MEM Podcast Ep.1

The podcast discusses the complaint many students have about math being irrelevant in real life. However, the host argues that math is about how to think, and it is applicable in various areas of our daily lives, such as home improvement, cooking, finances, and sports. Teaching math in authentic ways can increase student drive and perception. The next episode will focus on engagement strategies and implementing authentic learning in math. Welcome to Math Education Matters, where we discuss the ways of mathematical reasoning as it relates to authentic real-world applications, engagement strategies, and common problems of practice. Today, we'll be talking about the common complaint in the secondary mathematics classroom, where students often say, well, we have reduced this in real life, or my favorite one, I'm never going to use this stuff. Many students consider topics in geometry and algebra as pointless and irrelevant, as they believe they will never use them later in life. However, Euclid, a Greek mathematician, argues that it is not about shapes and numbers, it is about how to think. I couldn't agree more on this idea, as mathematics wraps around and binds all aspects in our daily lives, such as home improvement, cooking, outdoor landscaping, finances, sports, health and fitness, architectural design, and many, many more. Look at it from a much smaller scope. Concepts in learning quadratics are essential, as it can be applied in determining velocity and speed, maximizing profits and revenue, and calculating areas in agriculture or engineering. I think if math is taught in plenty of authentic ways, then student drive and focus will significantly increase. At the same time, their perception may shift, as they are now able to make meaningful connections and achieve purposeful learning. Now, the real question here is, what are appropriate engagement strategies to promote authentic learning, and how do we fully implement it? Tune in next week as we continue talking about engagement strategies and authentic learning in mathematics.