Math education has been evolving continuously since centuries. From the Greek mathematician Euclid teaching geometry to the Mesopotamian way of writing calculation, mathematics has been impacting the society since ages.
However, mathematical instruction has changed quite drastically over the past few decades due to certain reasons. In this article, we will learn about how math instruction has changed over the years and why it has changed.
Introducing Mathematics to Students
Since decades, mathematics has been a part of different education system around the world. But the way the students were introduced to mathematics and the topics they were taught were different.
Earlier, students were expected to understand the fundamentals of each topic, right from basic mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to advanced topics like Calculus, Algebra and Trigonometry etc. The basic idea was to make students understand the fundamentals of mathematics and everything else will come by in time. However, as the world has been progressing, so has the ideas of teaching mathematics to students.
In the recent times, instead of making students learn all the fundamental concepts, it is encouraged to make students learn through drills, more and more problems etc.
Difference Between Teaching Math in the Past and Present
Students earlier used to be taught mathematics in a very traditional way wherein the focus was more on teaching the fundamentals. The topics were analysed from the core and were taught sequentially. But in the present, the topics are taught in a more comprehensive fashion, which includes different real world scenarios, hands-on activities and puzzles, which help build better understanding.
The overall curriculum is also becoming student-centric as students nowadays are allowed to take initiatives to explore and use the mathematics they learnt to imagination. This helps the students in developing their problem-solving skills, which is very important in this modern era.
Modernisation of Math Instruction
Modernisation of math instruction has revolutionised how the subject has been taught. Now the instruction methods have become more hands-on and involve more practical work. Now the teachers involve technology in classrooms and have changed from traditional textbooks to interactive ones.
They involve different methods of visual representation like graphs, diagrams, animations and also use virtual manipulatives. Students nowadays also have access to different maths related apps, which help in not just making them understand better but also help them in scoring better grades.
The Replacement of Memorising
Earlier, students used to memorise the definitions, formulae, equations and the like and today, it is more about understanding the fundamentals of each topic. Memorisation is not considered to be a good method of learning and hence students are being taught critical thinking skills. Students are being taught how to understand the concepts and how to think logically.
There is also more focus on problem solving, which makes the students think out of the box to solve mathematical equation because this is one of the essential skills that the students of today need to develop.
Focus on More Creative Thinking
Due to the modernisation of math instruction, there is now more emphasis on creative thinking. Students are now encouraged to explore different ideas, rather than just following the set rules.
They are now encouraged to come up with their own strategies, so as to analyse a problem more effectively and find a solution. This kind of thinking helps to build problem solving skills and analytical skills, which is highly necessary in practically any field. In addition to this, such kind of instruction also helps to build teamworking skills, wherein the students are encouraged to come up with a collective solution of any problem.
Integrating Mathematics with Real-life Experiences and Applications
One of the biggest changes in math instruction is that now the topics are being taught with real-world applications. Students are taught how they can use the mathematics they learn and how are they connected to the daily life experiences.
This kind of interaction helps the students to get a better grasp of the concepts of mathematics and also helps to build their understanding. Through real-world applications and experiences, students are now able to see the relevance of mathematics and how it impacts their daily life.
Shift from Lecture to Discussion Format
The education system has shifted from lectures to the discussion format. Earlier, the teachers used to talk and the students used to just listen. But now it is more interactive, wherein the teachers encourage the students to ask questions, think about ideas and analyse different topics.
This shift has helped the students in developing their communication skills and also their presentation skills. This also helps them to build their analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
Free Access to Online Resources and Reference Materials
The availability of online resources and reference materials has been one of the major changes in math instruction. Now the students can access different online resources and also get reference books, which can help them in understanding the concepts better.
This kind of access helps the students to gain more knowledge and also helps them in solving the problems in a better way. This kind of freedom of accessing different materials helps the students to gain new perspectives on the topics, which helps them in understanding the topics better.
Making Math Less Boring and Mundane
Another important change in math instruction is that it has made math more interesting. Earlier, it was considered as a boring subject to study but now different methods are being used to make it more interesting. Different methods like using animations, videos, games, puzzles, etc.
are being used to help students understand the concepts in a better way. Through these methods, students are not just understanding the topics better but are also enjoying the process.
Conclusion
Over the past few years, mathematics instruction has seen a drastic change. The methods and approaches used in teaching mathematics have become more comprehensive and interesting.
From introducing creative thinking to making the entire learning experience more enjoyable, the methods of math instruction are now revolutionised. Though it may take some time for students to adopt the new methods of mathematics instruction, it will surely show its results in the form of better problem solving skills, analytical skills and critical thinking skills. Through such changes, the education system is giving more importance to the development of such skills, which are necessary for today’s modern era.