EDU431 METHODS OF TEACHING

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN THE

PRIMARY/JUNIOR GRADES
Required reading A: Analysis and Reflection.
Title:
New Approach to Teaching Math, Science Spurs Gains
CITATION: New Approach to Teaching Math, Science Spurs Gains. (2016, January 23). Retrieved from
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat154.shtml
ABSTRACT:
Instructing teachers to use
computational math and science
in their lessons has led to
marked student improvement in
two New York districts. Dr.
Osman Yasar, director of the
institute that trains teachers in
this approach, explains
why. Included: Tips for using
computational math and science
in the classroom.

ANALYSIS/REFLECTION:
It has been shown that technology helps interest
students in science and math. According to this article,
when teachers received training in Computational
Math, Science, and Technology (CMST), this showed
a marked improvement for students taught by these
teachers. For this schools math exam to having a
passing rate of 90% when just two years before the
passing rate was only 50%, this provides enormous
support for the positive impact that CMST has had on
student learning. According to Dr. Osman Yasar,
CMST offers the technological benefit that traditional
approaches to math and science have been lacking.
The 21st century is known as the Computer Age, and
I firmly believe that students should be having more
interaction with technology on a daily basis in order to
properly prepare them for a successful future.
Nowadays, youth are very involved with technology at
home, whether it be iPods, tablets, television, laptops,
or smart phones, to name a few. By integrating
technology into the curriculum in a way that is
engaging for the students, this will gain their attention
as well as encourage them to further pursue
mathematics and science since schoolwork will seem
like less of a chore and more of an activity. Not only
this, but providing teachers with proper training will
increase their confidence in their ability to use the
technology, thereby making them more knowledgeable
about computation. Finally, with all the technological
advances that arise in modern society, the integration
of computation in the classroom will not only provide
students with an incentive, it will also help them see
the purpose of what they are learning in school in their
everyday lives. In my opinion, all of these reasons are
what contributed to the substantial increase in the
math and science scores in this particular school. It
seems as though the change in teaching approaches
allowed students to view schoolwork in a different
light, motivating them to be more engaged in what
they are being taught. I believe that this approach
should be slowly integrated into more classrooms,
hopefully producing a similar result as what was
witnessed in this particular school.