Drive will use proven techniques from the world of sport in order to help mathematics teachers to cultivate perseverance among their 5-unit students
To be a truly excellent sportsman requires many hours of practice, effort and investment. Similarly, achieving success in 5-unit mathematics, requires perseverance, exertion, and time. However, while Israeli youth revere excellence in sport, music and physical preparation for military service, and acknowledge the clear connection between investment and achievement; when it comes to high school studies, it seems that those same values are not always as straightforward. In school we tend to cut corners, to admire an effortless success and to say to ourselves that somehow ‘all will be well’ in the future.
Succeeding in 5-unit mathematics demands much more than talent and brilliance, it is a learning track which is renowned for being extremely challenging, requiring students to be determined, and motivated for hard work; to cope with challenges, and overcome setbacks to achieve excellence. When students with potential for excellence drop down to 4 unit mathematics classes, it is often because they feel non resilient to the difficulty and effort they need to invest. In fact, students are often encouraged by their teachers, schools, and parents to drop down to lower levels, where they will find it easier to succeed.
In an attempt to address these perceptions in an innovative and a creative manner, the foundation team approached DRIVE, a non-profit organization which provides students, teachers and soldiers practical tools and mental coaching, using methodologies from professional sports. They have run such training programs designated for developing resilience and commitment to excellence in a number of organizations, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Security Services, the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli police force, the Technion and ORT School Network.
DRIVE proposes a unique creative program which uses proven techniques from the world of sport in order to equip mathematics teachers with tools and expertise to cultivate perseverance among their 5-unit students. Initially, they proposed work with 200 5-unit mathematics teachers, however, in discussion with the foundation team, they have decided to provide workshops and individual coaching for 40 teachers. The workshops will provide them with new skills for identifying strengths, creating momentum, managing student crises and difficulties, increasing student motivation and developing resilience. Pedagogic experts in mathematics will help to customize the program to the specific expectations and difficulties of teaching and studying the 5-unit track.
The second stage of the program is a 5 km race for teachers taking part in the program, and their 5-unit students from around the country. Preparation for the race will include building training plans for both teachers and students, and using a specially adapted phone application for encouraging perseverance, setting objectives, and tracking both individual and group progress. The race will be presented to the public as an exclusive event and aspires to interest 5-unit mathematics students and teachers across the country, and the media.
The program will be led by Eyal Dotan, a sports psychologist, whose expertise lies in competition among athletes. DRIVE’s instructors will lead the workshops in close consultation with a pedagogical consultant for 5-unit mathematics, and they plan to collaborate with schools and municipalities to cover the cost of race participation for students.
In discussion with the organization, and considering the target audience of 5-unit mathematics teachers and their busy schedules, we thought it advisable to begin with a pilot test for one year with 40 teachers, and to decide on potential scale-up in the future following an external evaluation of the program.