Month: August 2019

Maths and Me: Student Homework

yangd103488@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sgLeave a comment
  1. Spend around 10 minutes reading through these questions and thinking about what some of your answers might be

 

1 Your name and previous mathematics experience (IGCSE, MYP, FIB, any other course)

My name is Kinley Yangden and I come from Bhutan. I don’t’ have any experiences on the courses mentioned above as the curriculum in my country is different. In grade 10, we do BCSEA (Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessments.) 
2 What might be some of the feelings that you associate with mathematics?

-I enjoy mathematics and I love solving mathematical questions though I find it hard to solve the analytical and critical questions. I get curious whenever I study a new topic in math.

How do you feel about starting this course and why?

-I feel nervous and anxious but at the same time excited to learn this new course. These are mainly because it’s a new challenge that I will be facing  and I want to do it well.
3 How do you like to learn mathematics?

Where would you put yourself on this continuum and why:Where would you put yourself on this continuum and why: 

I would put myself in both the continuum because sometimes when i don’t understand analytical questions in math I always ask help from my friends who knows the concepts and teachers which are actually really helpful. Also when someone explains things to me, I am able to understand the concepts through different perspectives which will help me to remember for a long time and I find it easier as well. 

I also like working things out for myself. If i don’t understand something in the class, I try to do it at home by referring to my notes and by looking at some examples. I also do research for the particular topic if i don’t understand. thus , I like to work things out for myself as well.
4 What do you do when you are “stuck” in mathematics? 

In your past experiences, how have you successfully overcome such misunderstandings?

-whenever I get stuck in mathematics, I always try to refer the examples first and even after that, if I don’t understand then I discuss with my friends. If my friends are also stuck in the same topic then we go to the teacher to ask for help.
5 Which one of the following skills is your biggest strength in learning mathematics?

– I feel that my biggest strength in learning mathematics is Open minded at the same time curious.

Which one might be the biggest area of focus for your mathematics in the first few weeks of Grade 11?

– A critical thinker

-A problem solver

  • A critical thinker
  • A problem solver
  • Inquiring/questioning
  • Creative
  • Innovative/Original
  • Imaginative
  • Curious
  • Interested
  • Adaptable
  • Persistent
  • A risk-taker
  • Collaborative
  • A leader
  • Organised
  • Flexible
  • A good communicator
  • A self-manager
  • Independent
  • Diligent
  • Organised
  • Responsible
  • Open minded
  • Optimistic
  • Confident
  • Self disciplined
  • Reflective
6 Is there anything else you want your maths teachers to know about you?

– In my country, we don’t follow any curriculum that are similar to IB, IGCSE, MYP or FIB. However, the students who have been studying here are exposed to one of the curriculums and they know more compared to us. Also in terms of learning, they are one or two steps ahead of us. So I would like to request if you could kindly be considerate to make sure while teaching that if all the students have studied that particular topic beforehand or not. Cause sometimes teachers assume that if two or more students know the concepts, everyone knows it.  In addition, english is not my first language so sometimes I struggle to catch up when teachers speak fast.

Reflection 1: English

yangd103488@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sgLeave a comment
  • What has changed? What has stayed the same?
  • I feel that the way I think about other people and being able to understand their situation has changed into a  strong movement. Also, I have developed more self confidence, determination and inspiration. In addition to that, I strongly feel that I have changed the way I think about myself over these two years and have become more open. These are mainly because of my exposure to the outside world and curiosity. However, my passion for playing sports and being an athlete,  musics and making new friends have not changed at all.

 

  • To what extent do identities change over time? Why?
  • Identities are the characteristics and personalities of a human being and one might change his/her identity anytime; depending on the situation or the new environment that they are exposed to. For example, James is a silent, gentle and not so popular boy in the school but his friends can influence him by saying that if he dyed his hair blond or grey, he could become popular. If he does what they tell him then he is changing his identity and not being who he really is. Nevertheless, identities can change over time depending on situation, circumstances, environment and many more.

 

  • Do we have one fixed identity or multiple?
  • Personally and generally, I feel that everyone has multiple identity because a person can have different identities at a different age. Their personalities can change depending on the environment, influence from people around them and what they go through as they grow up.

 

  • To what extent does this text (Starburst Identity Chart) represent your full identity?
  • My identity is like a growing tree. The tree grows and changes in different seasons and so do I change as I grow. Sometimes, it looks beautiful and sometimes dull. The words in the starburst identity chart expresses only some part of my identity and I feel that I cannot express my identity through text.

 

  • Can you suggest a text that can more completely capture your identity?
  • I don’t think there are texts that can completely capture my identity.

 

  • How do graphic elements in this text contrast to show multiple perspectives?
  • The arrows that point outside shows what we think about ourselves and knowing our own characteristics and personalities. Where the other arrow that points inside the circle shows what other people think about me through judging without knowing my identities.

 

  • In what ways can the loss and search for identity be represented in this text?