Hi and welcome to our April 2002 Newsletter.
I am continually enthused by the response to our newsletters and by
the number of people making use of the OTRNet website. While it
took 18 months to get our first 10 000 unique visits to the website,
just 9 months later we have passed the 20 000 mark. (What type of
function could we use to model that?) We now also have more than
200 people reading this, our monthly newsletter.
Given this, I would remind you all that if you are running
professional development or have come across a good resource, email
me so that we can 'spread the word' to many other people interested
in maths education.
Mark
In this newsletter there is
information on:
1. The latest on the
Integrated Maths Modules
2. Individual Subscriptions to
our Online Service
3. MAWA
State Conference
4. Maths Projects for Multiple
Intelligences
1. The latest
on the Integrated Maths Modules
D04: 2D Shapes 2 is now available.
Between this and our next newsletter three further Integrated Maths
Modules will become available. The first of these is D02 Linear
Functions 1 written by Colin Croft. Following this will be C02:
Number and E01: Angle 2. If you want to be notified as soon as these
modules become available please email me and I will let you know
immediately they return from the printers.
Our website now has the Module Page for D02: Linear Functions 1 set up
at the following address:
where you can find links to all of the background information on this
module as well as the Teaching & Learning Resources for it.
If you wish to get samples from the module you can download them from
the page linked to below or email
D02samples@otrnet.com.au
.
Module pages for C02 and E01 will also come on line as these modules
become available.
Twelve integrated maths modules
are now printed and samples from all these modules are available from
our website at the link below:
2.
Individual Subscriptions to our Online Service
I was recently told that Individual Subscription to our Online Service
was "too cheap". Maybe that is right. However, as a teacher
myself I know that in many cases the resources you want to use are
not the same ones that your peers are looking for and hence not
the same ones your department buys. I also know that it is often
more convenient to have your own access to the resources you use.
Because of this individual access to our Online Service remains
at only $10 per category. If you are looking for
a new investigation to use with one of your
classes, or want to get your classes working with mathematics and
the Internet, or want to get across to your
students some of the power of spreadsheets, maybe
you can get what you want online!
For information on our subscription service follow this link: Subscriptions
Service Information
3. MAWA
State Conference
For our Western Australian readers I would remind you that MAWA is
currently looking for people to present at the annual state
conference. There are always other teachers interested in what
you are doing in your maths classroom. If you haven't yet taken
the opportunity to present can I encourage you to put your name
down now. The effort you put into preparing your session will be
rewarded by becoming more aware of what your teaching is really
about. The nervousness of presenting to a group of peers is
rewarded by the positive comments they will give you and the links
to other teachers you will make. On top of this you get a
bottle of wine! What more could you ask for?
Offers to
present need to reach the MAWA office (PO Box 562 Claremont 6910)
by Friday 19th April. Ring the Trig Team on 94421308 for more
details.
MAWA's website is now at this address:
http://www.mawainc.org.au
4. Maths Projects for
Multiple Intelligences
A site with a lot of varied resources for maths education that
you might like to take a look at is MATHguide which you can find
at this link: http://www.mathguide.com/
Described as "A mathematics resource center globally available
to students, parents and teachers", one of the most interesting
resources it has is a set of maths projects designed to accomodate
a "multiple intelligences" model. From "Cartoon Creation" to
"Thriving Thespians" each project is outlined clearly and a
marking guide is also given. You can find the projects at this
link:
http://www.mathguide.com/projects/
This and many other sites are
available through OTRNet's Weblinks. You can find the OTRNet
links page here:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/Weblinks/weblinks.html or
access it from our home page.
If you have a maths
resource or professional development you wish to let others know about
send us an email and we'll include your item in our newsletter that now
goes to over 200 maths educators!
If you have completed our free registration
you can join the growing group of people and schools who order
online and now receive 10%
discount off normal prices!
OTRNet thanks you for your time in looking at our newsletter.
Please forward this newsletter to a friend if you think
it may be useful for them.
If you received this newsletter from a friend and wish to get subsequent
editions you can join here:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/
Mark R. O'Brien
Online Teachers Resource
Network
C.O. Post Office
Wooroloo WA 6558
Phone: (08) 9573 1367
Fax: (08) 9238 1334