Reflection lecture : Third Meeting

Natural method of Teaching of Math

The third meeting, our professor reminded us again about the method of teaching mathematics. Most teachers use the traditional methods of teaching mathematics to their students, so what happens is the transfer of knowledge. Function of the teacher in the method just as deliver methods. This causes the pupil empty vessel. In addition, students will be passive(ly), bored and sleepy in class. That is why, we have to change the pattern of teaching mathematics to natural methods. In this method, it is expected students will grow like seeds. They will seek to know and to proceed as long as they seek knowledge until they can establish their identity, respectively. In the natural method, the teacher's role is to facilitate the development of their students. That is the natural method.

Basically, the education problem comes from adult not a young. If there are students who have problems or barriers to learning, then we have to check again, maybe the problem come not from students but from their teachers. Could be, a student who can not because teachers are failing in the delivery of the material. So, let's fix back teaching system available today. students can not be predicted, so as a teacher we should be good to position themselves in facilitating pupil.

It’s important to us to know “The Nature of All Aspects of Teaching Learning of Math”. First, the nature of school math. Second, the nature of students learning math. Third, the nature of learning resources, etc. Mathematics is divided by two part. First part is formal mathematics or pure mathematics or axiomatic mathematics. This part is on university level. The second part is school math. In this part, (Ebbutt and Staler, 1995) has opinion to described this level. Their theory are Math is a search of pathern and relationship, math is a problem solving activity, math is an investigation activity, and math is the means of communication. So, the school level and the university level is different. We can not teaching our student in elementary school by using the university level, but we must used school method and made our student fun and enjoy with mathematics.

Child is intuition. Nowadays, most student lost their intuition because the education system. Our job as educators is to bring back the intuition of children by applying natural methods in the educational process. We must dare to try because the fate of this nation in the future is in the hands of the younger generation. So, if we won’t to take part in this case is the same as we do not care about the fate of this nation. If not us who started, then who else. 

Nama   : Isti Handayani

Kelas   : Pendidikan Matematika Subsidi 2012

NIM    : 12301241045