ERIC Number: EJ1290184
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Incorporating Popular Media to Engage Students
Meadows, Michelle; Caniglia, Joanne
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12, v114 n3 p174-186 Mar 2021
According to former National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) president Cathy L. Seeley (2014), students experience more success when they engage in doing mathematics (i.e., writing about or discussing mathematics, modeling situations, or exploring ideas in the classroom). She further recommended that teachers pose challenging problems or tasks that are related to real-world and compelling mathematical contexts as a way to spark student interest. Involvement in a task does not imply true engagement, which is much deeper--it is "in-task" behavior that includes a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, active participation in relevant classroom activities, and a genuine value and enjoyment of mathematics (Attard 2018). Popular media (i.e., movies, television shows, plays, books, songs, and social media) offer opportunities for teachers to engage students in challenging and authentic tasks that relate to real-world culture. Media resources can be incorporated into the classroom to increase student interest in mathematics by providing tasks that are relevant and motivating. Within the last three decades, the study of mathematics and work by mathematicians have been portrayed in the media with greater frequency. This article examines how mathematics is found in popular media and shares examples of how teachers can portray an image of mathematics that is both beautiful and powerful within the classroom.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Teaching Methods, Learner Engagement, Mass Media, Books, Popular Culture, Student Interests, Student Motivation, Television, Social Media, Films, Error Correction, Stereotypes, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: nctm@nctm.org; Web site: https://pubs.nctm.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A