Join free webinar on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 10 am EST

By Deepa Srikantaiah, GPE Secreteriat

Our November numeracy webinar will showcase a play-based learning math program in Sri Lanka known as Math Labs program.  Kamal Herath, learning advisor for Plan Sri Lanka, will present approaches from the Math Labs program that support early numeracy skills development.

The Math Labs program increases children’s understanding of basic mathematical concepts at the primary school level by using culturally and age appropriate mathematical games. In Sri Lanka, more than 30 local or locally contextualized games have been adapted to introduce and practice mathematical concepts among primary-aged school children. In addition to the innovative math games, children learn basic math concepts by applying what they have learned inside and outside the class room.

Access the webinar through Adobe Connect: http://worldbankva.adobeconnect.com/numeracywebinar/

Kamal Herath’s presentation will highlight the impact play-based learning can have on children’s ability to apply math concepts and their test scores in math. He will also explain how play-based learning requires cooperative and self-directed study methodologies that have particular significance and impact in large classes where there are more than 40 students per teacher. The presentation will also demonstrate how this small play-based program was scaled-up from its initial pilot stage to 1000 schools with the support of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education.

Join the GPE Community of Practice on Numeracy

The webinar series is part of a Community of Practice on Numeracy facilitated by the Global Partnership for Education. The community of practice is open to teachers, educators, practitioners, researchers, academics and others interested in numeracy.

All webinars are at 10 am EST (2 pm GMT) and typically fall on the first Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Here is the schedule for upcoming webinars:

• December 4, 2013 – Meera Tendolkar, Pratham India – Pratham’s ‘learning camp’ model – a non-linear approach to explore how children best learn math in India

If you have specific expertise in numeracy and would like to present in a webinar, please contact me at dsrikantaiah@globalpartnership.org