THE EDUCATOR

JANUARY 2004

ICEVI / ON-NET Mathematics Project: The Need of the Hour

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     ICEVI and the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET) have begun development of a mathematical package for teaching secondary level mathematics to visually impaired children. The project team co-chaired by the Secretary General and Ms. Aree Plernchaivanich from Thailand and assisted by Mr. G.R. Ramesh (India) is in the process of developing and field-testing a comprehensive package covering six areas.

1. Methodology of Teaching Mathematics

     This section deals with the general methods used for teaching mathematics in general and teaching the subject to visually impaired children. This section also enumerates the methods of preparing mathematics text material, learning characteristics of visually impaired children, and evaluation procedures in mathematics.

2. Use of Abacus

     This section provides detailed selfinstructional procedures to learn abacus effectively. The exercises include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fraction, decimals, square roots, and percentages.

3. Use of Mathematical Braille Code

     This section provides illustrations on how to use Nemeth Braille codes for all mathematical notations at the secondary level. Each code is described in detail and accompanied by illustrations.

4. Instructional Strategies

     This section provides instructions on how to adapt procedures for teaching more than 500 mathematical concepts at the secondary level. This section is also useful for nonmathematics teachers to understand the concepts before teaching the same to visually impaired children.

5. Creative Mathematics

     This section deals with a whole range of creative activities such as using paper folding and the natural environment for teaching and understanding mathematical concepts.

6. Low-Cost Teaching Aids


     This section provides guidelines on the preparation of low-cost teaching aids to teach mathematics.

     The above package will be accompanied by an instructional material on low-cost teaching aids kit for secondary level mathematics instruction.

     The ON-NET is organizing a "master trainer workshop" for teachers and teacher trainers from eight countries in Southeast Asia at its regional center at Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, Thailand from 16 February to 3 March 2003. These master trainers will then use the package and provide feedback during the second phase of training so that the materials can be refined before being distributed for wider use in late 2004.

     ICEVI hopes to collaborate with other organizations to help develop such need-based learning packages on other topics of interest to educators around the world.

 
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