Mathematics Laboratory

Mathematics Laboratory QULB-E-ABBAS

What is a Mathematics Laboratory ? • Mathematics Laboratory is a place where students can learn and explore mathematical concepts and verify mathematical facts and theorems through a variety of activities using different materials. • These activities may be carried out by the teacher or the students to explore, to learn, to stimulate interest and develop favorable attitude towards mathematics.

Need and purpose of Mathematics Laboratory • • • • • • • • •

Some of the ways in which a Mathematics Laboratory can contribute to the learning of the subject are: It provides an opportunity to students to understand and internalize the basic mathematical concepts through concrete objects and situations. It enables the students to verify or discover several geometrical properties and facts using models or by paper cutting and folding techniques. It helps the students to build interest and confidence in learning the subject. The laboratory provides opportunity to exhibit the relatedness of mathematical concepts with everyday life. It provides greater scope for individual participation in the process of learning and becoming autonomous learners. It provides scope for greater involvement of both the mind and the hand which facilities cognition. The laboratory allows and encourages the students to think, discuss with each other and the teacher and assimilate the concepts in a more effective manner. It enables the teacher to demonstrate, explain and reinforce abstract mathematical ideas by using concrete objects, models, charts, graphs, pictures, posters, etc.

Design and general layout • A design and general layout of laboratory which can accommodate about 25 students at a time is given here.

Time Allocation for activities • It is desirable that about 15% - 20% of the total available time for mathematics be devoted to • activities. Proper allocation of periods for laboratory activities may be made in the time table. • The total available time may be divided judiciously between theory classes and practical work.

Activity Work • Every student may be asked to perform two given activities during the allotted time. • Special care may be taken in choosing these two activities to ensure that the students are not put to any kind of stress due to time constraint. • The students may be divided into small groups of 4-5 as per the convenience of the schools. • The assessment may be carried out by a team of one mathematics teachers including one captain

Evaluation • given to the assessment in the subject. • It is envisaged that 20% weight age will be • The break-up of 20 marks for assessment of a single activity could be as under: • Statement of the objective of activity : 02 marks • Design or approach to the activity : 04 marks • Actual conduct of the activity : 06 marks • Description/explanation of the procedure : 06 marks • Result and conclusion : 02 mark

Content of activities • • • • • •

Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8