Description
The co-operation project „Practical mathematics in technical education and other fields“ is focusing on teaching mathematics in an innovative and creative way. The studies of mathematics will be integrated to professional studies such as design and carpentry. It is necessary to find ways, materials and methods of teaching, which would make mathematics more realistic and attractive to students. Integrating the tasks of mathematics to professional studies (making up tasks, which are directly connected to the real situation in carpentry or design) would be helpful in makeing students understand the subject. The methodology of data-driven-instrution and the concept of integrated learning will be involved in the project. A part of the project is integration of design and carpentry. The current situation is that carpenters are not understanding the demands, needs of designers. The creativity skills of carpenters will be focused on in order to strenghten their co-operation with designers.
Summary of project results
The co-operation project „Practical mathematics in technical education and other fields“ was focusing on teaching mathematics in an innovative and creative way. The studies of mathematics were integrated to professional studies such as design and carpentry (these fields are focused on in the project). It was necessary to find ways, materials and methods of teaching, which would make mathematics more realistic and attractive to the students, as the current situation is not so good – students have difficulties with mathematics tasks. Integrating the tasks of mathematics to the professional studies (making up tasks, which are directly connected to the real situation in carpentry or design), was helpful to make students understand the subject better. The methodology of data-driven-instrution was also involved in the project. A part of the project was also integration of design and carpentry. The current situation is that carpenters are not understanding the designers – their demands, needs. The concrete objective of the partnership was to work out and create the study materials which the students later on can use on the study process in their vocational lessons. The main results of the project were textbook and e-learning materials, which contain of practical exercises and the solutions. These study materials will be used in carpentry studies. Also, a web page
http://www.hariduskeskus.ee/pracmath/?MAIN_PAGE, which includes the study materials, was created through the project, in order to better disseminate the project results and materials.
Summary of bilateral results
The project helped to deepen the co-operation between partner organizations. Also, the ICT skills of the teachers and project participants improved due to the creation of learning videos. The teachers shared their knowledge and experiences with each other in order to improve their skills – they learned new approaches to the students, new methods and methodologies. The project was the first one for the participating organizations together – after the project, all organizations plan further co-operation projects together in the future. The project certainly helped to deepen the co-operation. For example, with Icelandic school, various departments of Pärnumaa Kutsehariduskeskus implement mobility project and mutual apprenticeships for students.