The mathematics laboratory is a place where anybody can experiment and explore teaching and learning material. It is a place where one can find a collection of games, puzzles, and etc.
The materials are meant to be used both by the students on their own and with their teacher to explore the world of mathematics, to discover, to learn and to develop an interest in mathematics. The activities create interest among students or in anybody who wants to explore, and test some of their ideas, beliefs about mathematics.
The math lab provides an opportunity for the students to discover mathematics through doing. Many of the activities present a problem or a challenge, with the possibility of generating further challenges and problems. The activities help students to visualize, manipulate and reason. They provide opportunity to make conjectures and test them, and to generalize observed patterns. They create a context for students to attempt to prove their conjectures.
Mathematical truths are accepted only on the basis of proofs, and not through experiment. Mathematics laboratory is a place to enjoy mathematics through informal exploration. It is a place where anyone can generate problems and struggle to get a answer. It is a space to explore and design new mathematical activities. So, the math lab should not be used to assess students' knowledge of mathematics. Often mathematics lab takes students knowledge beyond the curriculum.
Some of the ways in which a Mathematics Laboratory can contribute to the learning of the subject are:
Mathematics Laboratory is a place where students can learn and explore mathematical concepts and verify mathematical facts and theorems through a variety of activities using different techniques. These activities may be carried out by the teacher or the students to explore, to learn, to simulate interest and develop favorable attitude towards mathematics.