Introduction to a new teaching method in mathematics at the further education level
Introduction to a new teaching method in mathematics at the further education level
„Read, read, read, understand, calculate!“ is characteristic of a new teaching method in mathematics that Mímir will introduce at an open online course on 14 October, from 13:00 to 16:00. The teaching method has proven successful for students in further education in overcoming their fear of mathematics, which has, more often than not, been their biggest obstacle in their schooling.
The course will cover a methodology that involves an holistic approach to mathematics, building on students' literacy and reading comprehension. The methodology is explained in the handbook; Reading Mathematics – Self-Empowerment for Mathematics Students which Mímir, in collaboration with Hannes Hilmarsson and the Education Fund, published earlier this year.
The main concepts and topics of mathematics are explained in a different way from how most students have encountered them during their schooling. The emphasis is on explaining the aspects of mathematics that most students find difficult; algebra, geometry, percentages, interest, the coordinate system, statistics, logarithms, vectors, sets and logic, using reading and reading comprehension as a guide, so that students gain the confidence to tackle mathematics.
Approaching mathematics as a literary subject is a new pedagogical approach that appears to be very well received by the target group of further education, if the pilot teaching at Menntastofur with Mími between 2019 and 2021 is anything to go by.
The creator of the methodology, Hannes Hilmarsson, who is also a tutor on the course, has many years of experience teaching mathematics at secondary school level and in speaking with both students and their parents about the barriers to learning mathematics. He currently teaches mathematics at Mími's Menntastoðir. Hannes has a degree in his subject, as well as a teaching qualification and a professional degree in social work.
During his teaching career, Hannes soon noticed that students lacked support in mathematics, especially when moving between school levels. After tutoring around a hundred students, he began to formulate this methodology and, in the process, put it down on paper to create a kind of handbook for the approach. Some twenty years later, after extensive development of the methodology with students and the documentation of the handbook, Mímis and Hannes began a collaboration to publish these guidelines in electronic format and to hold the teaching course advertised here, with the support of the Training Fund.
Date: 14 October, 13:00-16:00. Online course via Teams.
The course is free and everyone is welcome.
