FAQ
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What is the Algo Club? What is so unique about this programme?
What is the difference between a tutoring service and the Algo Club?
Does a Japanese programme work well in Canada or with Canadian students?
Who would benefit from the Algo Club programme?
Is the Algo Club an enrichment programme or remedial/supplemental programme?
Who facilitates the programme?
How many students are in a typical class?
What is the Algo Club? What is so unique about this programme?
The Algo Club was developed by well-known, established mathematics educators and scholars in Japan to promote young children’s mathematics abilities through a well-designed, unique programme and teaching materials. The Algo Club programme was developed more than 10 years ago, and more than 3,500 students are enrolled in the programme throughout Japan today. Plus223 Education is bringing this unique programme from Japan to Canada to help Canadian students to develop the mathematical skills necessary to reach their full potential both inside and outside of schools.
What is the difference between a tutoring service and the Algo Club?
We can often be misunderstood as a tutoring service, but we are actually very different. In fact, our programme is not a tutoring service at all. Typical tutoring services re-teach and review the specified mathematical concepts in a one-on-one setting or a small group setting. Through such a method, students may be able to understand the taught concepts for a short term, but tend to view math as a chore. They cannot extend their knowledge, understanding and skills any further than the taught concepts. Alternatively, the Algo Club programme builds the necessary and crucial mathematical skills and knowledge which are not only applicable to understand one or two mathematical concepts, but can be applied to various situations and problems. It helps students to understand and look at mathematics very differently, without realizing they are actually learning mathematics. In today’s mathematics education, situational problems are strongly emphasized. Many students struggle with this type of problems because they lack mathematical thinking, reasoning, analytical and communication skills. The programme enables students to build and utilize necessary tools, strategies, skills and understanding through fun, engaging, and exciting activities, which results in students experiencing success and becoming confident when learning mathematics.
Does a Japanese programme work well in Canada or with Canadian students?
At Plus223 Education, we realize that we cannot simply translate the Japanese programme to English and deliver it, since Japanese and Canadian cultures, education systems, and other factors are significantly different. As a result, we have carefully tailored the original Japanese programme to one which can meet the needs of students in Canada. Our company understands provincial curriculum expectations as well as the Ministry of Education’s goals, and our programme has been aligned with them. Our company has experience working with both Japanese and Canadian students, as well as extensive and updated knowledge of current teaching practice in Canada.
Who would benefit from the Algo Club programme?
The Algo Club programme is for all students, those who fear math, those who are “turned off” by math, those who already enjoy math and want to further excel, and those who simply want to enhance their mathematical understanding and skills. Students with special needs also benefit from the programme, without realizing they are actually engaged with “math” activities. Students feel success and the joy of learning mathematics and develop interest in and curiosity about mathematics. Students develop mathematical thinking, reasoning, analytical, and communication skills, which are crucial to succeed in mathematics and other content areas. Since the Algo Club programme uses a unique approach compared to other mathematics instructional methods, it benefits all learners.
Is the Algo Club an enrichment programme or remedial/supplemental programme?
The Algo Club’s unique approach to mathematics cannot be simply classified as an enrichment programme or a remedial/supplemental programme. The Algo Club can be seen as both an enrichment programme and a remedial/supplemental programme. As the programme stimulates and works with different parts of brain which are not typically exercised in other mathematics instructional settings, all students find interest in mathematics and develop the necessary skills to be successful and confident in mathematics. Students who already excel in and enjoy mathematics find the programme to be very engaging and stimulating, which increases their intellectual curiosity. The programme helps these learners, as well as those who might struggle and do not see the joy of learning math. Our goal is for all students to be more interested in and curious about mathematics, to further develop their mathematical thinking, reasoning, analytical, and communication skills, as well as to learn to cooperate and communicate with others effectively.
Who facilitates the programme?
We only send highly qualified and carefully selected facilitators to classrooms, as they are the key for the success of implementation of the Algo Club programme. They are charged with creating a welcoming, comfortable, fun, engaging, and productive learning environment. Each facilitator has great passion for working with children, and for sharing the joy of learning mathematics. They undergo intensive Algo Club training before beginning work as a facilitator. Ongoing training and quality assurance practices are implemented to maintain the quality of the programme and facilitators. Additionally, each facilitator is required to submit background check reports before and during their employment.
How many students are in a typical class?
Each class of the Algo Club typically has 12-24 students with 2 facilitators who deliver the programme and interact with the students. This ensures a small class size in which each student has many opportunities to interact with facilitators and other students in a comfortable, fun, engaging, and productive environment. It also enables facilitators to give individual attention, continuous encouragement and support to each student, and to carefully direct the students’ thinking and skill development.
Isn’t a 90-minute workshop too long for students to be in a class? Don’t they get bored, tired, and/or lose interest?
Unlike in a typical classroom, our programme does not make students sit for whole 90 minutes. We truly believe that receiving seated instruction is not the best way for students to learn. Even as an adult, sitting on a chair for a long time allows one to lose focus and attention, and it is the same for children. Our programme encourages students to move and be active throughout a 90-minute workshop, and students are stimulated by very engaging and well-designed activities. Some of the programme components include physical movements; such movements are introduced at specified times during the 90 minutes, so that students can refresh their minds and stay focused. This well designed programme lets students enjoy their learning without noticing the workshop being 90 minutes. It leaves them wanting more!