Why a Maths Camp?
“The top 15 highest-earning college degrees (in the US) all have one thing in common — math skills.” - (US) National Association of Colleges and Employers
“Math is at the crux of who gets paid, if you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. (US)” - Ed Koc, director of research at NACE (US National Association of Colleges and Employers)
As Ghana develops it’s ec
onomy one of the key skills that can lead to leapfrogging is the use of mathematical talent. This is already happening in Asia where they are getting the top maths grades. Mathematics teaches you to be a logical thinker, a problem solver and a methodical and detailed worker. These broad skills are vital for almost any job or challenge a student will face after their studies. Doing well in mathematics will be the best preparation for their working life, regardless of what they decide to do. Any piece of technology that you use today has been made possible through the advances in mathematical knowledge. Projections for the growth of a country are based on mathematical models. Research in any subject requires diverse mathematical skills. This makes us passionate about mathematics. We see how it has become entwined in all walks of life and we would like to share this passion for mathematics with students. Unfortunately, these important facts are not known to most Ghanaian students, and consequently, interest in the subject and its perceived value is very low. The Maths Camp is a step towards reversing this. For students, the Maths Camp aims to change and improve their attitude towards maths, sparking an increased interest in the subject through the method of learning and introducing participatory resources. They will use some of the latest mathematics software such as GeoGebra and Scratch to explore mathematics and programming. They will also learn about exciting, current research being done using mathematics and meet lecturers and researchers from around the world. The Maths Camp is a part of a bigger picture to see a transformation of the teaching and learning of Maths that goes beyond calculation. The event embraces the use of proactive teaching and learning activities, and the use of ICT and games to help students learn maths in a fun way. There is no escaping mathematics, and once you understand it you would not want to. The main aims of the Maths Camp are for students to: Develop problem solving skills through mathematical activities, games and puzzles. Experience a computer based environment with the latest mathematical software. Meet mathematics teachers, lecturers and researchers from Ghana and beyond. Discover ways mathematics is being used in the world today, by looking at current research.
