Mathematics, a Powerful Instructional Tool For Understanding Nature - University Don

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Fẹmi Akinsola

Fountain Newsbreaker

A University Don, Professor Mojeed Kolawole Akinsola of the Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan has declared that mathematics is a powerful instructional tool for understanding nature.

He made this declaration while delivering his inaugural lecture titled: "Demystification of Mathematics: Glimpses From The Lens of a Mathematics Educator", which took place at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.

He further explained that Mathematics uses quantitative symbols to express universal truth and has been a driving force for virtually all culture. 

Speaking from a spiritual angle, Prof. Akinsola revealed that Mathematics was used to design and build Noah's Ark, adding that, God ordered Noah to prepare an Ark and gave him the mathematical dimension to use. 

He said this can be found in Genesis 6:15: "And this is the fasion which thou shall make it of: The length of the Ark shall be 300 cubits, the breath of it 50 cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits." God indeed is the greatest mathematician.

On the image of mathematics: he said "many people's image of mathematics represents it negatively, such that mathematics is perceived difficult, cold, abstract and in many culture largely masculine, saying that Mathematics requires good memory and it is solved by working intensively until the problem is solved.

Speaking about language and culture he emphasized Nigeria is gradually becoming a multicultural and multi lingual state due primarily to the diverse people within the country. 

"There are three major languages commonly used in Nigeria and they are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba language while English language remained the official language. The national policy on education 2014 recommended that the mother tongue should be the medium of instruction for the first three years of basic education.

"This policy to my best knowledge is not been obeyed. It has been recognized that communication about Mathematics plays an important role in the learning of the subject and consequently there are various factors related to the language which affect students' learning."

While making recommendations, he said a Mathematics teacher should not teach more than 60 students per day. 

This according to him is to enable the teacher to be able to check students work and assignments and make appropriate corrections. 

He emphasized that only teachers who are specialist in Mathematics should teach the subject, saying this would be a specialist with strong knowledge of Mathematics, who will teach mathematics full time to several classrooms pupils than teaching many subjects to one class, which is common in many primary schools presently.

"Therefore, to improve student's learning in Mathematics, student study habit and attitude should be improved by orientation, guidance and counseling, holding friendly competition in Mathematics, encouraging members of Mathematics clubs and monitoring of the students' study habit by parents.

" Ministries of Education in various states should organize annual workshop during the long vacation for teachers of mathematics to equip them with the new research findings in the area of mathematics education.

"This will enable the Mathematics teacher to gain new insight into better ways of teaching the subject. The government should recognize mathematically knowledgeably teachers as having a centre role in mathematics education as will encourage rigorously evaluated initiatives for attracting and appropriately declaring prospective teachers for evaluating and retaining effective mathematics teachers through encouraging financial take home pay", Professor Akinsola said .

He said there should be collaboration between researchers and practitioners, adding that instructional practice should be informed by highly quality research when available and by the best professional judgement and experience of accomplished classroom teachers. 

He added that Research findings should be made available to the classroom teachers through workshops every year during long vacations to be spearheaded by Natıonal Mathematical Center Abuja and in collaboration with various ministries of education.

Comments

  1. Julius OluwadarasimiAugust 1, 2023 at 7:50 AM

    Anyone with passion for Mathematics will agree with the submission of the Professor. Mathematics is a subject that forms the basis of all scientific discoveries and should be taken seriously by all stakeholders right from childhood.
    It begins from schools ensuring those handling it have thorough knowledge of the subject as it is easier to teach what is understood.
    Practice is also important towards getting impressive learning outcomes in Mathematics, hence the role of parents can't be left out.
    It is a beautiful submission and I totally resonate with it.

    ReplyDelete

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