Some Indigenous Strategies in Mathematics Teaching: Taking the Artefacts into the Classroom

Abstract

KEYWORDS Indigenous Materials. Communication. Mathematics Teaching. Technology. Curriculum Development ABSTRACT This paper explores the use of indigenous materials to promote better communication and understanding of mathematical concepts among learners in classroom teaching. It is illustrated on how to use local materials to construct figures that results into proof of mathematical theorems and also examples given are illustrated using Sketchpad program to explore how this technology tool can be used to renovate traditional artefacts in teaching and learning mathematics. The authors argue that such an approach, of using local materials to teach mathematics content by relating what is taught in the classroom to the environment where the learners live, can be an effective way of communication in mathematics teaching. It is recommended that the curriculum development process include indigenous materials in the school syllabus for better understanding of mathematics content taught in class.