Phnom Penh: On May 28-29, 2025, the IDEAL project hosted a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training focused on innovative mathematics teaching methods. This training received financial support from ChildFund Korea, and facilitated by KAPE, trained by EveryBoday Counts marked a significant step in transforming mathematics education for Grades 4 to 6 teachers. The training aimed to enhance the teaching capabilities of 15 primary school teachers from five target schools in Phnom Penh and Kandal Province, equipping them with modern, engaging teaching techniques.

 

Innovative Teaching and the Everybody Counts Platform Led by experts from Everybody Counts (EBC), a UK-based company, the training introduced teaching methods that emphasize engagement and interactivity. The Everybody Counts platform is a digital education tool designed to make mathematics learning accessible and engaging. With over 400 lessons covering Grades 1 to 6, the platform offers interactive activities and teaching resources that enable teachers to deliver effective lessons.

 

The CPA Approach: A Key to Success A cornerstone of the training was the CPA (Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract) approach, a renowned method for teaching mathematics. CPA helps students grasp mathematical concepts through: (1) Concrete: Using physical objects like wooden blocks or folded paper to demonstrate concepts. For example, using five blocks to show 3+2. (2) Pictorial: Employing diagrams or images to represent ideas. For instance, drawing five squares to illustrate total area. (3) Abstract: Using mathematical symbols and equations, such as 3+2=5.

 

A practical example involves folding paper into triangles or squares to teach area concepts. Students can fold paper into a rectangle and calculate its area using the formula A = length x width. This method bridges concrete and abstract understanding, making learning more accessible.

 

Five Renowned Mathematical Theories and Their Application The training introduced five key mathematical theories applicable to teaching: 1) Mastery Learning: Ensures students fully understand one concept before moving to the next. For example, mastering addition before subtraction. 2) Metacognition: Encourages students to reflect on their thinking process. For instance, asking, “Does this solution make sense?” after solving a problem. 3) Visualization: Uses diagrams or models to help students visualize concepts, such as using a Bar Model to illustrate division. 4) Number Sense: Helps students understand relationships between numbers. For example, estimating that 3000-179 is close to 2821. 5) Generalization: Encourages applying knowledge to new problems. For instance, after learning about rectangle area, students can calculate the area of a classroom.

 

Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy in Teaching Bloom’s Taxonomy serves as a framework for assessing students’ cognitive levels. The training encouraged teachers to use questions at different levels: (a) Remembering: “What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?” (b) Understanding: “Why do we use this formula?” (c) Applying: “Use the formula to calculate the area of a table.” (d) Analyzing: “Can this rectangle be divided into triangles?” – (e) Evaluating: “Which method is best for solving this problem?” (f) Creating: “Design a new exercise related to area.”

For example, a teacher might ask, “What are the possible lengths and widths of a rectangle with an area of 24 square meters?” This question encourages analytical and creative thinking.

 

Interactive Activities and Group Work: The training included hands-on activities, such as folding paper into shapes like triangles or squares to create various figures. These activities fostered analytical thinking and teamwork. For example, participants were divided into three groups to discuss student-centered teaching and Bloom’s Taxonomy questions. The discussions highlighted the importance of open-ended questions and giving students time to think.

 

Student-Centered Teaching Differentiation, or student-centered teaching, was a key focus. Teachers were encouraged to identify individual student needs and provide tailored exercises. For example, struggling students might calculate the area of a simple rectangle, while advanced students tackle complex tasks like dividing a rectangle into triangles.

 

Finally, this training equipped teachers with valuable tools and strategies to enhance mathematics education. By leveraging the Everybody Counts platform, the CPA approach, key mathematical theories, and Bloom’s Taxonomy, teachers can create engaging learning environments that empower students to excel in mathematics.

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