Redefining

“Why do we need to learn this topic? How does it apply to our daily lives?” These are some of the common questions educators face from students during lessons. For math teachers, these questions often come as a surprise, yet they never seem to end.

I recall a moment with Geith, a brilliant teenager with a passion for numbers and an eye for the hidden beauty in mathematics. His curiosity and enthusiasm never ceased to amaze me, earning him my deep respect. Geith was always prepared for every math lesson, his eyes sparkling with curiosity behind his powerful glasses. He aimed for perfection in every assessment, unwilling to lose even a single mark. While others might see numbers as mere symbols, Geith found magic in every line, a quality I deeply cherish. His spontaneous, insightful questions during lessons were always remarkable; in every mathematical concept, he found something new to explore.

During a lesson on solving differential equations for exponential growth and decay, Geith, with his characteristic inquisitiveness, interrupted with a question: “Why do we use this method when a separable method is available? And if we do use it, how does it apply in real life? Where can we observe such changes?” His questions were not just a reflection of his sharp mind but also a reminder of the deeper connections between mathematics and the world around us.

This is just one example from my experience, but I know many math educators encounter similar situations. With limited time to cover the curriculum, we sometimes struggle to address every student’s question fully. However, modern learning curricula are evolving to address these challenges. By focusing on big ideas and creating meaningful learning experiences, we help students understand not just what they are learning but why they are learning it. Most importantly, this approach empowers students to apply their math skills in varied, real-world contexts. It’s a beautiful and necessary shift that we, as educators, are eager to implement in our classrooms, ensuring that our students are equipped with the skills required for the 21st century and the demands of the modern world.

Conducting a specialized training session on ‘Leading Modern Learning’ for Cycle 3 Math Teachers at Zayed Educational Complex, Al Rahmaniya, Sharjah.

Together we can redefine education for the future .

Best

Shaheena Azeez.