Mathematics Song

Prime Number

Hey my friends, hey my friends

I have a something new

There are 2, 3, and 5

Do you know what are they?

Its name is prime number

And then has two factors

Number 1 and itself

They are its factors

(Song: "Pelangi")

THE SOUNDTRACK OF LIFE

Mathematics can we practice from a song. It is also more fun! Believe it! Why? Because we can express our emotion and our expression. Do you know? From a song, we can show our creativity. That is that Mr. Marsigit give to his students include me. We were given some mathematics songs.

Song: Do you know about math

It is tell us what mathematics is. There are many chapters in mathematics. For example : multiply, memorizing pi, take limits, to simplify, graphing utility, trigonometry, limits, logarithm, exponential, etc. From that song we know that learn mathematics is fun.

Song: Perimeter

From this song we can learn how to measure perimeter of a shape. It can be circle, triangle, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoidal, kite, etc.

Song: Mean, median, and mode

From this song we learn about statistic. We can practice how to find median, mean, and mode. Mean is the average of the data. To find mean, it is to add up the numbers in the data, then divide the total by the number of items. Then median is the middle value, to find it, we must look arrange the numbers in order from the lowest to the highest values. The middle number is the median for an odd number of items. The average of two middle numbers is the median for an even number of items. Mode is the value that often arise, to determine it just find the number that repeats most often.  If there is no number that repeats most often, there is no mode.

Song: The math song

It is song from Bruno Mars with title The Lazy Song. That song is made with fun style. So, it can interest student. We can practice more easy.

Then some videos from Mr. Marsigit. That video show about derivative, integer, and angle.

Derivative is slope of tangent line at point (x, f(x)) ((x+h),f(x+h)), h is change of x. Slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1). Definition of derivative F’(x)= limh→0 (f(x+h)-f(x))/h. So, derivative is a slope. Derivative is limit a slope, limit change. Then, try find f’(2) from f(x)= 4×2-8x+3. Substitute f(2) and f (2+h)to the function. Then, simplify and factory.

Integer is whole number, not fractional or decimal. Whole numbers that greater than zero are called positive integers, It is on the right of zero in the number line. Whole numbers less than zero are called negative integers, it is on the left of zero in the number line. In the integer, there are place number, such as unit place, tens place, hundred place, thousand place, etc.

Angle. There are several kinds of angles: acute angle, the angle whose measure is less than 90⁰. The angle brackets, which the measure is 90^0. Obtuse angle, the angle whose measure is greater than 90⁰. Straight angle, the angle whose measure is180⁰. Two angles that complement each other is total of the measure is 90⁰. Two angles that supplement each other is total of the measure is 180⁰. Vertical angles are two angles that the places are opposite each other. Angle bisector is a ray that splits an angle became two congruent angles. Perpendicular lines are intersecting lines that from right angle.

That’s all…. So, we can say that practice mathematics is fun. Sing your own song and show your expression. Be creative student!

TEACH MATHEMATICS, TEACH OUR LIFE

Stadium General

Monday, March 12th 2012, 1 p.m.

By Prof. Mohan Chinnappan, Ph.D

Last Monday, I had to join a stadium general at Seminar Room floor 2, MIPA. It was also task from my lecturer, Mr. Marsigit. There was presented someone from Australia that was Prof. Mohan Chinnappan, Ph.D. I must make a report after I attended the stadium general. During the stadium general, I try to listen carefully and write that I can understand. It was very pleasant because from him I can know about education from other country especially about mathematics education.

Many things that Prof. Mohan Chinnappan, Ph.D. explained to participant. First, about mathematical thinking like the theory of Shigeo Katagiri. It include 3 matters.

Mathematical thinking consist of:

1.      Mathematical attitude

2.      Mathematical method

3.      Mathematical content

Then, an analogy between mathematics and tailor. Before the tailor sew the cloth, he make draw what will he sew. He does it in order to make easy when he sew the cloth. So, there is no mistake and his job will finished well. We can say that the sailor make a pattern. From that pattern, he can work well. Now, like the sailor, mathematics also have pattern. That pattern has function when we learn mathematics. So, pattern and relationship in mathematics include:

1.      Problem solving

2.      Communication

3.      Investigation

The next explanation is about religion knowledge and mathematics knowledge. There is a question. What is the relationship between natural knowledge and religion knowledge? To answer it, Prof. Mohan Chinnappan, Ph.D. give example of some matter.

1.      Relationship between praying and mathematics. Before and finish the lesson we are praying.

2.      Zakat is depend on our property. To count how much we must give zakat, we can use mathematical operation. Every kind property that we have, it is has different calculation. So, we need mathematics.

3.      We can calculate inheritance.

4.      Zero = notion of nothing. It use for nothing. Decimal system become more complete.

5.      Basis number  system: 0, 1,2, 3, . . ., 9. We can not change the position of Al-Qur’an.

From that explanation, we can state that there is close connection between mathematics and religion.

Then, it is about culture in Indonesia. What is the culture of Indonesia in mathematics knowledge? Mathematics can be interpreted in Indonesian culture. From our culture, we can know how mathematics is used. When count the day dead in Java like “pasaran” days. For example is Pon, Wage, Kliwon, 7 days, 100 days, 1000 days, etc. It is just use modulo five.

The other is the construction of temple. Geometry construction is five steps and around the temple there is relief. Ramayana: 1 à earth

                                                   2 à couple

                                                   0 à the symbol of loss

There is also important about lesson study to teach. Lesson study include teachers as model, observers, and resource persons. Lesson study is based on students  learning activities.

In lesson study, we need to do three actions. First, detailed planning. Include material approach, how to present to the students, and the estimated constraints. Second, doing. Present the lesson, observing the activity of students, when students begin to learn, when students are getting bored, and what activities that support student learning and not support the learning. We must pay attention our student in the class and need to understand situation in the class. Third, reflection. In reflection, we do evaluation. From activities in the class, we can conclude many things. So, we can know if we do a mistake or there are something that we must be increased or decreased. Teacher must have strategy to teach his/her students. The lesson study can help teacher to solve the problem and make the teacher ready when face his/her students. So, we should involve lesson study in the class room.

The last session is discussion. There are some question from the participants.

- So many subject in the school because some society need many knowledge. So they must study more. To understand more knowledge, we need learn more subject. It is different with Indonesia. In Indonesia, the subjects are more than in Australia.

- In Australia, people can choose 5 subjects since 12 years old. For example science, mathematics, language, etc. It is also different. In Indonesia, students learn all subjects since in elementary school. Then in senior high school, there are three majors and also kind of school like SMA, SMK, etc.

- How to teaching mathematics in Australia? Use ICT, smart board, Internet to download and solve problem, and use laptop, etc. From Prof. Mohan Chinnappan, Ph.D. answer, we know that facilities in Australia are more good than in Indonesia.

- How to cope with children with skills below average?  

Based on the facilities on the school. Government also support the school. Teacher creates worksheets that correspond to student ability. Learning to do and learning to be.

- Character of education in Indonesia and Australia is different.

Australia: secular country and liberal democracy.

Indonesia: there is religion school for example Islamic school, Christian school. But public school do not support religion as many as in religion school.

For the closing, there are some conclusions:

- We need to be rational to the subjects and what kind of activity.

- Developing of teacher professionalism.

- Understand national curriculum and theory in mathematics.

- Attention to our culture and we have characteristics because our culture is important.

- How to manage the different competence in mathematics.