Classroom Observations in Mathematics — OBM

 

Instructor: Dr. Réka SZÁSZ

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to give an overview of Mathematics education in Hungary through observing classes in a wide range of schools and reflecting on these experiences. The class will be scheduled in a single 4 hour period, with school visits and seminars on alternating weeks.

Sample schools

(The selection of schools will have to be accommodated to the schedule of the course)

• Fazekas Mihály Primary and Secondary School (Fazekas Mihály F.városi Gyakorló Általános Iskola és Gimnázium) with the strongest Math specialty class in Hungary
• Mathematics camps by Lajos Pósa for talented students (the teaching method of the camps is discussed in detail in the BSM course Discovery Methods)
• Alternative Secondary school of Economics (Alternatív Közgazdasági Gimnázium)
• Budai Secondary School (Budai Középiskola)
• Zöld Kakas Vocational Secondary School (Zöld Kakas Líceum)
• School of the Blind (Vakok Iskolája)

Sample seminar topics

(The selection of the topics will be adjusted to issues arising during school visits)

• The Hungarian School system and the Mathematics Curriculum
• Gifted Education
• Student Interaction in the Mathematics Classroom
• Cooperative Learning
• Differentiated Learning

Assessment

Participation 10%
School visit reports and HW assignments 10%
Lesson Plan 30%
Final Essay 50%

Note: Attendance for this course is a must. Passing the course requires attending at least 75% of classes. If a student misses a lesson observation they will still have to write a report (based on interviews of two classmates about their impressions, and the school's homepage where available in English).

Practical Information

The course can accommodate a maximum of 8 students.
Classes observed will be mostly in Hungarian, but the instructor will translate.