OTRNet Newsletter 29
 
Hi and welcome to our January 2003 Newsletter. 
 
 
As we return to our classes in Australia for the start of a new school year I am sure each of us will find some new challenges to puzzle over, inspire us and extend us.  It was enlightening for me to have dinner last week with two teachers about to start their first year of teaching.  Their excitement and desire was enthusing and I'd suggest to those of us who have been teaching for more than just a few years that associating in some way with teachers new to the profession would be a positive for both parties!
 
The Integrated Maths Module project is now well past the half way mark with materials for Year 10 students being published during this year.  I hope these, or some other OTRNet item, can help your teaching in 2003.
 
 
Regards,
Mark
 
 

In this newsletter there is information on:
 
1.    The Latest on the Integrated Maths Modules
 
2.    Programming with the Integrated Maths Modules
 
3.    Renewing Subscriptions to our Online Service
 
4.    MAWA Professional Development
 
5.    Sharemarket Game from ASX.
 

 
1.    The Latest on the Integrated Maths Modules
 
Module F03: Quadratic Functions 1 was published this month and is now available through fax order, online ordering or from your bookseller.  This latest module brings to 20 the total number published and we currently have five other modules being prepared for publication.
 
Samples from this module are available from the samples page at:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/IntegratedMathsModules/F03/F03sample.html 
Don't forget that you can download and use samples from any of 20 completed modules.  This means 20 activities and 20 applications totalling over 40 pages are available for you to use free with your students either as immersion material or as complex tasks to apply understandings to.
 
Modules E03: 3D Shapes 1 and F04: Networks are both currently being printed and will be available during February.
 
You can check availability of all modules at this page of our web site:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/IntegratedMathsModules/Integrated_Maths_Modules_Listing.html
 
Twenty integrated maths modules are now published and samples from all these modules are available from our website at the link below:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/IntegratedMathsModules/integrated_maths_modules.html.
 
 
 
 
 
2.    Programming with the Integrated Maths Modules
 

If you are using the Integrated Maths Modules or planning to use them in 2003 the programming information on our web site has been extended to include guides for year 9.  Although only suggestions, these guides may help you decide how to order your modules, how to pace the material and what might be appropraite at various times and levels.

The programming information can be found at this page of our web site:

http://www.otrnet.com.au/IntegratedMathsModules/IMM_Programming.html

 

3.    Renewing Subscriptions to our Online Service

 

Schools subscribed to any of the categories of our subscription service are reminded that to continue your access into 2003 you will need to renew your subscription.  Renewals are $10 per category and can be made via a fax or email citing an order number or using our online ordering where you save 10% on all OTRNet products.  Specific reminders will come to you in email form shortly and those not renewed will have their access removed after Friday February 14th.  Category D is not available in 2003 but we are hoping to add a new outcomes based category during this year.  Take a few minutes to renew now!

 

If you were not previously subscribed then follow the link below to find out more about what we offer.  You can get students working mathematically on quality tasks modelled to fit your desired outcomes.

 Subscriptions Service Information

 
 
 
 
4.   MAWA Professional Development
 
Thank you to all those people who attended my sessions at the MAWA Secondary Convention and gave such positive feedback about the topic.  I will be repeating this session at MAWA's first Afternoon Workshop for 2003.  This will take place at the new MAWA Office in Mirrabooka on Thursday 13th March.
 
The session is titled "Focusing on Learning in the Classroom".  The aim of this session is to suggest ways and means of making a classroom more student centred, making learning more constructivist based, and allowing students to work cooperatively.  The session would be of interest to people who are trying to make changes in their own classroom or are looking at how an alternative learning process can be managed.
 
You can register with MAWA for this session by contacting the office on 9345 0388.
 
 
5.    Sharemarket Game from ASX
 
 
### from the Australian sharemarket has asked me to remind schools that a new game starts on ######.  A valuable experience for students and teachers alike, this game has been a success in many schools over the years it has now been running.
 
You can link directly to the game from the link here:
http://www.asx.com.au/education/Games_IE2.shtm
 
or use our "Links to Lesson Resources" page of our Weblinks availasble at this address:
http://www.otrnet.com.au/Weblinks/lesson_resources.html
 
 

 

Want your students to be working on richer tasks?
 
Use Integrated Maths Modules and you'll find Applications that involve students applying concepts to complex tasks.

 
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.
 
 
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Mark R. O'Brien
Online Teachers Resource Network
C.O. Post Office
Wooroloo  WA   6558
Web site: www.otrnet.com.au
E-mail: markrobrien@otrnet.com.au
Phone: (08) 9573 1367
Fax: (08) 9238 1334