Learning, enjoying, playing with MATH CONCEPTS, & operations
Beyond Abacus® is an idea whose time has come. It is an example of how research can be put into practice. The framework aims at making the teaching – learning of mathematics very interesting with special emphasis on the learner being able to apply math in day to day life.
Dr. Prakash Moghe, the Founder Director, has been a math classroom teacher since 1984. Getting formal exposure to the teaching – learning of math during his B. Ed., M. Ed., UGC(NET) followed by an award of Ph.D. (Education) in 1997, Dr. Moghe was always a keen learner of students’ difficulties, analyzing them, solving them. He has taught the entire K-12 range of classes in his 4 decade long career.
He was also Head of a B. Ed. College where he impacted his student teachers on math teaching methods. He also headed a National Project at www.aisect.org to establish Teacher Academies across India under the AISECT – NSDC Project.
Due to his positive, unique approach towards handling students’ math learning issues, Dr. Moghe has been a very popular math teacher throughout his career. In one of his jobs, he was handling remedial teaching classes. He did complete diagnosis and treatment of their learning issues. Based on these experiences he has developed the GIM (Guaranteed Improvement in Mathematics) framework.
Adding all these experiences, Dr. Moghe conceptualized the framework Beyond Abacus® which is essentially a teacher training course for the existing math teachers and for those wanting to be math teachers with a difference.
In contrast to the very popular abacus system of fast computations, Beyond Abacus® treats math as a science of understanding, appreciating, creating patterns in day to day life, sciences, businesses, and every sphere of life.
As an operational policy, Beyond Abacus® appreciates individual differences and does not promote any kind of competition among the learners. We believe that too much stress on getting results fast, competing gives unnecessary, avoidable, stress and strain to the young minds trying to develop their own reality. It also often results in making public insult(s), comparisons that all add up to start fearing math from an early stage. In the Beyond Abacus® framework, the student exceeds herself, her previous performance, through understanding of concepts, processes at her own pace.
Beyond Abacus® has two distinct segments
Academic segment
Central focus of this segment will be to develop courses, products and services related to teachers of mathematics. There will be bridge courses, refresher courses for the existing teachers, there will also be courses for those wanting to be teachers of mathematics. The Premium Course will be Individual Franchise Plan (IFP) aimed at making the teacher start her own Beyond Abacus® franchise.
Popular segment
Central focus of this segment will be to develop courses, products and services for anyone willing to revise, learn, practice entire math or some specific part of it at any age, level of education.