Mathematics Education and It’s Implementation

 

Last Monday, our lecture is about English terminology, especially educational terminology. He was explain, at glance, about mathematics education. He wanted to indicate that math is about and for all people. Whether there are very young people, young people, adult people, old people, and very old people. Once again, he said that intuition is important.

At first, he said that he went to Jakarta last week to look for his granddaughter. His granddaughter is two years and four month old. He said that he was just have very short time. But, in that short time, he has a chance to make experience about the concept of time, short time and long time. Differentiate the concept of short time and long time. By chance, he have a lamp  with three model. With one click, the lamp will illuminate continually. With two click, the lamp will illuminate blinkingly. But if he push for a long time, the lamp will turn off.

At first, he give an example to his granddaughter.  For first experience, his granddaughter couldn’t turn off the lamp. Then, he gives her an example again. At the second time, his granddaughter was able to do. But, the other time, she could not do that again. So, she was learning about the concept of time. It was very difficult for his granddaughter. She was boring and then she want to change activity. From this activity, he can learn how to learn mathematics for very young people. Learn by doing experience and following adult activity. It’s not exactly the point that can differentiate absolutely whether it’s mathematics concept or not. From that story, we can conclude that it was very difficult for very young people to learn mathematics.

Experience for his granddaughter will be very important and also for our brother, sister, baby, or primary student. By having experience, it can emerge our intuition. So, that is why mathematics needs to be learned for all people, not only at university but also at secondary school, consist of JHS and SHS.

What kind of mathematics for young learner? The basic is about the concept of number, many kind of geometrical shape, very basic operation (addition and subtraction). How to learn number for young learner? We can make a song, play something, using a picture, play game, and so on.

We should agree that students have to learn from what they have already know. It is impossible to learn something that it is not have any coordination with our life. It is important to know what they are already have and then make a connection between that, one day we learn.

So, the keyword is contextual learning. Learning activity is about related to and ready for. Whatever the subject and whatever we learn. It had to be related in order that we are ready. 

We have many geometrical objects surrounding our life, such as pencil, pencil case, white board, clock, window, book, etc. so, the student can learn mathematics from resources that is coming from our surrounding life. That is contextual learning with relation in order to be ready. Readiness contributes 90% of our success.

It is important for teacher to dig up in deep about the potential that is coming from our surrounding of life to learn mathematics including our habits, our product of society of our culture, and so on. Actually, we have very popular and important resources to learn mathematics, the resources is artifact, such as Prambanan temple and Borobudur temple. If we have a chance to go to there, we should find how to use the artifact of Borobudur temple or Prambanan temple to learn mathematics for student. 

It is our responsibility to develop learning resources and teaching resources. In order that, the students are learn mathematics naturally based on the character of student and society. Then, at present time, because of the technology, now we have many kind of technological product to develop our resources, such as computer, software, hand phone, flash disc, and so on. Now we can start to identify what kind of technology that useful for the teacher to learn mathematics for primary and secondary school. 

One side, we are start to learn mathematics education. Simultaneously, we are also learning English to learn mathematics. Life is not partial, it is inter-correlated. We should always build our motivation and have a high spirit. Beside of that, we should not forget to pray to God.