Course code

KAL7117.HR

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Matemaatikadidaktika ja õpiraskused

Course title in English

Didactics of Mathematics and Learning Difficulties

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester

Kaja Belials (language of instruction:Estonian)

lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

The student obtains knowledge of teaching mathematics at the 1st school level, becomes familiar with the subject's content and different methodological ways of teaching, obtains knowledge of setting goals in teaching mathematics, forms an ability to plan study activities. To provide an overview of the nature of mathematical difficulties and the possibilities for surpassing/correcting them, to form an understanding of mathematical problems. Uses evolving digital technology, finds and retains necessary information with the help of digital aids.

Brief description of the course

Main tasks in mathematics and teaching goals at the 1st school level. Content of subject and main points of emphasis in mathematics. Different learning methods and forms. Structure of a mathematics class, required study materials. Algorithms and strategies of mental calculation and written calculation. Natural numbers up to 10,000: numeration, writing numbers. Text tasks, their types, creation, analysis and solving. Introduction to geometry. Units of measurement and connections between them.
Support systems created for overcoming mathematical obstacles. The role of tutoring in overcoming mathematical obstacles. Individual curriculum.
The reasons and nature of learning difficulties. Explaining reasons and planning work.
The neuropsychological background system of teaching mathematics. Neurological and pedagogical viewpoint. The relationship between mathematical difficulties and behaviour.
Identifying students with learning difficulties, teaching strategies. General description of errors. Stages of problem solving. Analysis and nature of and reasons for successful and unsuccessful students' errors. General description of mental processes and the basics of correction work.
The didactic system of overcoming mathematical obstacles - ordering, grouping, comparing; set, figure, number, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Teaching mathematics through sub-skills. Practice in working with students with learning difficulties. Requirements of practice. Spatial perception problems, ways of developing spatial imagination, the importance of illustration in developing visual-spatial perception.
Teaching word problems to students with mathematical learning difficulties. Word problem situation model and mathematical situation model.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- understands the logic of the structure of the mathematical learning process at the 1st school level;
- is able to critically assess the content of study literature and tie it in to the study process;
- is able to plan a mathematics lesson and create a lesson plan;
- is able to apply motivational ways of teaching;
- can notice and advise a student with difficulties in learning mathematics, their parents and their mathematics teacher;
- knows which support systems may be applied to support a student with mathematical learning difficulties.
- is able to develop a child's mental processes which form the basis for learning different topics in mathematics.

Teacher

Kaja Belials, Krista Jaanus

Prerequisite course 1

General Didactics (KAT6009.HR)

The course is a prerequisite

Study programmes containing that course

Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/23.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/22.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/21.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/20.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/19.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/00.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/18.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/17.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/16.HR)