EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
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MATH&MOVE
ANYONE CAN KNOW MATH IF THEY STUDY THE RIGHT WAY
From October 2022, Primary School Savremena is part of another Erasmus+ project that won the competition and is funded by the French National Agency. The main goal of the “Math&Move“ project is to increase students’ motivation and interest in maths at the age level of primary school students, that is, students aged 6 to 9.
The method that will be applied to involve students in the field of STEM and especially maths is the use of kinaesthetic techniques for a better understanding of abstract mathematical concepts through the movements of one’s own body and/or body parts (head, feet, hands, etc.).
Maths is most often presented to students as an isolated set of rules and procedures, separated from their real life. The “Math&Move“ project implements innovative methodologies for teaching maths by connecting abstract content with concrete reality through movement. It is recommended that multidisciplinary activities be integrated into the teaching of maths through examples that activate the imagination during acquiring mathematical knowledge. In this way, students will master mathematical concepts and understand them better (Hershkovitz & Winner, 1984).
What is Kinaesthetic Learning?
Kinaesthetic learning, also known as tactile learning or movement-based learning, involves physical movement in order for students to master new material as easily as possible. These activities include stretching, yoga, dancing, cross-body movements, and cardiovascular exercise. When students use their whole bodies during studying, muscle memory gained from the activity reinforces the neural pathways created during the learning process.
Integrating exercise with learning has a positive effect on cortical mass, blood flow, and delivery of oxygen to the brain. Physical activity also increases the number of synapses formed between neurons in the brain, which in turn improves cognition and memory.
But what makes kinaesthetic maths so effective? When students learn maths through movement, games, and activities, they begin solving problems more creatively. The exercise they get from kinaesthetic maths games helps them focus their attention on new content and maintain it for a long time. Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) learn best kinaesthetically, and exercise improves their attention and regulates their mood. When students enjoy learning, maths doesn’t become an obligation – it becomes a fun, interesting subject they’ll love!
Project goals
The main goals of the “Math&Move” project are:
- a pedagogical framework that will help establish a knowledge base on which the partnership will work throughout the project;
- a methodology for teachers and families that will show them how movement and learning maths are connected, as well as ways in which they can implement the project’s resources;
- the multidisciplinary approach of this project should enable different types of students to acquire knowledge with ease because they will simultaneously deal with different types of intelligence: visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic, mathematical-logical, and bodily-kinaesthetic.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
- NGO Fermat Science, Beaumont de Lomagne, France;
- SCS LogoPsyCom, Mons, Belgium;
- Arsakeio Primary School of Patras, Patra, Greece;
- Primary School Savremena, Belgrade, Serbia.
The latest news about Math&Move project:
SHTEAM as a logical continuation of STEAM
Primary School Savremena is known for its efforts to move away from traditional education towards more modern educational systems. One of these systems is STEM, and its older sibling is SHTEAM.
Interactive teaching of mathematics in younger grades of primary school
Interactive teaching is a modern teaching system that strives to overcome student passivity and the lack of interaction present in traditional teaching.
Growing and learning through stories
For most of us, in a corner of our minds, lingers the memory of the stories our parents told us when we were little. What child has not been amazed, transported and captivated by these stories?
LU technology transforms every space
No one can dispute the importance of traditional teaching methods. But in an age where everything is changing at a rapid pace and technology is becoming a valuable tool in everyone’s hands, educators have no choice but to adapt. By combining traditional teaching methods with technology, they can significantly influence the achievements of their students.
Motor skills, movement and mathematics
Learning elementary maths concepts while engaging the whole body through physical movement can improve children’s maths performance (Beck et al., 2016).
Math&Move: Moving to the beat of numbers!
Mathematics and STEM education in general hold the unfortunate reputation of being the “boogeyman” of subjects for school-aged children. This phenomenon in education research has been labelled “maths phobia”, manifesting as anxiety and fear that interferes with children’s maths performance.
Learning through movement
The project “Math&Move” is designed for students aged 6 to 9, and is a part of the Erasmus+ project, whose goal is to use kinesthetic techniques for a better understanding of abstract mathematical concepts. By learning through play and body movements, students boost their imagination when acquiring mathematical knowledge and turn to more creative problem-solving.
