This PPT deals with Teaching Slow Learners in Mathematics Education with Some Innovative Technology and Strategies

1. TEACHING SLOW LEARNERS IN
MATHEMATICS: INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES
R.Rajkumar
Ph.D Scholar
Department of Education
Periyar University
Salem-11

2. INTRODUCTION
The importance of teaching and learning of
mathematics today one of the greatest
challenges to a mathematics teacher is
teaching mathematics to children who
are slow learners.
Slow learners are being characterized as
functioning at ability significantly
below grade level and consistently
scoring low on achievement level.
As part of the means to improve the
achievement level of slow learners
through new innovative technologies
and Learning Strategies.

3. DEFINITIONS OF SLOW
LEARNERS
“Slow learners are children who
are doing poorly in school, yet
are not eligible for special
education; their intelligence
test scores are too high for
consideration as a child with
mental retardation” (Mercer,
1996)
• Although slow learners may
have special educational
needs, they do not fit neatly
into the special education
system (MacMillan, Gresham,
Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).

4. Basic Causes of Slow Learning in
Mathematics
Slow learners may have any combination of identifiable
dysfunctionalities like attention deficit disorders (ADD),
dyscalculia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia or dysnomia
or hyperactivity and sometimes none.
Other causes identified and include students’ problems
(visual motor coordination, negative attitude towards
Mathematics, divergence opinions or views on concept,
generalization and skills, lack of maturity on future need).

5. Functions at ability but significantly below grade level.
Is prone to immature interpersonal relationships.
Has difficulty following multi-step directions.
Lives in the present and does not have range goals.
Have few internal strategies i.e. organizational skills, difficulty transferring and generalizing information.
Scores consistently low on achievement tests.
Works well with “hands-on” material (i.e labs; manipulative, activities).
Has a poor self-image.
Works on all tasks slowly
Masters skills slowly, some skills may not be mastered at all.

6. STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING
MATHEMATICS TO SLOW LEARNERS
Time: Slow learners need more time to understand
and figure out how to use basic mathematical
concepts.
Concept Building: Slow learners have difficulty with
new mathematical concepts, so previous math
concept helps to build confidence in the
mathematics subject and provides a framework to
build mastery of new skills.

7. Real World Examples: Teaching a new skill
such as addition or multiplication is made
easier when the teacher gives real-world
examples or allows for physical
representations of the mathematical problem.
Because slow learners have difficulty with
imaginary concepts, the physical example
provides guidance and structure.
Reward
Drill: One commonsense strategy for teaching
mathematics slow learners is repetition: drill,
drill, drill until they get it.

8. Multimodal Approach: Use different modes of instruction to convey the
same lesson. Show pictures and videos, conduct games and group activities
and provide hands-on tools that can reinforce learning mathematics. Have
students build models, paint pictures or act out scenes that explain an idea.
Give student’s mnemonics that will help them memorize the names of the
planets or trigonometric ratios or mathematical formulas.
Personalization: Many slow learners suffer from low self-esteem and lack
confidence in calculating mathematics. We can address this not only by
praising small achievements but also by personalizing lessons. Introduce
topics that are of special interest to the student in question, make up math
problems about the student and his friends and make sure we provide
some activities the student can be successful at every day in the classroom.
Find out which mode of instruction best suits a particular student verbal,
visual or kinesthetic and try to provide reinforces in that mode.

9. Try sound therapy: It is an effective way of helping the students who
have a problem in learning mathematics. In this method the
therapist uses sound and tools which stimulate auditory pathways to
help students in improving their concentration power. This therapy
might also come handy in enhancing the auditory transmission in
the brain by stimulating the muscles near the ear passage and might
help them in regaining the original power or capability.
Cognition training: It’s a technique that might be helpful for the
students in enhancing their level of perception and cognition and
might be helpful for the students in increasing their focus, especially
on the subject like mathematics. Moreover, it could also boots
student’s neurological connections and could prove helpful for
students in growing fast in the academics.

10. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR
TEACHING MATHEMATICS TO SLOW
LEARNERS
Audio and Video Instruction: Slow learners need extra
time for remedial and enrichment activities. Students
can listen to relevant educational radio programme
which also has positive effect on the slow learners
learning. The video instruction provides unique
experience to the slow learners in the presentation
of instructional content. It penetrates more deeply
into human character with an immediate excitement
than any other single medium.

11. Mastery Learning Strategy: Mastery learning is a system of instruction
that emphasises the mathematics achievement of instructional objectives
by all students by allowing learning time to vary. The basic idea behind
mastery learning is to make sure that all or almost all the students have
learned a particular skill to a pre-established level of mastery before
moving on to the next skill. Once the slow learners have the experience of
mastery learning and attain a pre-determined mastery level, the learning
will build on learning leading them to a remarkable success or
achievement.
Modular Instruction: Module is a self contained auto instructional package
dealing with a single conceptual unit or subject matter. Instruction through
modules has been found very effective for all levels of students and it is
found more effective with regard to low achievers and slow learners.
Modular instruction takes care of concrete presentation of subject matter
by incorporating necessary diagrams, sketches, pictures, worksheets,
examples etc. with the learning material at appropriate places. Thus, in
many ways, the modular instruction proves to be suitable for slow learners.

12. Computer Assisted Instruction: Computer
assisted instruction is a kind of individualised
instruction administered by a computer and
its roots has in programmed instruction and
in the behavioural theories of learning. CAI
programmes stress drill and practice exercise,
others teach students facts and concepts. It
gives instant knowledge of results and
provides immediate feedbacks which are very
essential for slow learners to ameliorate their
learning process. In this method every
student can learn at his own rate.

13. CONCLUSION
Slow learners are care for being duly helped in
terms of rate of learning and educational
achievement in mathematics.
Innovative technologies are provides a tool which
can be introduced to remedy and assist learners
and teachers overcome these challenges.
Personal learning environments are the way
forward and technology with its authoring and
monitoring features are a welcome addition to
both teachers and students.