METHODS OF

TEACHING
VANESSA P SUMAGANG
 OBJECTIVE
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You should be able

to distinguish and
discuss the different
methods of teaching
mathematics.
 FOR
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BSEd Math 20
Approaches and
Strategies in
Teaching
Mathematics
Third Year Students
‘HOW TO TEACH’ is a
really difficult
problem for the
teacher. Teaching, as
it is generally said, is
an art. Methods are
the ways to
understand and
practice the art.

The Teaching of Mathematics by

Kulbir Singh Sidhu
“How to impart
knowledge?”
How to enable the child to
learn is a question to be
answered. It is the final step of
the execution of what we plan
to teach in mathematics.

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The Teaching of Mathematics by

Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Methods of Teaching
Lecture Method Laboratory Method
Dogmatic Method Project Method
Inductive-Deductive Method Topical Method
Heuristic Method Concentric Method
Analytic-Synthetic Method Problem Method

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

1.
Lecture Method
It is the method of presenting a word
picture of an idea; or the method of
imparting information through a speech.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Lecture Method
Lecture is
another name for It is a method of depicting
a speech, and everything in words. The
when you are speaker speaks and the
speaking listeners listen. It is a one
continuously to a way traffic of flow of ideas;
class or an the speaker gives ideas and
audience, you are the listener takes them.
considered to be
lecturing. The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
 Procedure of Lecture Method
The teacher
prepares his talk The students sit
at home and silently, listen This method
pours it out in the attentively and If the teacher is takes the
class. try to catch the extremist in form of a
point. lecturing, he may “One man’s
not even argue a show”, where
point with the the listeners
listeners by cross remain
questioning. passive.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Advantages of Lecture Method
1. When the member of students in a class is very large, this
method is the only way out. The teacher’s voice is heard clearly
even I the farthest corner of the classroom. All the students are
provided with equal opportunity to listen and learn.

2. When a heavy syllabus is to be covered in a short time, lecture

method is suitable. The teacher can teach at his own speed and
thus finish a topic in one or two days as he likes. He need not
adjust his teaching to the learning speed of the students.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Advantages of Lecture Method
3. The situation becomes impressive. When the teacher is delivering his lecture
fluently, the students are listening attentively and there is pin drop silence among
them. An outsider forms a good impression of the discipline in the school.
4. The method is convenient for the teacher,
because he does not have to give individual help.
5. There is always a natural sequence between the ideas of a topic and this
sequence or interconnection can be best maintained in a lecture. Sequence
of ideas in a carefully planned lecture makes the topic understandable The
present idea follows them from the previous idea and leads to the next idea
This inter-relationship of ideas facilitates learning.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Advantages of Lecture Method
6. The teacher and the taught feel satisfied at their respective places.
After delivering a lecture, the teacher feels satisfied that he has
finished part of the syllabus. After listening to a lecture the student
feels satisfied that something new has been taught to him. Such
satisfaction may be denounced as false but it is there.

7. In certain topics like insurance, budget, interest and income tax, an

introductory talk may be found most impressive and useful.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Disadvantages of Lecture Method
1. This method gives a false sense of satisfaction, which is dangerous and harmful.
2. Receiving and memorizing bits of information is not so important a purpose of
the study of mathematics. Rather, its study is more concerned with the thinking
and reasoning power of the learner.
3. The students may remain inattentive during the lecture.
4. They remain passive.
5. Experimentation is totally neglected. There is no opportunity for the students
to discover and find out facts for themselves.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Disadvantages of Lecture Method
6. There is no scope for the development of close contacts between the teacher and
the taught. The teacher can’t give individual guidance because he can’t properly
judge the difficulties and potentialities of an individual.

7. There is a rapid and hurried flow of ideas in a lecture. Everything may not be
comprehended by young learners.

8. If somehow or other, a student fails to catch any essential point in a lecture,

he won’t be able to understand the subsequent ideas, because the ideas
follow logically.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Disadvantages of Lecture Method
9. It is a sort of putting everything from above, where different abilities and
capacities of the child are not made use of.

10. Home work is likely to be very heavy.

11. It does not impart efficiency in problem solving.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Conclusion of Lecture Method
The method suits neither the subject nor the learner.

It is an informational method which goes against independent and original thinking

of the learner.

There is no student participation in the learning process.

Very few mathematical topics lend themselves to effective treatment by this

method. The teacher talks continuously. Most of the time, his face is towards the
class, and the back is towards the blackboard. This is defective. He should mostly
face the blackboard.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Conclusion of Lecture Method

It must, however, be conceded that on topics

likes income tax, and insurance, lectures by
experts from outside may be arranged and would
be found useful. But lecture method is highly
unsuitable as a regular method in classs-work.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

2.
Dogmatic Method
In this method of teaching, mathematics rigor
is extremely emphasized – ‘rigor’ means ‘the
strict enforcement or observance of rules’.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Dogmatic Method
The dogmatists
say that the Any deviation or
foremost departure from this
educational value standard of exactness The advocates of
of mathematics is will defeat the very this method say
the training in purpose of teaching that the inefficiency
exactness which mathematics, and will of mathematical
it amply provides. consequently lead to teaching is mainly
inexact, aimless and due to lack of rigor.
slipshod thinking.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Procedure of Dogmatic Method
The rules and
formulae are The steps of
He works out the solution of The model or
given to the class pattern are
to cram. the model a problem are
sums on the brought home presented and
blackboard to the advocated by the
The teacher tells teacher or the
the pupil what to and the pupils students who
have merely then follow book is to be
do, what to strictly adopted
observe, how to to follow the them in their
patterns. minutest ad imitated by
attempt and how the learner.
to conclude. details.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Merits of Dogmatic Method
1. The method saves time, energy and a good deal of loose or useless thinking.
2. It can be adopted with advantage at a stage when pupils are adequately
advanced in mental development.
3. It promotes skill, efficiency and speed in the solution of the problems.
4. It glorifies memory.
5. At the revision or application stage, emphasis on rigor is most desirable and
appropriate.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Drawbacks of Dogmatic Method
1. In this method, rules and formulae form the beginning of knowledge, whereas
these are truly the ends of knowledge.
2. The stress is laid on rigor, and no attention is paid to the specific abilities of
students. Mechanical cramming is enforced without any regard for the
individual’s capacity.
3. There is no emphasis on development of power to acquire and apply knowledge,
independent thinking and originality; so the real aim of teaching mathematics is
ignored.
4. The subject becomes dull and uninteresting for the students. Mechanical
methods cannot promote interest.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Drawbacks of Dogmatic Method
5. Most of the mechanically memorized information is likely to be forgotten soon.
6. It is a method of imparting information, which is a wrong approach to the
teaching of the subject.
7. If mechanically memorized facts just slip from the memory at the time of need,
the student fails to recall or reconstruct them.
8. The student repeats and adopts others’ ideas. He becomes a slave of the ideas of
others.
9. Students without real mathematical ability, but with good cramming capacity,
begin to consider themselves successful students of the subject, which is a
dangerous notion.
The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu
Conclusion of Dogmatic Method
This method suits neither the child nor the subject.

The mind of the student is stuffed with information, and the understanding of the
subject finds no place there. Therefore, if popularized, this method will cause
stagnation in teaching.

Still, it has one commendable aspect, that is, its spirit should influence the student
when he is applying or revising knowledge and when he is quite mature and
advanced in the study of this subject.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Conclusion of Dogmatic Method

Errors, incompleteness, inexactness and vagueness

should not be allowed and overlooked in these cases. If
the student commits these mistakes even at the revision
stage, or when he is expected to be adequately mature,
when shall he be able to do things correctly?

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu

Drill 4.1 – Lecture and Dogmatic Method

1. Create a semi-detailed lesson plan of a particular lesson in high

school mathematics employing the lecture method.

2. Create a semi-detailed lesson plan of a particular lesson in high

school mathematics employing the dogmatic method.

The Teaching of Mathematics by Kulbir Singh Sidhu