The main objective of maths lab is to provide hands on learning opportunities for the students. It will motivate students to master math skills and problem solving techniques. It will improve the students’ ability to learn mathematics.
Some of the ways in which a mathematics laboratory can contribute to the learning of the subject are:
• It provides an opportunity to understand and internalize the basic mathematical concepts through concrete objects and situations.
• It enables the students to verify or discover several geometrical properties and facts using models or by paper cutting and folding technique.
• It helps the students to build interest and confidence in learning the subject.
• The laboratory provides opportunity to exhibit the relatedness of mathematical concepts with every day life.
• It provides greater scope for individual participation in the process of learning and becoming autonomous learners.
• It provides scope for greater involvement of both the mind and the hand which facilitate cognition.
• The laboratory allows and encourages students to think, discuss with each other and the teacher and assimilates the concepts in a more effective manner.
• It enables the teacher to demonstrate, explain and reinforce abstract mathematical ideas by using concrete objects, models, charts, graphs, pictures, posters etc.