Course-5 Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects pmd

Position Paper of National Focus Group on Mathematics identifies some issues with
reference to teaching of Mathematics:
a)
A sense of fear and failure regarding mathematics among a majority of chil-
dren,
b)
A curriculum that disappoints both a talented minority as well as the non-par-
ticipating majority at the same time,
c)
Crude methods of assessment that encourage perception of mathematics as
mechanical computation,
d)
Lack of teacher preparation and support in the teaching of mathematics.
e)
Compartmentalisation: there is very little systematic communication between
primary school and high school teachers of mathematics, and none at all be-
tween high school and college teachers of mathematics
f)
Systemic problems further aggravate the situation, in the sense that structures
of social discrimination get reflected in mathematics education as well. Espe-
cially worth mentioning in this regard is the gender dimension, leading to a
stereotype that boys are better at mathematics than girls.
Role of Mathematics with reference to sustainable development and
Health
●
Mathematical models are used to predict environmental changes. Statistics pro-
vides invaluable data to Governments to draw up health care programs
●
Risk factors for diseases are estimated through the use of mathematics
●
Modeling is important in a range of areas such as:
✓ 
preparing for flu outbreak
✓
modelling the impact of an epidemic
✓ 
Predicting health needs of the future
✓
Certain Computational models use gene expression data to diagnose and
treat diseases.
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Factors Affecting Change in Mathematics Curriculum
Educators are aware that changes have taken place in school mathematics in the past
two to three decades. These changes have brought about a near revolution in the content,
methods and instruction of mathematics.