Report of Stadium General with Prof. Mohan Chinnapan, PhD

Name    : Ika Dewi Fitria Maharani       
Mathematics Education 2011
NIM     : 11301241009

at Seminar room D.07.209 FMIPA UNY
Monday, March 12th, 2012 : 01.00 pm
The day was different from the other day before, it was a special day. Because at the day on Monday afternoon the mathematics education`s major was having an important schedule, it was a General Stadium with Prof. Mohan Chinnapan,PhD from Australia. I was very happy because I could learn everything about mathematics from the australian lecturerr, it was a special moment I got I thought. ^_^
The General Stadium started at 01.00 pm in seminar room D.07.209 FMIPA UNY. We waited Prof Mohan. Then he came with my english lecturer, Dr. Marsigit. M.A, he was as moderator. The event started with introduction from Mr. Marsigit then Mr. Mohan. I was so suprised, because Prof. Mohan is a Moslem. He told he was a hindu but he was change to be a moslem. Then he told us about Mathematical thinking. He said Mathematical thinking consist of :
1.    Mathematical Attitude
2.    Mathematical Method
3.    Mathematical Content
Then my lecturer, Mr Marsigit said that he was teaching about it to my class, Mathematics eduation 2011 act 09.00 am. My lecturer was happy because he and Prof Mohan had same thinking. ^.^

After that Prof Mohan told us that Mathematics is problem solving, Mathematics is investigation activity so he thought Mathematics is very important to learn. He also asked about what is the relationship between mathematics knowledge and religius knowledge? Then the answer was from mathematics knowledge we can determine the path of tithe and inherance, determine the time of fasting, etc. He thought many knowledge source was from the Al-Qur`an. I like this statement. ^_^d
At the middle event, Mr. Marsigit introduced Professor Sembiring. He was founder of PMRI (Concret mathematics , model concret). We gave applause to him, he was such a great man.
Then, Prof. Mohan told us about source of mathematics, basis number system : 0,1,2,3,...,9; 0=notion of nothing, use for nothing, zero (0) is very important, decimal system become more complete, and we can`t change the position of Al Qur`an. It was very intersting for us.
Suddenly, Prof. Mohan asked us, ” What is the culture of Indonesia which has the relations with mathematics knowledge?” Then one of us answered, “I think Pasaran days (pahing, kliwon, legi, etc) is modulo five, it is in Java. Then the number can be a symbol in Java. Candi Borobudur  is one of beautiful artistic geometry in Indonesia, it use geometry construction. It is five steps, and around the temple there is relief. And the last Ramayana, 1 : Earth, 2 : Couple, 0 : The symbol of life.” The audience gave applause to his answer.
Prof.  Mohan asked again, “Can you tell me about lesson study?” The one of lecturer answered, “Lesson study is the specific situation is made by model teacher as server, and narasumber. It is the colaboration of all teacher. The fuction is to optimize the learning with go upon watch on student. Its phase :
1.    Planning : material, how present, constraint estimate
2.    Do : performing  teacher modelling to perform his plan. Observe when student begin to study, when student beginning doesn`t concentrate, trick arouses to motivate student.
3.    Reflection : working throgh emerging constraint and how settle class problem so gets to find learning alternative.”
Finally, the last question from Prof Mohan, “ Is 2+2 always equals 4?”. Then the one of us answered it,” Two plus two not always equals four, because depend its basic. In basic three, two plus two equals one (modulo).” Woooww.. as the new student in university it is really something new for m
Okay, now the session of discussion. There were some questions from us and the answers from Prof Mohan :
a.    Why do we are learn many subjects than in the other country?
Some society need some many knowledge so they must study many knowledge than other society.
b.    When do the student start to choose a specific subjects in Australia?
Seventeenth years old is the best time to focus study. In other country, choose five programs, it is hard to higher level, if the five programs have been chosen is not related with the next level. People can choose 5 subjects, for example : science, mathematics, language, etc.
c.    How does the teacher teach the materials that are so difficult to be understood bystudent?
-Use the contextual approach.
-Use ICT to teaching the material to explore kinds of function.
d.    How to manage the various/different competences of the students?
Based on the facilities on the school, the competence of teachers.
Need commanding support for remedial facility learns than competence.

And the Conclusion :
1.    We need to almost have rasionalize of the subjects and what kind of activity.
2.    The developing of teacher professionality
3.    The need to understand international paradigm, theories at mathematics.
4.    How to make power culture, the characteristic culture is important.
Then, The General Stadium was over. The commite gave Prof. Mohan present and the audience gave applause. It was a nice General Stadium, i hope it will be held again. ^_^