Vietnamese math teachers rely on books, providing formulas to quickly solve exercises without guidance, causing many students to dislike the subject.
The above opinions were presented at the event "International Mathematics Day: Playing with Math", on March 14, organized by the Institute of Mathematics.
Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho, Vietnam Institute ofEducational Sciences, commented that many children, even though they know nothing about Math, find this subject very difficult, due to the way adults perceive it. Therefore, they are afraid and refuse to study. Many children only try to study for results, to please adults.
"When teaching specialized Math classes, I discovered that many students did not know what they were passionate about in Math, they just knew that being admitted to a specialized Math class was something that everyone admired," said Ms. Tho. She is a PhD in Mathematics and a former lecturer in the Mathematics Department at Hanoi National University of Education.
According to Ms. Tho, students' fear of math also comes from the educational environment. When she visited some primary schools in Hanoi, she was surprised because teachers only lectured and assigned lessons, while students were exposed to math problems printed in books or worksheets.
"This way of teaching and learning is not correct, making children not love math," she said.
Dr. of Mathematics Tran Nam Dung, Vice Principal of the Gifted High School, Ho Chi Minh City National University, also noticed that students love Math less and less, and as they get older, their love for this subject decreases.
Mr. Dung pointed out some reasons such as the higher the curriculum, the more difficult and rigorous it is, and there is less time to "play with Math". Besides, teaching Math at higher levels is still deductive, meaning teachers lecture, students learn and apply it to do exercises. Instead of guiding students to find a certain formula, teachers often provide it so that students can quickly solve the problem, making students passive and remembering mechanically.
"This is a contraindication to the development of mathematical thinking," said Mr. Dung, adding that even in specialized math classes, students should be proactive, but due to some factors, such as extra classes, students become passive. Some students feel pressured and get bored with math.
Associate Professor Chu Cam Tho and Professor Phung Ho Hai shared at International Mathematics Day, March 14. Photo: Duong Tam
From the above reality, Mr. Dung believes that it is necessary to change students' approach to Math by letting them participate in more experiential and exploratory activities.
"We must let children play with Math to both develop their thinking and have fun exploring," said Mr. Dung, adding that this is also a common policy in the 2018 general education program.
Agreeing, Ms. Chu Cam Tho believes that learning through games is not only about finding victory, overcoming challenges, and developing thinking, but also helps children express their attitudes and personalities.
According to Professor Phung Ho Hai, former Director of the Institute of Mathematics, the role of Mathematics is not important in helping us know how to calculate integrals and derivatives, but through learning, we have the ability to think to survive and compete. This is an important ability in an increasingly developing society.
Mr. Hai believes that it is necessary to show the friendliness of Mathematics to society, making people not afraid of learning Mathematics, having a positive attitude towards Mathematics, thereby discovering their own abilities.
Dr. Tran Nam Dung in a public lecture on Geometry, IMO and AI, March 14. Photo: Duong Tam
Previously, at the National Mathematics Conference in August 2023, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that Mathematics and Mathematics education "need a renewal".
The head of the education sector believes that Mathematics needs to be actively innovated in the direction of developing thinking for learners, guiding students to use mathematical thinking to solve life problems, solve arising problems to develop thinking.
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