1910-1940) was influenced by pre media era and the only purpose was to learn basics of Mathematics and the fluency without critical knowledge of the topic.AS the society changed, the Industrialisation reformed the era of new math upto 1960s.During that period "Space race" became a national issue and Ameriacan realised a lack of qualified and educated scientists.After reforms Chicago movement unified Algebra and Geometry during early 1960s.
It was John Dewey who introduced the concept of knowing and doing. He recognised that the process of experimentation and inquiry was difficult than simple lectures.He advocated the development of high quality mental processes and a scientific attitude.Initially his ideas were not accepted across north american schooling, but lator on Deweys' methods for Programming the Environment were put into practice in some classrooms.In the post war period it was realized by Americans that USSR beating the United space in space race.
After post war period School mathematics study group (SMCG)started a movement and in colaboration of National council of Mathematics Teachers (NCTM)efforts were done for rewriting the math curriculam in United States that resulted into a rejection of Geometry where as Set Theory,Algebra,Calculus and other topics were selected to be taught throughout K-12 system.So the movement gained momentum worldwide .But there were problems regarding familarity of topics among many teachers and movement came to an end by early 1970s.
In the mid 1980s NCTM created its own standards.The development of curriculum,course for teachers and involvement of parents and educational technology were the main features.The revised eddition of this was published in 2000.Where as Recent publication of NCMTs'new focal point has pulished in 2006.
REFLECTION:- I feel serious battles for Mathematics curriculum and teaching techniques are still continue. A number of ammendments in math curricula has already been done still there is a need of critical evaluation of the contents.Future teachers can play a major role in raising standarads of mathematical learning by adopting creative techniques of teaching mathematics in their classrooms.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Reflection for Interviews.
SEP 27 , 2009.
"Reflectinon for Interviews"
There are many things which I learnt after analysing the interviews directly and also from other classmates' experiences. The first thing I feel is that current students needs teachers who are super intelligent and can give them more then one ways for solving math problems.They want more fun while learning and energetic teachers. On the part of teacher the most important thing is to recognise individual abilities and making arrangments for all of his /her students saparately.All students should be served individually according to their personal needs .Intelligent students should be assigned challenging work,where as struggling students should be provided normal works.As one of our peers' groups explained the fact that boys are always ready to do experiments but girls like structured materials.Students should be given break and more practice work But all their assignments should be marked in time .
A good teacher is that who works upto the pace of students.Students also want interaction with the teachers .Teachers shouldn't be lazy instead they should be well organised and eveready to help the students.Humour during study can play a major role for making the subject easy and also in approach of all students and a teacher should try to make math a relevant subject.Teacher should create an environment that can explain for what and why questions of their learning of a particular topic.Most important thing I feel personally is that a teacher should always be in approach of all of his/her students so that he/she can provide a quick assistance for their learning needs.
"Reflectinon for Interviews"
There are many things which I learnt after analysing the interviews directly and also from other classmates' experiences. The first thing I feel is that current students needs teachers who are super intelligent and can give them more then one ways for solving math problems.They want more fun while learning and energetic teachers. On the part of teacher the most important thing is to recognise individual abilities and making arrangments for all of his /her students saparately.All students should be served individually according to their personal needs .Intelligent students should be assigned challenging work,where as struggling students should be provided normal works.As one of our peers' groups explained the fact that boys are always ready to do experiments but girls like structured materials.Students should be given break and more practice work But all their assignments should be marked in time .
A good teacher is that who works upto the pace of students.Students also want interaction with the teachers .Teachers shouldn't be lazy instead they should be well organised and eveready to help the students.Humour during study can play a major role for making the subject easy and also in approach of all students and a teacher should try to make math a relevant subject.Teacher should create an environment that can explain for what and why questions of their learning of a particular topic.Most important thing I feel personally is that a teacher should always be in approach of all of his/her students so that he/she can provide a quick assistance for their learning needs.
Group report for Interviews.
Sep 27,2009.
Group Report for Interviews.
We were two members.Mrs.Darshan and me.We planned to meet two different teachers and two students. we selected five questions to ask form both teachers and students.all those questions we asked during our actual meetings with our teachers and students were not only those selectedd five, but we asked them many other related questions .which gave us knowledge about high school teaching and learning process.Which we feel that is very important aspect of teaching prfession .Because teaching itself is a learning process and we always learn from two different type of experiences.One of them is our own and the other is in the forms of following answers which we get from others' experiences.
First important question which we asked from two teachers was
1 Is it possible to relate all topics in math to technology ?
The answere which we got, made us able to understand that in Mathematics we can add technology to most of the topics, but not for all .All topics can't be teach with movies,pictures or by other helping aids. Most of the time teachers feels bounded for meeting the requirements of provincial exams,and finishinng curriculam in time doesn't allow to adopt other methods of teaching except instrumental.
2. How do you compare teaching math with teaching of other subjects ?
.One of the teachers was a math specialists and other was physics specialists.So the teacher with math as a math major said that teaching math for him is very enjoyable activity and he feels that he can inspire better his students while teaching math in place of other subjects.The other who was having physics as a major explained that during teaching science he can use more audio visual aids than the aids he uses for maths.
Hence we learnt that teaching techniques mostly are concerned to subject matter to taught and also the knowledge of that particular topic.Limited knowledge can also restrict teachers for selecting different methods of teachings.
The questions which we asked from the high school students were also very informative and inspiring. One of our students' favourite subject was also math. Firstly, we asked them about their experiences with their math teachers. And their replies for this question made us aware of the things that students notice for the patience of teachers . She Said " some teachers are very good and explains the topics until we don't understand.They explains all terms and formulas step by step.Like my current teacher explains all terms by linkinng them to each other".She also told about her previous teacher that "her method was not good, she stayed busy with the board only for the whole year and never made intractions with students.
This means that students want to interact directly with the teacher, they don't like those teachers which explains whole concept using board .So they need some different methodology which gives them ways of making intractions with the whole team during their learning.
Secondly we asked about curriculum.The mixed respons of both the students was that some topics they really like to do and some topics are there in the curriculum which they don't feel easy.Which gives information of diversity in learning and special needs of different students.
Third question was for knowing the methodology, their teachers are using at present.
One of them replied that " Our math teacher first introduces the topic then she tells us what we have to learn from it, and then she explains all steps . somtimes we do disscussions in groups but not all the times . In other subjects we do more works in groups".
This reflects to us that most of the teachers using instructional methods .
Hence overall our work for getting information from different teachers and students made us aware of many things related to methodology, curriculum, diversity in learning and different strategies of teaching maths.Which I must say, is very important to be a successful learner and a teacher.
Group Report for Interviews.
We were two members.Mrs.Darshan and me.We planned to meet two different teachers and two students. we selected five questions to ask form both teachers and students.all those questions we asked during our actual meetings with our teachers and students were not only those selectedd five, but we asked them many other related questions .which gave us knowledge about high school teaching and learning process.Which we feel that is very important aspect of teaching prfession .Because teaching itself is a learning process and we always learn from two different type of experiences.One of them is our own and the other is in the forms of following answers which we get from others' experiences.
First important question which we asked from two teachers was
1 Is it possible to relate all topics in math to technology ?
The answere which we got, made us able to understand that in Mathematics we can add technology to most of the topics, but not for all .All topics can't be teach with movies,pictures or by other helping aids. Most of the time teachers feels bounded for meeting the requirements of provincial exams,and finishinng curriculam in time doesn't allow to adopt other methods of teaching except instrumental.
2. How do you compare teaching math with teaching of other subjects ?
.One of the teachers was a math specialists and other was physics specialists.So the teacher with math as a math major said that teaching math for him is very enjoyable activity and he feels that he can inspire better his students while teaching math in place of other subjects.The other who was having physics as a major explained that during teaching science he can use more audio visual aids than the aids he uses for maths.
Hence we learnt that teaching techniques mostly are concerned to subject matter to taught and also the knowledge of that particular topic.Limited knowledge can also restrict teachers for selecting different methods of teachings.
The questions which we asked from the high school students were also very informative and inspiring. One of our students' favourite subject was also math. Firstly, we asked them about their experiences with their math teachers. And their replies for this question made us aware of the things that students notice for the patience of teachers . She Said " some teachers are very good and explains the topics until we don't understand.They explains all terms and formulas step by step.Like my current teacher explains all terms by linkinng them to each other".She also told about her previous teacher that "her method was not good, she stayed busy with the board only for the whole year and never made intractions with students.
This means that students want to interact directly with the teacher, they don't like those teachers which explains whole concept using board .So they need some different methodology which gives them ways of making intractions with the whole team during their learning.
Secondly we asked about curriculum.The mixed respons of both the students was that some topics they really like to do and some topics are there in the curriculum which they don't feel easy.Which gives information of diversity in learning and special needs of different students.
Third question was for knowing the methodology, their teachers are using at present.
One of them replied that " Our math teacher first introduces the topic then she tells us what we have to learn from it, and then she explains all steps . somtimes we do disscussions in groups but not all the times . In other subjects we do more works in groups".
This reflects to us that most of the teachers using instructional methods .
Hence overall our work for getting information from different teachers and students made us aware of many things related to methodology, curriculum, diversity in learning and different strategies of teaching maths.Which I must say, is very important to be a successful learner and a teacher.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
"Reflection" for Robinson's Article
I agree with the fact that learninng by doing is always more valuable.It is very important for a teacher to provide students an opportunity to use their own skills for interpretation of results by participating in strong disscussions with peers .It's a wonderful idea. I already have experienced this practice during my teaching career. I have examined the changes in students' attitudes towards learning Although it requires a lot of patience but, I feel when students are allowed to give their opinion in a group they not only try to draw conclusions for some specific topics but they develop leadership qualities among themselves.Somtimes they feel as all their feers for complexity of some particular topic have lost.I also agree with robinsons' suggestion that activities like TPS focuses on the students' thinking and promotes disscussion of mathematics.they have cerrtain task to complete, but they must synthesize their findings and develop logical conclusions rather than practice specific skills[pg.70]
I feel this must be the scenerio of my future classroom.
I feel this must be the scenerio of my future classroom.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Two most Memorable teachers.
I believe teacher is a person who not only teach us but try to make our lives better. whenever I remember my school or college time I always feel that all those teachers who have taught me in different grades are really wonderful teachers.The one of them who taught me Math in grade eight was mrs. devinder.She was so simple and polite that everyone liked her.I think she gave me so much knowledge that I can never forget, Perhaps her methods of teaching were so impressive that were able to establish their impact deep in our minds. Other teacher I'll describe here is the one who is very special not only for me but, for all .He is such a genius personality that his achievements can't be explained in words.His Name is Mr. Gobind. An exceptional body that he got from God is just of a 3 feet height and a super brain like a computer.I think the person, I'm today is just only because of him. he taught me during whole of my university studies.Ican't forget him during my lifetime. Even today I send him an e-mail and told him all about my studies at UBC.I feel he'll be very happy to listen all about this.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Peer's Assessment summary
Sep 17 2009.
we were four in our group.
GiGi, Darshan & Sara.
Gigi, found that introduction during micro -teaching was a fun and so it made the lesson interesting.Demonstration was in a nice way.And, she suggested to do more for active participation of students.
Sara,said almost same for the introductory activity, for it was very encouraging and she praised provision of some individual knowledge of practically saving enegy by making wise use of sources of energy. she suggested for making some written notes for the students.
Darshan, said the objective of teachinng was very importantand she suggested for making some teaching Aids.
we were four in our group.
GiGi, Darshan & Sara.
Gigi, found that introduction during micro -teaching was a fun and so it made the lesson interesting.Demonstration was in a nice way.And, she suggested to do more for active participation of students.
Sara,said almost same for the introductory activity, for it was very encouraging and she praised provision of some individual knowledge of practically saving enegy by making wise use of sources of energy. she suggested for making some written notes for the students.
Darshan, said the objective of teachinng was very importantand she suggested for making some teaching Aids.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Self Assessment: Micro Teaching.
Things Went Well :- Introduction was approprate and created an interest among peer students to know about the work they"re going to do in class.
Things Need Improvement:- Use of More teaching Aids is required to do more accurate teaching.
Things reflected on based on Peer's feedback:- I tried to answere all those questions ,which were asked by me but weren't answered properly.
Things Need Improvement:- Use of More teaching Aids is required to do more accurate teaching.
Things reflected on based on Peer's feedback:- I tried to answere all those questions ,which were asked by me but weren't answered properly.
Sep 17,2009. Lesson Plan For Micro Teaching
Topic:-Energy,Its Resources & Uses.
Bridge:-An Activity of rubbing hands & asking questions will be organised .
Q 1.How we are able to do work?
Q2.From where do we get energy to do work? etc.....
Introduce the topic & explain all necessary information related to the topic.
Participating activity:- Questions related to the information provided earlier during teaching will be asked to create more curiosity for the topic.
then answers for all questions will be given in addition some deep knowledge of topic.
Teaching Objective:- Emphasizing students to think about wise use of non-renewable sorces of energy.
Learninng Objective:- 1.To learn about energy and its types, Need of reasonable use of available sources of energy.
Post Test:- Students will be asked to make a chart showing differances of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Reflection on Skemp's Article.
Response to Richard R Skemp's "Relational Understanding And Instrumental Understanding"
As Instumental Methods provide important steps to solve a mathematical problem where as relational methods provide a deep knowledge of the terms. Both methods have some advantages and dis-advantages.One can really understand the need of earning rewards quickly. which can be done by learninng mathematics instrumentally.Where as we can not ignore the need of learning the terms deeply;which can be done using relational methods only.The Article provides us an opportunity to differenciate strengths of both methods.As Skemp decribed his own experience of exploring the map to find all shortcuts and extentions.I feel a mathematics student should also be able to navigate around mathematics independently. But being a teacher we also have to have a look on the Syllabi.The burdened syllabus has also commented in the article. students can comment, if they are able to score well by doing less; then what is the need to delve deeper into the subject matter, when the end results are same.Also they need quick rewards to earn their degrees.So in my view a balance of both methods can provide a solution of this problem. It depends on the efficiency of a teacher how he/she creates situation of learning math in the classroom.Both methods should be included during teaching mathematics. Providing formula sheet and telling students the steps of solving a math problem is in no way a justice with their creativity.So a combination of both is better.Relational understanding can cover the weeknesses of instrumental understandings and vice versa.
As Instumental Methods provide important steps to solve a mathematical problem where as relational methods provide a deep knowledge of the terms. Both methods have some advantages and dis-advantages.One can really understand the need of earning rewards quickly. which can be done by learninng mathematics instrumentally.Where as we can not ignore the need of learning the terms deeply;which can be done using relational methods only.The Article provides us an opportunity to differenciate strengths of both methods.As Skemp decribed his own experience of exploring the map to find all shortcuts and extentions.I feel a mathematics student should also be able to navigate around mathematics independently. But being a teacher we also have to have a look on the Syllabi.The burdened syllabus has also commented in the article. students can comment, if they are able to score well by doing less; then what is the need to delve deeper into the subject matter, when the end results are same.Also they need quick rewards to earn their degrees.So in my view a balance of both methods can provide a solution of this problem. It depends on the efficiency of a teacher how he/she creates situation of learning math in the classroom.Both methods should be included during teaching mathematics. Providing formula sheet and telling students the steps of solving a math problem is in no way a justice with their creativity.So a combination of both is better.Relational understanding can cover the weeknesses of instrumental understandings and vice versa.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)