NAN-H-7
ICT
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, March 15, 2017 (NAN) A mathematician, Mr Andy Akhigbe, on Wednesday urged teachers of Mathematics to use Information and Communication Technology(ICT) to enhance students’ interests in the subject from the basics to the post-basic educational level.
Akhigbe, who is the coordinator, Mathematics Laboratory Limited, an NGO, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that ICT had the tendency to make the teaching and learning of Mathematics enjoyable by teachers and students.
According to him, adoption of ICT will help in reducing mass failure in the subject.
He said that stakeholders must develop new teaching techniques by using ICT to make the subject interesting and less difficult for their pupils and students.
The coordinator said most students and teachers were familiar with the use of ICT for social networking, adding that it would be beneficial to teach students through the available platforms.
“Mathematics is not exciting to majority of students as they develop phobia for it right from their primary school years and carry this on throughout their secondary education.
“There is an urgent need to change the belief that the subject is very difficult.
“Mathematics is a very interesting subject; all it needs is constant practice and revision to understand the formulas of its topics.
“The subject is not enticing because stakeholders have failed to recreate the platform or model to make it enticing to their students.
“With the increasing application of ICT by Nigerian youths, stakeholders can use it to awaken students’ interests in Mathematics”, he said.
Akhigbe said that his outfit would conduct the first Computer Based Test Mathematics and Olympiad for Junior and Senior Secondary School students in Lagos State on March 25.
The mathematician said that the CBT mode was to improve students’ performances, remove phobia for mathematics and arouse students’ interests in the subject.
He said that the aim of the Olympiad was also to demystify Mathematics, tackle its challenges and enhance its learning among the youngsters.
He said that his NGO had provided a free online platform for teachers and students to login and practise over 5,000 questions set.
The NGO did this in collaboration with officials of the Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN), he said.
“This is the first free online platform for students in Nigeria; many companies are organising Mathematics’ competition tied to their products or brand but this is a complete free platform.
“Students from both the public and private schools can access the site and explore the questions anytime with the aid of a computer, tablets, or smart phones.
“Interested students and schools will register online with N3,000 to compete for reward in the Olympiad.
“This competition is very important for students, teachers and schools.
“Participating schools and students will be assessed by professionals and they can work on their shortcomings and prepare their students for external examinations and competitions,” he said.(NAN)
OOG/OSA/PAD
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Peter Dada