Mathematical Practices In Maithali Community: An Ethnography Study

Abstract

This is an ethnography study on the entitled “Mathematical Practices in Maithili Community: An Ethnography Study”. The main objectives of this study were: to find out the mathematical practices in Maithili community, and to explore the pedagogical implication of mathematics practices in Maithili community. The design of this study was qualitative with ethnography approach. I selected my own area Lalbandi Municipalty at Sarlahi District for research field. I used purposive sampling to select the sample 8 Maithili people were sample of this study. I used observation, interview, and photographs as my data collection tools and tried to cover the real practices of Maithili people to sort out mathematical practices. From analysis and interpretation of data, I found various mathematical practices in Maithili community. Maithili peoples have huge of daily used materials that contained different mathematical concepts. They have farming materials (Tayer, Chhitte,Birba, Har, Palo etc.) in different shapes and sizes, different storage materials (Daliya, Berhi, Bhauki, Mujela, Ghumoua, Mathani etc.) by which the concept of mathematical knowledge can be find out, but due to the time and other constraints, I tried to see how these practices can be applied in teaching learning at the secondary level and in a formal education. It also see how can we relate those practice (Cultural Artifacts, Basketry works, Dung works, Measuring works, Wooden and Bamboo works) in elementary school mathematics and how can we use ( Tessellation, Triangle, Cone, Dual Cone, Curve, Curve Pattern, Spiral Curve, Circle, Concentric Circle, Radius, Point, Arcs, Sectors, Volume, Parallel Lines, Perpendicular, Rectangle, Cylindrical, Ratio and Proportion etc.) those mathematical practices and students to relate mathematics with culture, and pedagogical process to include in the main stream of education for school program.