Notes

A brainstorming session with Mrs. Premla Rajkumar, a professional in the field of alternative math education:

Drawing connections: The ability to draw connections- Between different topics studied, as well as tools and their application in the real world. The “For example” is more important than the formula.

Freedom: Children find math boring and think there is only ONE way to solve every mathematical problem. The trick to make math interesting and engaging is when you give them the freedom to discover patterns in mathematics, and find their own approach to it. (Make your own problem?)

Simulation exercises: To specify context, and make them aware of real world applications of what they learn.

Tools used:
Schoolnet: Home tutor: This was a computer application which was sold to many schools and students. They use a interactive, step by step approach- Animation, Text and Quiz, and Explanation. Each chapter has a simulation exercise which helps children explore everything they have learned in that chapter.
http://www.schoolnet.com/default.aspx

Curriculum based needs:
-Children of the age 10-12 learn about HCF and LCM but don't really know how and where it is useful and may be applicable.
-The inter-relation between fractions-decimals-percentages-ratios: Very few children know that these concepts are related and a problem presented through one concept can be solved through any or all the other concepts. The applications of these topics are many as these are the basic calculation tools which children learn. (Can be integrated with other tools like BODMAS, the basic concepts of algebra, etc)

Now I need to narrow down on one mathematical concept/a range of linkable topics to work with, and also start looking at directions in terms of form.