Synchronize the brain with magical mathematics

Based on 10 years’ research and experience, there had been a steady decline in students’ interest for science-related subjects especially mathematics. According to the Malaysian Examination Board, a total of 69,974(18%) students in Malaysia failed in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Modern Mathematics 2018 and increased to 71,798(18.6%) in year 2019. About 26.1% (100,749) of students scored marks between 40 – 49 in SPM Modern Mathematics 2018. The concept and methods taught in school are great but they didn’t develop the brain holistically. The one-sided teaching method using the monotonous procedure creates boredom and lead to lost interest in the subject and slowly turning students away from mathematics  

With the bad effects of pandemic of COVID-19 across nationwide, students with low grade in mathematics from poor family requires critical support for guidance. Since economic downturn during the pandemic, poor parents have been struggling and worrying about their children future. The selected students are from ‘Bottom 40′(B40) families as their parents not economically afford to send them for tuition or any other personal development program at this point of time. Students are in need of new methodology to regain the interest, skills and confidence for their upcoming SPM 2020 Examination in first – quarter of year 2021. With the support of Yayasan Hasanah and PRIHATIN, Pertubuhan Magik Matematik(PMM) has conducted Brain-Synchro SPM program; aim to improve 100 underperforming students from poor families(B40 group) get passing marks or even higher for SPM mathematics performance in SPM mathematics.

Initially, Brain-Synchro SPM is a 6-month program planned from June 2020 to December 2020, but has been extended to February 2021. The program covers 5 locations around Kuala Lumpur which are Kepong, Sentul, Setapak, Cheras and Bangsar. The PMM provides weekly classes for the students of each location. The weekly class is held for 2 hours. They were provided with lunch and tea-break before and after the class. For the first 30 minutes, they are taught mental calculation techniques which stimulate both sides of their brains and ultimately lighting a spark in their interest to learn mathematics.

Then, the class switches to SPM mathematics for the last 1 hour and 30 minutes. In addition to that, we also provide online classes for them. Similar to physical classes, online classes are done on a weekly basis but only for 1 hour per class. The content of the module delivered via physical and online sessions. Tutorial videos of mental calculation questions were developed to reach students at their comfort via WhatsApp and Google Classroom: brain-synchro@mathsmagics.org . We shared tutorial videos via WhatsApp after each of the physical lesson. We conducted online sessions via Google Meet. The online classes are meant for the students to revise quickly what they learned in the physical class.

Besides that, we provide pandemic counselling sessions for the students as well. Partnered with great counsellors, we made sure our students are well both physically and mentally. The counsellors successfully attended to the students as a group and also personally. Students were seen to be very thankful to the counselling sessions. Few of them even cried during the counselling sessions which proved the methods to be effective.

Unfortunately, the physical part of the program had to be temporarily stopped due to the second Movement Control Order(MCO) which was enforced on the 13th of October 2020. On the positive side, the organization was able to continue with the online sessions of the program. During these few months of MCO, PMM worked hard in trying to restart the physical sessions of the program. Finally in December 2020, the physical classes successfully restarted and went on until a week before SPM. The classes turned into workshops where the speakers and students spent 4 hours per class to prepare for SPM Modern Mathematics.

At the end of the program, Brain-Scynhro Olympiad Test consists of mental calculation and spotted questions were conducted to assess the performance of the students as well as honoring the high-achievers. 

79% of the students(83/105) increased at least one grade in Brain-Synchro Olympiad Test. Due to the cancellation of SPM Trial Exam, schools had conducted internal assessment before SPM 2020. From the school assessment, about 84% of students increased at least one grade in Modern Mathematics subject from the baseline. The high-achievers were rewarded with prizes to encourage them and their peers to work harder. On top of that, the students were given certificates and nutritious food hampers on the final day of the program. Certificates of appreciation also have been honored to the facilitators, volunteers and PPR Management. 

     Throughout the months of executing the project, PMM received numerous positive feedbacks from collaborating parties, speakers, counsellors, parents and students. The Program Perumahan Rakyat(PPR) communities and school authorities repeatedly voiced their appreciation to PMM, Yayasan Hasanah and Prihatin for providing the support and assistance to the beneficiaries at the crucial time. They were happy to see the positive changes and preparedness of the students for SPM 2020.