Basketball Helped Students Understand FractionsResearchers in Denmark came up with a way to make math more engaging for students: teaching fractions and percentages on the basketball court.
309 students ages 11–13 were split into three groups. One group had a weekly "basketball math" lesson that combined sports practice with calculations. For example, students would shoot baskets, calculate their shooting percentage, write it as a fraction, and compare their results with classmates. A second group had regular PE classes, while a third played regular basketball.
After two months, students in the experimental program performed 15% better on fraction problems and 5.4% better on other math tasks. The control groups showed no significant improvement. The researchers believe that the mix of movement and competition made the lessons more engaging.
There may be a simpler explanation, though: the students in the experimental group simply got more practice with fractions. Still, the researchers suggest making one in every five math lessons more active."I am convinced that sport and physical activity can open up mathematics for pupils who are not otherwise engaged by the subject," says study co-author Jacob Wienecke.
What do you think about "sports math"?
— Great idea, kids need more movement at school!
— I'd rather keep math and sports separate...@TechCrunchTg
