Making Maths more interesting : The magic of numbers and more
- Sangai Express Editorial :: May 06, 2013 -
Workshop/Seminar for Media Persons on Mathematics and Science Communication on May 3, 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam
Maths is about 2 plus 2 makes four and also something much, much more.
A subject which is central to quantitative research in all the Sciences and truly the importance of this subject cannot be over emphasised.
The question is how effectively educationists or teachers of this subject have been able to take Maths beyond the understanding of numbers and formulae and make its presence felt in the everyday life of the young students.
This question is important in the face of the fact that Maths Phobia has become part and parcel of the vocabulary of all young students.
It is only a few who seem to have a propensity for this subject and understand it beyond the numbers and calculations. The Mathematics Workshop held for media persons on May 3 at the Manipur Press Club, was perfectly in line with how to make Maths more interesting to the young minds.
Cannot really say what impact it would have on the media persons, but the core idea of holding such a workshop is to make writings on Mathematics as interesting as possible.
This also brings us to the question of whether people with no Mathematics background can seriously hope to master the art of writing interesting topics on the subject.
The answer may lie somewhere in between for journalists, by their very profession, are expected to present things in an interesting manner, without being caught up in the usage of big words or making writings sound too academical.
Given the importance of this subject in every sphere of life, the need to make it as interesting as possible and also easy to grasp has never been felt more important.
Writing about great Mathematicians like Srinivasan Ramanujan and Sir Hardy may not come as hard as while actually sitting down to write about the subject.
Teachers too must have felt the same dilemma whenever they go to the class rooms to teach the young students. A brief interaction which The Sangai Express had with the Vigyan Prashar Master Resource Person, Mr YS Gill was refreshing.
The very structure of the office, the very office room of the Editor of The Sangai Express is about Algebra, was how Mr Gill drilled home a point, during the brief interaction.
An interesting way of putting Mathematics in the everyday things that we see all around.
A fine example of relating numbers, formulae and calculations with the common sights that one sees every day.
Obviously not an easy task it would be, but making Maths more and more interesting to the students should be a challenge lying before the teachers and all those engaged in trying to popularise the subject amongst the youngsters.
Two plus two is equal to four, yes, but so is three plus one.
An observation that Maths needs to be taken beyond the ambit of numbers and numerical calculations and relate it to the everyday things that one sees everywhere.
This perhaps could be a start.
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