Maths teachers of six central schools in Trashigang, Monggar and Pema Gatshel will be using a new software to teach mathematics.
Known as Maple 2016.2, the software is expected to create a better teaching and learning environment and solve problems in mathematics easily.
For this, some 14 maths teachers underwent a three-day training on how to use the software. The software provides step by step solutions for a problem and will be used for the first time in the selected schools. It will be used for classes 11 and 12 only as most of the concept can be taught through the software.
The Head of Department of Mathematics and computer Science of Sherubtse College, Balamurugan, said the general belief that Bhutanese students are poor in mathematics should be changed.
“Students have be tamed from the school itself. If you are not going to study, you are not going to perform well,” he said. “Complaining is no point. We have to address it somewhere. For that reason we developed and purchased the software so that it will have a cascading effect to the students in learning.”
Math teachers said until now, students and teachers have to visualize the shapes and graphs. But with the software, it will provide a clear picture in three-dimensional or 3D shapes.
“With the software, we can actually show the X axis, Y axis, Z axis which was not possible before,” said Ugyen Lhamo, a maths teacher of Rangjung Central School in Trashigang. “Now, students can actually see and practice for themselves. So in that way, students learn better and we teach better,” she added.
Sherubtse College bought 30 licensed Maple 2016.2 costing about Nu 500,000 and will be distributed to the six schools. Each schools were given two licensed software. If found useful, the college plans to provide software to other schools in the country as well.
