Text: Susanne Togeby, AAU Kommunikation og Public Affairs. Photos: Tradium and the Klump Project.

A new project aims at making mathematics more accessible and relevant to vocational students. This effort could help decrease dropout rates as mathematics, sadly, often contributes to students leaving school. Many students fail to see the connection between mathematics and their profession, losing their enthusiasm for learning.

The project addresses this issue by developing new methods for teaching mathematics rooted in students' vocational subjects and practical problem-solving.

The project takes place at Tradium Vocational School in Randers, where teachers from various vocational subjects with mathematical content select areas in their teaching that are relevant for collaboration. Together, they develop teaching courses, which they test, evaluate, and refine with feedback from consultants and researchers. Approximately 40 teaching modules will be further developed and made available online.

At the end of the project, vocational teachers from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland are invited to a conference that presents the results.

Aalborg University and Nationalt Center for Udvikling af Matematikundervisning also participate in the project.

Inspiration for teaching subjects involving mathematics

Through this project, vocational teachers gain inspiration to develop their teaching using various tested and well-documented approaches to teaching and learning within the field of mathematics.

This includes providing students with opportunities to experiment and explore specific problems, thereby constructing their own understanding of how mathematics can be applied in different contexts related to their subjects.

Another approach focuses on the relationship between self-confidence and motivation. When students believe in their abilities to solve certain tasks or challenges, they become more motivated to engage in and proficiently address these challenges along the way. Positive experiences play a crucial role, as even small victories can initiate a positive cycle. Thus, it's essential to create situations in teaching giving students success in solving concrete challenges using mathematics.  

Moreover, teachers must be able to quickly learn about the students' profiles, e.g. through tests, to better structure and execute teaching that is adapted to the students' level and motivation.