Mix Questions

The goal of mathematics teaching at school is to build usable skills notably in the areas of numeracy (numbers, operations, measurements, decimals, and percentages). The overall goal is to teach the student how to think and reason mathematically as well as how to follow assumptions to their logical conclusions and deal with abstractions.

Key Points

•  Desirable teaching practices in mathematics-
  • Encouraging students for reasoning while solving problems- The teacher should create challenging and meaningful problems for the students to include hands-on activity in the class and determine that every student has actually learned the objective of the class.
  • Incorporate storytelling to make a connection to the real world. this method contributes to the mental development of children and also helps them to be comfortable in the classroom, story function in terms of a pedagogical and social sense.
  • Memorization should not be promoted- Memorization does not lead to a deeper understanding of the information and there is no scope for developing logical thinking and investigation.

Hence, we can conclude that the most desirable feature of mathematics teaching is to create and pose challenging and meaningful problems for the student.

The objectives of teaching environmental studies are to create awareness about environmental problems among children and impart basic knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.

Key Points

• Environmental education focuses on studying the interactions between humans and the environment.
• The main objective is solving real-world problems like pollution, deforestation, waste production, or global warming.
• A teacher, therefore, plays an important role in providing environmental awareness and developing a positive attitude and perception towards the environment among students.
• It aims to develop cognitive, affective, and psychomotor, or cognitive domains simultaneously.
• So, the teacher should focus more on the perception of children i.e., he should focus on how they learn and build their concepts by actively interacting with their environment.
• It will help teachers understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, builds the knowledge and skills necessary. 

Thus, it is clear above that the main focus of environmental studies is to change the attitude and perceptions of children.

The role of the textbook and the teacher, the NCF 2005 emphasizes that learners formulate their own knowledge by connecting new ideas to existing ones on the basis of material/activities (experiences).

Key PointsThe section on ‘Do this and find out is included in different topics in the EVS textbook to -

• In NCF 2005, the teaching-learning of EVS is visualized as including children’s interaction with real-life situations.
• Through, Do this and find out, children get actual engagement, hands-on experience, and reflections on day-to-day activities.
• This approach of learning is referred to as ‘Learning by doing’ which suggests that children actively construct their understanding or knowledge while directly interacting with their environment.
• In this approach children learn (construct new knowledge) by fitting new information together with what they already know, this helps build learning on what is known developing positive attitudes, values, and practices such as respect and care for all life on earth, compassion, caring for self and others, conservation of natural resources, appreciation of cooperative learning, sense of belonging, social responsibility, valuing culture, etc.

Hence, the section on ‘Do this and find out’ included in different topics in EVS textbooks aims at providing direct hands-on experiences.

Social science is the branch of science devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. 

Key PointsMain objectives of teaching social studies at the primary level are - 

• The teaching of social studies is aimed at helping learners to develop greater awareness of themselves to clarify and examine their values and to establish a sense of self-identity.
• The teaching of social studies helps promote learners' concern for the development of an understanding and acceptance of others in the society with different values and lifestyles.
• Social studies teaching helps provide learners with an understanding of past events and persons and their roles in shaping present day lives and a visualisation of future changes.
• Social studies teaching helps provide learners with a knowledge of human systems in areas of economics, government, and culture, and how they are part of this society.
• Social studies teaching helps provide learners the skills necessary to carry out an independent investigation of problems and to react critically to the solutions posed by others.
• Social studies teaching aims at providing learners with an awareness of possible situations and their possible roles in shaping the future.
• Social studies helps provide learners with an appreciation of people's efforts to improve human conditions through creative expression and problem-solving.
• Social studies teaching provides learners with an understanding of the decision-making processes involved in human interaction and with the skills necessary to become effective decision-makers. 

Therefore, from the above points, it is clear that to keep record of crimes in society is not an objective of teaching social studies at the primary level.

The use of the term ‘field work’ emphasizes some of the formal exercises which are done outside of the classroom, usually in biology and geology at senior high school and tertiary levels. These activities may be considered to be a subset of field trips or excursions. Field trips are an important part of the curriculum because it provides opportunities for hands-on experience.  

• It is a visit to a place outside the regular classroom which is designed to achieve certain objectives, which cannot be achieved as well by using other means.
• The textbooks provide conceptual knowledge but cannot provide hands-on- experience that may create difficulty in achieving educational objectives. 
• It provides practical knowledge through personal experience. It is the appropriate tool to engage children effectively and actively in the learning process.

Key PointsField trips or excursions play a significant role in science teaching learning BECAUSE:-

• It helps in clarifying the subject matter.
• It creates interest in the subject. 
• It has entertainment value and makes learning enjoyable.
•  It helps the learners in establishing contact with the outer world. 
• It develops a scientific attitude and scientific temper among the learners. 
• Filed trips or excursions are very useful in collecting useful material. 
• Excursions help in developing the spirit of cooperation among the learners.
•  It provides an opportunity for the selection of the projects.

Concluding our discussion you will get to know that the scientific excursions or trips when organized in a systematic and proper way prove to be quite effective and useful from the point of view of the realization of the aims and objectives of teaching science.

Thus, it is concluded that Because of All of the above options field trips or excursions play an important role in science teaching-learning.

An intellectual disability that is also known as mental retardation (M.R.) is the most common disability found among children with special needs. It is considered a substantial limitation in present functioning.

• It starts before the age of 18, the intellectual functioning level of a child becomes below average and that can be measured by the standardized tests used for measuring the intelligence quotient.

Key Points

• The mentally retarded are those whose normal intellectual growth is arrested before birth, during the birth process, or in the early years of development.
• They learn slowly and through imitating their peers or teachers. They have a short memory and forget things easily.
• They have problems in communication, social interaction, managing their daily tasks, speech disturbances. They show immaturity in different social situations.
• Mental retardation may vary in different individuals, ranging from mild to profound. They require special care and supervision for their welfare and for the development of their capacities.​

Hence, it could be concluded that the ability to generalize is not a learning characteristic of a mentally retarded person.

Motivation is the encouragement that drives a person to work for a specific cause. It allows a person to put efforts in a focused manner to achieve a goal.

• For example, Athletes are motivated to win the competition to earn the gold medal and the glory that comes with it. Corporate companies are motivated to develop new products to earn more profits.
• Motivation is also linked with learning. A motivated person enables himself/herself to learn new skills to overcome the challenges faced to achieve the goal. 

Key Points

• Motivation controls and directs/channelizes the focus of a person towards the work. E.g. an athlete is always conscious about the diet and calorie intake and eats strictly according to the diet plan. It helps an athlete learn about the significance of nutrition. 
• Motivation is objective and can be defined. An objective idea is one that does not change with persons. Motivation to win a gold medal speaks for the objective and is indifferent to the person who sets the target. A definite objective also defines the learning requirements as it clearly enlightens the skills required to complete the objective. 
• Motivation is concerned with reinforcement and rewards as the objective of the motivation always encourages a person to work for the reward. Reinforcement occurs through motivation as on the path of achieving something, a person undergoes skill development which bolsters a person and boosts the morale to achieve the desired results.

Thus, it is concluded that all the above options are correct in the context of motivation and learning.

The teaching method is a way to put theory in practice with the help of principles, pedagogy, and management strategies. It helps the teachers to plan and present the lesson coherently.

• There are various kinds of teaching methods in fashion to facilitate learning and 'Project Method' is one of them. 

Key Points

• Project teaching method is associated with W.H. Killpatrick.  
• The Project method emphasizes active learning by association and mutual co-operation of a group of peers to complete a specific project effectively.

Characteristics of Project Method:

• Relates learning with real-life.

• Promotes learners' active participation.
• Develops abstract and concrete scientific skills.

• Encourages the application of practical knowledge.
• Ensures learners' individual and collective development.

Hence, it could be concluded that the Project method is associated with Kilpatrick.

Additional Information 

Social stratification can be defined as the arrangement of groups of individuals in hierarchical positions based on criteria like wealth, prestige, ethnicity, gender, and power. Because of the similarity of their positions in the social structure they develop a consciousness of who they are, what their common problems are, and what should be done to remove these problems. A social class is a group of individuals who have more or less similar wealth. 

Important Points

Class: Most modem societies have class-based stratification.

• However many features of traditional stratification may be observed in modem societies such as elements of the caste system and feudalism found in India.
• But with economic development, class-based stratification is becoming increasingly imminent.

Caste: Caste is a much-debated topic in India. The word 'caste refers to the Spanish word 'Casta' which means 'breed' in Spanish.

• In the Indian context, it represents caste and its related social practice.
• The caste system influences the social life of the Indian in several ways, as it assigns ascribed status to its members.
• According to the Rig Veda, the oldest and most important of all the four Vedas, four Varnas are placed in a hierarchical order-the Brahmans, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras.
• The profession of brahmans is that of priests and teachers. The Kshatriyas are warriors and rulers. The Visayas(Vis)are traders and other common people. The Shudras occupy the lowest position in the hierarchy and perform menial tasks.
• According to some historians, there is a fifth Varna, the untouchables, and they are not considered as a part of society. The tribes and people of other religions are also considered outside the Varna system

Gender: The unequal access to resources, opportunities, and rewards, and rights between men and women are legitimized by patriarchy across societies and cultures.

• Status inequality between men and women is not a new phenomenon that is reinforced through patriarchy and its institutions, gendered division of labor, and social institutions like marriage, dowry, property, and inheritance, and subordination.
• Women’s value is defined by their reproductive abilities rather than by their productive activities.
• Bridewealth is considered as compensation to the bride's parents or her kin for the productive and reproductive rights of the bride; dowry as a form of inheritance provides a bride with land and other wealth and helps her to attract a husband.

Religion: Another important aspect of the pluralism of India and at times cause a social conflict is a religion. As is well known, India is home to many religions. Almost all major religions in the world have followers in India.

• These include Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and several others in small numbers.
• Hindus constitute 79.8% of the population and are present in almost every part of the country.
• Islam is the second most dominant religion, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists are comparatively small in numbers yet are an important part of India’s diversity. Sikhs constitute a majority in the state of Punjab, Muslims constitute a majority in Jammu and Kashmir, and have a significant presence in the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Assam.
• Christians also are spread all over India with a significant population in North Eastern States, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• At the Social level, in general, there is harmonious co-existence and respect for each other’s religion.
• However, some vested interests particularly for political support, exploit the religious sentiments of the masses to keep them divided. That at times causes conflicts and growth of communalism.

Hence, we conclude that social stratification in India is mainly based on caste, class, religion, and gender.

Development refers to an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs. It is a product of the interaction of hereditary and environment. The major domains of development such as physical, mental, social-emotional, and language are developed in an integrated and holistic process.

Key PointsAnal powers of a child-like imagination power, intelligence, ability to make decisions, etc. are related to the child's 'mental development' as mental development:

• refers to the development of the ability to understand, learn, reason, think, perceive, and solve a problem.
• refers to the development of the ability to explore and process information to learn and understand the things around him.
• includes the acquisition of those abilities which help the individual to make sense i.e. perceiving, organizing, storing, retrieving, utilizing, and transacting. ​ 

Important Points

Other domains of development:

Hence, it could be concluded that the analytical powers of a child-like imagination power, intelligence, ability to make decisions, etc. are related to the child's 'mental development.