No to rote: Lab helps students grasp geometry concepts

So far,they have managed to come up with experiments for Std IX and X students. One such example is explaining Pythagoras’ theorem using an elephant’s trunk and legs as analogy. “To explain it,we create models of elephants. Now,the trunk is longer than the legs,and can be likened to the hypotenuse,which is the longest side of a right-angled triangle. If mathematical concepts are explained in the classroom with such tools,there is a greater chance that students will retain them for long,” said Bhivare.

The group is trying to find similar teaching methodology for the 75 geometrical concepts,which are part of the Std IX and X syllabus. Other techniques used by them include origami-based exercises and teaching geometry through letters of the alphabet. The group has also designed a tool that can soon be part of a student’s geometry box. “This tool has been designed by another team member,who is still pursuing PhD at the Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore. We have applied for a patent for the tool,” added Bhivare.

He and his team have been working on the concept of Joymetry for three years now and hope to be able to convince schools in the city that a geometry lab is just as necessary as a science lab.

Abhinav Vidyalaya English Medium School is one of the few schools in the city to have a geometry laboratory. Jaya Bhaskar,principal of the school,said,“Over the last few years we realised that while the students were learning science through understanding,it was not the case in mathematics. When we learnt about a laboratory for geometry,we set up one for students up to Std VII three years ago. If we’re able to make more rooms available,we will expand the facility for students up to Std X.”