Sunday, December 29, 2019

A Close Look at the Singapore Math Method

One of the harder things parents have to do when it comes to their child’s schooling is understand a new method of learning. As the Singapore Math Method gains popularity, it’s starting to be used in more schools across the nation, leaving more parents to figure out what this method is all about. A close look at the philosophy and framework of Singapore Math can make it easier to understand what’s going on in your child’s classroom. The Singapore Math Framework The framework of Singapore Math is developed around the idea that learning to problem-solve and develop mathematical thinking are the key factors in being successful in math.The framework states: â€Å"The development of mathematical problem-solving ability is dependent on five inter-related components, namely, Concepts, Skills, Processes, Attitudes, and Metacognition.†Looking at each component individually makes it easier to understand how they fit together to help children gain skills that can help them solve both abstract and real-world problems. 1. Concepts When children learn mathematical concepts, they are exploring the ideas of branches of math like numbers, geometry, algebra, statistics and probability, and data analysis. They’re not necessarily learning how to work the problems or the formulas that go with them, but rather gaining an in-depth understanding of what all of these things represent and look like.It’s important for kids to learn that all of math works together and that, for example, addition doesn’t stand by itself as an operation, it carries on and is a part of all the other math concepts as well. Concepts are reinforced using math manipulatives and other practical, concrete materials. 2. Skills Once students have a solid grasp of the concepts, it’s time to move on to learning how to work with those concepts. In other words, once the students have an understanding of the ideas, they can learn the procedures and formulas that go with them. This way the skills are anchored to the concepts, making it easier for students to understand why a procedure works.In Singapore Math, skills don’t just refer to knowing how to work something out with pencil and paper, but also knowing what tools (calculator, measurement tools,etc.) and technology can be used to help solve a problem. 3. Processes The framework explains that processes â€Å"includes reasoning, communication and connections, thinking skills and heuristics, and application and modeling.†Ã‚   Mathematical reasoning is the ability to look carefully at mathematical situations in a variety of different contexts and logically apply the skills and concepts to problem-solve the situation.Communication is the ability to clearly, concisely and logically use the language of math to explain ideas and mathematical arguments.Connections is the ability to see how math concepts are related to each other, how math is related to other areas of study and how math relates to real life.Thinking skills and heuristics are the skills and techniques that can be used to solve a problem. Thinking skills include things like sequencing, classifying and identifying patterns. Heuristics are the experience-based techniques a child can use to create a representation of a problem, take an educated guess, figure out the process to work through a problem or how to reframe a problem. For example, a child may draw a chart, try to guess and check or solve parts of a problem. These are all learned techniques. Application and modelling is the ability to use what you’ve learned about how to solve problems to choose the best approaches, tools and representations for a certain situation. It’s the most complicated of the processes and takes a lot of practice for children to create math models. 4. Attitudes Children’s are what they think and feel about math. Attitudes are developed by what their experiences with learning math are like.So, a child who has fun while developing a good understanding of concepts and acquiring skills is more likely to have positive ideas about the importance of math and confidence in his ability to solve problems. 5. Metacognition Metacognition sounds really simple but is harder to develop than you might think. Basically, metacognition is the ability to think about how you are thinking.For kids, this means not only being aware of what they are thinking, but also knowing how to control what they are thinking. In math, metacognition is closely tied to being able to explaining what was done to solve it, thinking critically about how the plan works and thinking about alternative ways to approach the problem.The framework of Singapore Math is definitely complicated, but it’s also definitely well thought out and thoroughly defined. Whether you’re an advocate for the method or not so sure about it, a better understanding of the philosophy is key in helping your child with math.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The Glorious Mansa Musa Essay - 555 Words

Mansa Musa, the venerable emperor of Mali, famous throughout Africa, revered by his people, was a true renaissance man. Why has history forgotten such a man when it has remembered Julius Caesar, Henry VIII or Napoleon, but not this man? It is because small minded white men only respect other white men, they see all others as inferior. The white dominance of history is obvious when only recently are Asians being recognized, only recently people have heard of men like Genghis Khan or Confucius. Yet Africans have also had great people who need to be recognised and acknowledged. Now is the time to be rid of old prejudice and to acknowledge Mansa Musa, who was not only a great African but a king of one of the most enlightened empires of the†¦show more content†¦In addition, Mansa Musa had a baggage train of 80 camels, each carrying 300 pounds of gold.(Coleman De Graft-Johnson). His caravan, the finest ever seen, was magnificent. He did not just bring his riches to spend, but freely gave it away. Word of his generosity spread, wherever he traveled throughout. Mansa Musa became a legend in the eyes of the people, a man so rich, but generous, powerful, yet humble, and intelligent, but not aloof. Mansa Musa had a vision of making Timbuktu the educational center of Africa. While on his hajj he collected the greatest scholars in Africa. He convinced some of the of the finest minds of Cairo to come, for Mali would only have the best. The mosque of Sankore became the primary â€Å"teaching centre and laid the foundations of the University of Sankore† (Coleman De Graft-Johnson). With Musa’s patronage the University of Sankore became one of the finest universities of the time. The university unlike European universities at the time had no central administration or required courses, instead students focused on specific topics such as religious studies, law and literature(Khiar, Zulkifi). Because of the University of Sankore today colleges and universities allow people to major in a certain field. Under Mansa Musa, Mali became the the largest and one of the most renown kingdoms in Africa. Gold was abundant and the empire was prosperous; what more could one ask for? Though as it turns out fame and prosperity can be fleeting. The empireShow MoreRelatedThe Transformation Of The Mali Empire1527 Words   |  7 Pagesthis time period education and learning were the key to success. This was mainly because many people at this time were not educated. Thus, the percentage of people who were educated had an even greater advantage. As Stephen Agyepong states in a Glorious Age in Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, the Story of Three Great African Empires, â€Å"The divide between the educated and the uneducated was vastly greater during the African civilization times rather than the divide between the educated and uneducatedRead MoreCatal Hyuk2725 Words   |  11 Pages Sultanate of Rum China Byzantine Empire Karkorum Samerkand Constantinople Baghdad Moscow CHAPTER 19: States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa IDENTITIES: Bantu Migrations Stateless Society Sundiata Mansa Musa Ibn Battuta Kinship Groups Age Groups Creator god Cotton Sugar Cane MAPS: Ife Benin Kongo Niger River Senegal River Congo/Zaire River Sahara The sahel Ghana Mali Jenne Timbuktu Gao CHAPTER

Friday, December 13, 2019

Managing the Entourage Club Free Essays

The entourage club is a company by the students and for the students. The basic aim of establishing this club is to provide the students various forms of entertainment under one roof. This club is different from other service providers in the industry in a manner that it does not have the conventional services like health gyms and sports facilities. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing the Entourage Club or any similar topic only for you Order Now But this club is formed to help reduce the stress levels of all the students. The membership will be entitled to people under the age of 30. This club will have various segments catering to the needs of all. The membership fees would be very affordable to attract large crowds. Students of various universities will be hired as managers and will be offered handsome salaries to run the club. Each manager will be appointed based on experience and ability to attract fellow students to the club. The club would have the following entertainment facilities. The entourage club would consist of more than 50 employees that will be working in 6 departments. The hierarchy would be a horizontal one so as to improve communication between the departments. Because the company belongs to the services sector where customer satisfaction is the top most priority. The company’s departments include marketing, finance, customer care, maintenance, creative and human resource department. As mentioned above all the managers and coordinators will be students that would be studying in universities. This would be an on job experience for them and would also help them earn money. However a professional human resource officer would manage the human resource department so that quality recruitment is ensured. Managing the Entourage Club Management in earlier times was described as an art. But as people started developing various theories of effective management it soon became a scientific study. Successful managers who share their experience mainly contribute most of the theories in management. Since through practical it has gained universal acceptance and recognition therefore they are now available to students studying management and is indeed a great benefit. But many a mangers still believe that management is an art. Successful managers are those who have mastered the art and had capabilities. No one gentleman can become a successful manager by reading and memorizing the theories given in the book (Chandler, 2004). As management is a practical filed. But according to me management is a blend of both an art and a science. Since it requires skills to be a manager and the scientific methodology help polish the skills of person. Rather than him learning the skills in the practical field. As today’s world is a competitive one where there is no time to waste. For e.g. In my club if I appoint managers that are new to the field it will take a lot of time for them to gain experience in managing their employees and being productive at their task. But if, they are aware of the various forms and applications of management that they have came across in the theory of management. They indeed will achieve the desired goals in a much small time span as compare to others who have the talent but no prior knowledge. But also if the individual doesn’t possess qualities required for being a manager, then in that case even if he was aware of the theory he would never be successful at taking the company forward. There are four major components of management. They include planning, leading, organizing and controlling PLANNING Organizational planning occurs all the time and in all manners. A top-level manager in a manufacturing plant will have different plans as compare to the supervisor who is responsible for assembling modular homes on an assembly line. Planning could include setting organizational goals. In general, planning can be strategic planning, tactical planning, or contingency planning. Planning is the most important step in any organization. It is the backbone of the company on which future goals are based. It is essential to design a strategy in order to make the planning successful. The grand strategy of my company would be attain customer satisfaction and to achieve the faith and loyalties of my customer. To implement this strategy there will be a need of affective marketing and to provide services in the manner they were described to the customers. In that way only the company will be able to achieve their goodwill. For our company a problem is basically defined as any situation that proves to be a hindrance or obstruction in providing the customers with the services they have paid for. Decisions would be made on the spot with the consultation of all the managers of the department to involve them all in company’s decision making. All employees should be active contributors on the company’s affairs and should provide some value addition. The three types of plans that the company uses in its operations include strategic, tactical and operational plans. Â   How to cite Managing the Entourage Club, Papers