Hit a six with math

Ajit and Fatima Agarkar have created a virtual learning programme for middle-school students where principles from cricket are broken down in fun ways to teach fractions, angles and probability.

Hit a six with math

Fatima and Ajit Agarkar

The former cricketer will also be sharing anecdotes from matches to illustrate a problem, making learning a fun and engaging experience. As a bonus, there are case-studies for parents who are cricket enthusiasts.

The short certified courses developed for Grade 4 to 8 begin with a functional online skill assessment to determine the appropriate -play- level for children. The levels are Rookie Play beginners, Rookie Plus Play intermediate and Pro Play advanced with four sessions in each, covering topics like fractions, percentages, probabilities, transformations, linear and non-linear equations and decimals. Fatima says, "There is so much one learns on the field. Sports is the perfect blend of decision-making, handling pressure, managing conflicts, creativity, flexibility, relationship management, time management and project management skills. These are skills required to be future-ready and hence a course like this is a great way to induct students into a smart curriculum."

A screenshot from the session

On June 27 and 28; July 4 and 5 one-hour sessions
Cost Rs 650 per session
Log on to www.facebook.com/cricketmath

Howzzat!

Asmi Likhite tries out the session

For a test drive, we asked Asmi Likhite, a sixth grader from Thane, to try out one of the recorded sessions with Divesh Bathija. The 11-year-old isn-t a fan of cricket, and has more of a creative slant, so we felt she would be the ideal candidate to test the waters, especially for the concept and methodology. It took a while initially, to arrest her interest but Asmi admitted that she enjoyed the parts where questions were related to a match clip, or statistics that were shared on screen.

The participants too kept sharing trivia, which she felt was a fun way to get introduced to the game. Some topics like fractions and percentages are sections that she has been learning at school, so it felt a bit relatable; however, she wasn-t too enthused with the session. And while some of the cricket terminologies were literally like bouncers for her, Asmi-s father Aniket, a cricket enthusiast, found the pre-recorded video by Ajit sharing anecdotes, particularly interesting.

Now, he is banking on this collaboration to get his daughter drawn to the game, so she can not only find a fun way to grasp concepts in mathematics but also discuss cricket with him.

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