Transcript (Download) - HeyMath! - Elementary, Middle & High School

IT - Creating innovative pathways
for Maths education
Keynote address
By
Dr(Mrs) Y.G Parthasarathy
Dean & Director of PSBB Group of Schools
for
HeyMath! Principals’ Conclave, Chennai Oct 31, 2006
IT – way of life!
“The benefit of information technology is that
it lets people be creative and productive. It
lets people learn things they did not think they
could learn before and so in a sense it is all
about potential.”
- Steve Ballmer
What is HeyMath?
• Innovative technology based e-learning system, which
– Complements work of Maths teachers in teaching & assessment
– Enhances student’s understanding of Maths concepts
– Develops critical thinking & problem solving skills
– Encourages students to become independent learners
– Reduces the tuition dependence/obsession
Implementation in PSBB Group of schools
• Introduced on 1st Sep 2004 for classes VI to IX
• Integrated into the curriculum for classes IX, X in 2005-06
• 2006-07 – Classes VI to X have access to Heymath at home
& school
Use of IT in Math education
Animated resources
• Step by step constructions
can be viewed
• Allows for retracing of steps
• Saves time and effort in
delivery by teachers
• Lends itself to self learning
• Concept can be taught online
Interactive learning methods…
• Different tools like drag &
drop, filling in numbers,
enhance student
participation, creativity
• Self deduction of facts &
results leads to better
retention
“Tell me and I'll forget. Show
me, and I may not
remember. Involve me, and
I'll understand”
- A Native American Saying
Visual illustrations of “word problems”
• Helps in understanding the problem clearly
• Explains which math concept is linked to the particular problem
• Students can visualise the solution, understand the method
applied and then proceed to solving it the traditional way
Interactive questioning techniques
• Students are exposed to multiple styles of questioning
• Improves analytical thinking
• Play-way method motivates students disinclined to maths
Abstract concepts explained through
visual perception
• 3D shapes and activity
oriented topics are best
understood through
animated demonstration
What HeyMath! offers to the teachers
• Set of animated resources – Interactive Online Lessons
• Aligned to CBSE curriculum
• Explains abstract concepts with visual illustrations
• Saves time in lesson preparation, instruction delivery
• Question banks to issue worksheets/additional practice
• Easy to use tools to create e-lessons on specific concepts
• Online forum for student – teacher interaction
• Individual student’s usage of HeyMath can be monitored
… and to the Students
• Exposes them to multiple styles of questioning,methodologies
• Provides scope for independent learning
• Voice enabled lessons for self learning
• Visual representation enhances understanding
• Revision/practice through online home-work & tests
• Topic oriented games & puzzles
• Provides enrichment through non-routine challenging
questions
HeyMath! & PSBB – the growth trail
• HeyMath is now in full use for two years.
• Periodic meetings & reviews have led to updation,
customization of content
• Periodic training of teachers on new features has
resulted in increased & better usage both for teaching &
assessment.
• Feedback from students, teachers and parents has been
positive
BBC Online News: PSBB's views on
HeyMath!
• “Mathematics was rather mechanical & un
attractive. HeyMath! changed it for me!” –
Ramnandan, Student PSBB TP Road
• Maths teacher Durga Chandrasekar says “Most
HeyMath! lessons come in 3-D animation, so it's
easier to teach and fun to learn. Students also
begin questioning a lot; teaching the subject has
become easier”.
• Sumedha Biswas, a PSBB Nungambakkam
student: “When you see things happening in front
of you on a screen, you understand them better.
Maths just springs to life”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5203440.stm
What Next?
"Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance
is to drop back."
- Chinese Saying
• HeyMath! is a growing venture with scope for
improvement by incorporating experiences &
suggestions from users
• It can be more effectively used, if it is completely
aligned with the CBSE syllabus, for examination
purposes
• Question bank can be suitably updated
• More maths lab activities need to be included
Thank you