By Kate Parry
International Pi Day is celebrated once a year on 14 March to mark the date coinciding with the first three digits of Pi: 3,14. To honour Pi Day, the Faculty of Education held a First-Year Mathematics Education Exhibition to celebrate all things maths.
The students created posters explaining mathematical concepts that teachers can use in the classroom. They then had to rationalise and explain their posters to the public. The idea behind the exhibition was to give the first-years a chance to critically engage with maths in a unique manner and, in doing so, create a positive conversation around maths. According to first-year BEd (Foundation Phase Education) student, Erin de Montille, the exhibition showed that “connecting different concepts together helps with problem solving in all genres of life” as many posters linked everyday concepts, such as baking and clocks, to maths. The posters showed that maths does not solely exist within the classroom’s four walls, but instead, as first-year BEd (Intermediate Phase Education) student Chinelle Adjei says, “Celebrating Pi Day spreads awareness on the fact that pi and maths [are] in everything we do.”
The posters would then be donated to underprivileged schools to give back to the community. It also allows the first-year students to get a real look into the hands-on aspects of teaching. Inke Mattheus, a first-year BEd (Intermediate Phase Education) student says, “In first year we don’t do actual practicals, so by going and donating this [poster] you can see where we’ll be, hopefully, in four years, helping kids.” The students put in great effort, some even dressed up as chefs to display their knowledge of “pi”. It was a joyful event showcasing the first-years’ enthusiasm for mathematics and teaching as a whole.
