Friday, 17 October 2014

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS

INTRODUCTION
     The use of sensory aids in teaching of mathematics is one of recent origin. In fact all teaching has always involved the communication of ideas through the senses either orally through the medium of speech, or visually  by the use of written or printed material. Text books, writing materials, black boards and geometrical instruments have long been regarded as indispensable equipments for teaching mathematics classes. Our high school classes now contain a chapter on computer. Every student must be given training in handling it. Operating upon it with reasonable degree of accuracy should become an activity for every student. Every high school and higher secondary school should immediately set up its own computer training department. The school student of today must equip himself with its use before he goes out into the field.

OBJECTIVES
     
               To understand about the software like Dr.Geo, Geogebra etc, which helpful to draw mathematical shapes.
                  To know about interior angles, and how to measure it.
                 To measure the length of a line.
                 To find out the area of geometrical shapes and its formulas.
                 To study about circle.
   To analyze or synthesis the data collected
COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION
         We are living in an age of information overloaded with the expectation that students will learn high level skills such as how to access, evaluate, analyze and synthesis vast quantities of information. Today computer is widely used in business and research. The increasing important of informatics in day to day life has resulted in the emergence of computers and it use in education at the national and international level. Its application is enormous. It is a powerful machine equipped with keyboards, electronic circuits, storage compartments and recording devices for the high speed performance of mathematical operations. In simple terms a computer is a glorified calculator with difference. It has in addition capacity for storing or memorizing a large amount of information and producing or retrieving any of them when called for. The computer is a box loaded with information. Information and problems are translated into computer language so that it can understand. In the recent years computers is widely used and is bringing some exciting innovations in educations. Computers allocate learning resources to students as a group. It take over the most of the drudgery of schooling like classifying students according to abilities, preparing time table, schedules etc. The use of computers in education keeps a balance between knowledge, entertainment and creativity according to the nature of the learner.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS
     
     Mathematics is essentially a subject where doing is more prominent than reading. It is why a certain amount of equipment is indispensable in order to make even a start in their subject. More over it is felt by a vast majority of people that mathematics is dry and difficult subject, full of abstract things. The result is that student’s take very little interest in it. To create necessary interest is a constant problem for mathematics teacher.
           There are software applications that provide the tools for drawing geometric shapes. Suppose we drawn a rectangle and now want to change the lengths of sides. If the rectangle drawn in paper the only way is to draw a new rectangle. That is not necessary when we draw on a computer. This is the main advantage of doing geometric drawings in computer. Geogebra is an educational software application used for drawing geometric figures. Geogebra helps to construct parallel lines, to identify the properties of lines, to construct angles, to determine the midpoint of a line, to construct polygons, to construct circles, to construct circle containing a triangle etc.
Construction Of Parallel Lines
           Suppose we want to draw two parallel lines. Once you draw the first line, you can draw any number of line parallel to it. You have to decide on where do you want to draw it. Use the tool in group III  of the yool box to draw parallel lines. 
Properties Of Line
          Mathematically a line has just one property- length. In order to measure the length of a line, use the tool in group VII.
Midpoint Of A Line
          We may quite often  need to locate the midpoint of a line. The method to locate the midpoint of a line is available in tool group II.
Construction Of Angles.

      The fundamental construct in geometry is a point. A point can be marked anywhere in the plane. Examine the second tool in the tool box. And use it to mark point on the plane. Draw a line by joining the points using the group III tool from the tool box. When two lines intersect, they form angles. Select the tool for measuring the angle, and select the angle which is to be measured.  Then, find out the features of angles created by the intersection of lines.
Study About Parallel Lines
      Draw parallel lines using the tool in Group III of the tool box. Draw another line which intersects these two lines. Find out its features. To draw midpoint of a line, use the tool in Group II. To measure the length of the line, helps the tool ‘segment with given length’.     

Constuction Of Polygons
        The sides of a polygon is equal, such polygons called regular polygons.  As the sides are of equal length, we need not draw each of the sides separately. It should be enough to mark the two points that determine a side and instruct the number of points required.  Find out the features of sides, and its interior angle. We can use the tool for drawing polygons given in the group v, measure the sides and measure of interior angle. Also we can find out the properties of vertices.  
Constuction Of Circles
         Make a point on the plane. All the point equi distances from this point would form a circle. If you provide the centre and radius of the circle that you intend to draw, we can draw the circle using Geogebra. The tool circle with radius and centre in group VI can be used for this.
Microsoft Excel
       Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft windows. It features calculations, graphing tools, pivot tables and a macro programming language called VBA. It has been the most widely used spreadsheet application available for these platforms since version 5 in1995 excel is part of MS offoce.
       Microsoft Excel is an electronic spreadsheet that runs on a personal computer. You can use it to organise your data into raws and columns. We can also use it to perform mathematical calculations quickly. Spreadsheets are made up of colummns, rows and their intersections are called cell. Formulas are enteries that have an equation that calculates the value to display. We donot type in the numbers we are looking for; we type in the equation. Formulas must begin with an equal sign. Spreadsheet have many math functions built in to them. Of the most basic operations are the standard addition, substraction, multiplication and division. These operations follow  the order of operations. The ‘average’ functions finds the avethe rage of the specified data. The ‘min’ funtion will return the smallest values in the selected range of cells. The ‘count’ function will return the number of entries in the selected range of cells. The ‘IF’ funtion will check the logical conditions of as statement and return one value if true and a different value if false.
  
CONCLUSION
          There will be some advantage of teaching geometry using technology. If we want to draw a geometrical shape and we can change the length of sides or size of angle. If the figure is drawn on the paper, the only way to draw the changes is taking the new paper. We will get basic idea about geometry through this. Even though the consideration of whole mathematical ideas self doing is the only way. In the case of an analysis, it is a time consuming process. But it is very simple, less time consuming when we use the technology. The basic property of mathematics is addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and it will be easy and quick enough. Computers fulfil the students interest in learning and encourage some creativity. It provides easy access to horizon of information.


EDUCATION OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

The word exceptional represents a kind of significant deviation from usual, natural or normal happenings. The exceptional children deviates from the average or normal children in physical, mental, emotional or social traits. These distinct class of children need special attention, educational facilities and special treatment to develop their maximum capacity.
 According to Kirk, an exceptional child is he who deviates from the normal or average child in mental, physical and social characteristics to such an extent that he requires a modification of school practices or special educational services in order to develop to his maximum capacity.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
They differ from the average or normal children
They do not benefit from normal school programme
They need special services in terms of care and education for their optimum growth
DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
GIFTED CHILD
ACADEMICALLY BACKWARD
LEARNING DISABLED
GIFTED CHILDREN
The term gifted or talented stands for those whose performance is consistently remarkable in some potentially valuable activity.
      Prem pasricha defines, “gifted child is the one who exhibits superiority in general intelligence or the one who is in possession of special abilities of a high order in the fields which are not necessarily associated with a high intelligence quotient”.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GIFTED CHILDREN
      Gifted child need not possess a very high IQ
      They think logically and coherently
      Shows rapid physical and mental growth
      Keen power of observation and they learn more rapidly than the average student
      In comparison to children of his own group, he is superior in some abilities.
      Shows much curiosity in questioning and displays rich common sense
      More ambitious and hard working
EDUCATION OF GIFTED CHILD
      No separate classes
      Curriculum
      Faster promotion to higher classes
      Individual education
      Extracurricular activities
      Facilities and apparatus
ACADEMICALLY BACKWARD CHILDREN
According to Barton Hall, backwardness is general, is applied to cases where their educational attainment falls below the level of natural abilities. Backward child is one who compared with other pupils of the same chronological age shows marked educational deficiency
CHARACTERISTICS OF ACADEMICALLY BACKWARD
      Has the adjustment problems in regular classes
      Found inferior in physical development
      They have lesser capacity of abstract thinking
      They lack in reasoning ability
      Social development is lag behind
EDUCATION OF ACADEMICALLY BACKWARD
      Motivation
      Individual attention
      Development of self confidence
      Development of good work habits
      Elastic curriculum
      Remedial instructions
      Periodical medical checkups
      Special methods of teaching like CAI, AVI
      Peer tutoring
LEARNING DISABLED
Learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written. Whole may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations.
 The child does not achieve commensurate with his or her age and ability in one or more areas, when provided with learning experiences appropriate for the child age and ability level
CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING DISABLED
      Delayed spoken language development
      Poor spatial orientation
      Poor general motor coordination
      Inadequate time concepts
      Difficulty in judging relationship
      Memory disorders
      Perceptual disorders
      Direction related confusion
      Social interceptions
EDUCATION OF LEARNING DISABLED
      Behavioral intervention
      Cognitive behavioral intervention
      Medically based intervention
      Multi sensory approach  

Wednesday, 8 October 2014

IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR WOMEN IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION
              If the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, then why are Indian women treated as second citizens in their own country? The Constitution officially grants equality to women and also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. However, the varied forms of discrimination that women in India are subject to are far from positive.
            It is claimed that from the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards, there has been a marked shift in the approach to women's issues from welfare to development. Where is the development? Yes, the status of the urban woman has shown some improvement but the changes in their lifestyle were not coupled by changes in the general mindset of the people in our patriarchal society. Thus, some laws should have been framed for the protection of the newly emancipated and urbanized Indian women. What is the percentage of urban women in India, anyway? What about the rest? These privileged few would have prospered with or without the laws. Has there been any significant change in the status of rural women after the Fifth Five Year Plan?
The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres. India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
The Constitution of India not only grants equality to women but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women for neutralizing the cumulative socio economic, education and political disadvantages faced by them.  Fundamental Rights, among others, ensure equality before the law and equal protection of law; prohibits discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and guarantee equality of opportunity to all citizens in matters relating to employment.  Articles 14, 15, 15(3), 16, 39(a), 39(b), 39(c) and 42 of the Constitution are of specific importance in this regard.
 CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGES
(i)       Equality before law for women (Article 14)
The State not to discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of  birth or any of them (Article 15 (i))
(iii)     The State to make any special provision in favour of women and children (Article 15 (3))
Equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State (Article 16)
The State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood (Article 39(a)); and equal pay for equal work for both men and women (Article 39(d))
To promote justice, on a basis of equal opportunity and to provide free legal aid  by suitable legislation or scheme or in any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities (Article 39 A)
(vii)    The State to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief (Article 42)
The State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation (Article 46)
(ix)     The State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people (Article 47)
(x)      To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)) 
(xi)     Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat to be reserved for women and such seats to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat (Article 243 D(3))
(xii)    Not less than one- third of the total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level to be reserved for women (Article 243 D (4))
(xii)  Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality to be reserved for women and such seats to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality (Article 243 T (3))
(Xiii)  Reservation of offices of Chairpersons in Municipalities for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and women in such manner as the legislature of a State may by law provide (Article 243 T (4))
LEGAL PROVISIONS
          To uphold the Constitutional mandate, the State has enacted various legislative measures intended to ensure equal rights, to counter social discrimination and various forms of violence and atrocities and to provide support services especially to working women.
          Although women may be victims of any of the crimes such as 'Murder', 'Robbery', 'Cheating' etc, the crimes, which are directed specifically against women, are characterized as 'Crime against Women'. These are broadly classified under two categories. 
The Crimes Identified Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Rape (Sec. 376 IPC)
Kidnapping & Abduction for different purposes ( Sec. 363-373)
Homicide for Dowry, Dowry Deaths or their attempts (Sec. 302/304-B IPC)
Torture, both mental and physical (Sec. 498-A IPC)
Molestation (Sec. 354 IPC)
Sexual Harassment (Sec. 509 IPC)
Importation of girls (up to 21 years of age)
The Crimes identified under the Special Laws (SLL)
Although all laws are not gender specific, the provisions of law affecting women significantly have been reviewed periodically and amendments carried out to keep pace with the emerging requirements. Some acts which have special provisions to safeguard women and their interests are:
The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
The Family Courts Act, 1954
The Special Marriage Act, 1954
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 with amendment in 2005
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 1995)
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1976
The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983
The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1986
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005  
SPECIAL INITIATIVES FOR WOMEN
National Commission for Women
In January 1992, the Government set-up this statutory body with a specific mandate to study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women, review the existing legislation to suggest amendments wherever necessary, etc.
Reservation for Women in Local Self -Government
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Acts passed in 1992 by Parliament ensure one-third of the total seats for women in all elected offices in local bodies whether in rural areas or urban areas.
The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child (1991-2000)
The plan of Action is to ensure survival, protection and development of the girl child with the ultimate objective of building up a better future for the girl child.
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women, 2001
The Department of Women & Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development has prepared a “National Policy for the Empowerment of Women” in the year 2001. The goal of this policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women.