Experts suggest that 80 per cent of our future jobs will require maths. So can we ignore the fact that women are significantly under represented in professions related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics?
Recent education research in New Zealand has revealed a significant difference in the way girls and boys engage with mathematics. According to a TIMSS report, more New Zealand Year 5 boys were very confident in mathematics, while more Year 5 girls were not confident in mathematics.
It’s our job as educators to find ways to encourage girls to pursue mathematics and foster a love for the subject. One way to do this is by connecting classroom maths with our learners’ real-world environments, showing them that maths is relevant to the everyday activities they value and love.
In New Zealand, sport is an important part of everyday ‘kiwi’ life, and netball is very popular with girls. So why not use the sport to spark their interest in the subject?
There are lots of mathematical concepts hidden in the game of netball. Here are some teaching ideas to use next time your learners are on the court.