Teaching Mathematics to Blind Students through Programmed Learning Strategies

The book studies the challenges posed in learning Mathematics by the students and looks for answers in the programmed learning methodology. Unfortunately appropriate tactle material and aids are not readily available in schools to help children in developing fundamental mathematical concepts and skills like counting, concept of shape, size and spatial relations, measuring and computation etc. Secondly, the pace of learning Mathematics by students and their individual differences are not taken care of by a teacher. Hence, there is an urgent need to experiment with alternative techniques of learning. Programmed learning is one such technique, which provides for making effective use of appropriate teaching material for learning Mathematics effectively and which also takes care of the pace of learning of students. Programmed learning technique is based on Skinner’s theory of Operant Conditioning. In programmed learning, information to be learnt is broken into small sequential units or frames. The learner responds to each to these frames. The learner is immediately reinforced for his correct response, which motivates the student. Also, the learning experiences are organized in hierarchical order, providing greater chances for the correct response. Thus, developing and using programmed leaning methodology for the students makes the teaching of Mathematics an interesting process. The book presents a study done on visually impaired students through experimental research methodology. The experiences gathered during the study by the author are extensively dealt in the book.