OTRNet Newsletter 41
 
Hi and welcome to our August newsletter.
 
Commencing second term with three states having their Annual Conferences it will be a busy time for OTRNet and a lot of teachers involved with the associations. 
 
I would like to recommend to people in WA, QLD and NSW that you try to make time to attend your associations conferences.  There is always a great spirit, lots of information that shows we are moving forward in the profession, and for many people the stimulation required to go back to their classrooms with a refreshed attitude to teaching.
 
 
I look forward to meeting people at the conferences and  I hope that you will find something that helps your teaching in this month's newsletter.
 
 
Regards,
 
Mark
 
 
In this newsletter there is information on:
 
1.    The Latest on the Integrated Maths Modules
 
2.    Internet Resources
 
3.    Learning & Teaching With The Modules - Part  5 - Assessment
 
4.    Puzzle #4
 
5.    Upcoming PD from the Associations
 
 
 
1.    The Latest on the Integrated Maths Modules
 
 
Period Functions is here.  Our 35th module has been completed and published and is now available to schools and teachers.  Covering the topics of: Periodic functions, trigonometric functions, graphs of trigonometric functions, solving trigonometric equations and simple harmonic motion, this module continues our "Functions" series.
 
You can find the sample Activity and Application fom this module available to downoad free and use in your classroom at this page of our website - just look near the bottom for module H07:
 
The complete information package on this module is at this address:
 
 
Thirty five integrated maths modules are now published and samples from all these modules are available from our website via the page linked to here: http://www.otrnet.com.au/IntegratedMathsModules/module_samples.html
 
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
 
 
 
2.  Internet Resources
 
Two more Internet sites that may provide you with direct support for your lessons, or with the opportunity to enhance your ability to teach mathematics. 
 
Content: The HP HOME view
Colin Croft's website is an absolute must visit for users of HP Graphics Calculators.  No other site contains the amount of resources and information for using these calulators and all teachers and students using HP calculators should visit this site to find what they can use.
You can find this site at: http://www.hphomeview.com/
 
Pedagogy: Understanding Rubrics
This page of the MiddleWeb site is based on Understanding Rubrics and is written by Heidi Goodrich.  In line with this newsletter's article on assessment (see the next point), here is a type of assessment tool that maths teachers may find useful when trying to evaluate new types of assessment pieces.  The page also provides links to many other sites with information on Rubrics.
You can find this site at: http://www.middleweb.com/rubricsHG.html
 
 
 
3.    Learning & Teaching With The Modules - Part 5 - Assessment
 
 
The Integrated Maths Modules are designed to develop understanding of the processes of mathematics and the ability for students to connect and apply their learning to the solution of non routine problems.  Because of this, the principal assesment tool for the modules is the Sample Application found in each teachers' module. 
 
This sample application, like those found within the student modules, gives students an opportunity to demonstrate that they can selectively apply concepts and undertandings they have learnt during the module to a new situation.  Sample Applications are not a summative assessment - they should be seen as a "sampling" of a students understanding and any determination of a students level of achievement must include further opportunities for them to demonstrate outcomes.
 
A practical and appropriate assessment method to add to the Sample Application is observation by teachers during ongoing class lessons.  As we become more familiar with the outcomes we want to observe from students, it is possible for teachers who are working with students facilitating their learning to make judgements based on what they hear, what they are asked and what they see during lessons. 
 
Another assesment tool is the collection of student work.  Modules often contain Applications which, despite the lack of test conditions during lessons, result in each child demonstrating their achievement.  An example that comes to mind is Application B of the Mapping module, C03.  I have collected this scale drawing exercise from students after observing their work on it during class time and been able to level their achievement based on what they produced without feeling the result was compromised by the fact they completed it in class.  This type of course based assignment clearly meets the "Valid" and "Educative" aspects of assessment.  (WA teachers see p37-39 of the Curriculum Framework).
 
The use of these three assessment tools, along with others you may devise, means that your assessment package is "Comprehensive" and more likely to be "Fair", two further key aspects of assessment.  If you can devise other types of tools that suit you and your students all the better.
 
So what of the "traditional maths test".  An assessment item that monitors students mastery of skills and algorithms should still be part of your programme.  It is important for teachers and students to continually check whether progress is being made in this area and it is useful to diagnose areas in which further "Formalisation and Consolidation" may be required.  As far as using it to assess students level of achievement of outcomes, it is difficult and probably not the best type of tool to use.  With this type of assessment item, I have found that I had to change the type of questions I used to ones that give students more opportunity to demonstrate what they can do, rather than ones which produce a wide range of results from my class suitabe for grading.
 
 
I hope this provides further useful background for teachers using the modules.  In the next newsletter I will discuss the use of the online TLR pages that exist for each module and highlight some of the resources available via these pages in the series "Learning & Teaching with the Modules".  Feel free to email me to discuss this further if you wish: mailto:markrobrien@otrnet.com.au
 
The PowerPoint presentation "Focusing On Learning in the Classroom" that demonstrates the underlying classroom structure for teaching with the modules can be viewed from our website at this location:
 
 
 
4.    Puzzle #4 (A free resource for readers!)
 
 
Here is the fourth in our series of Puzzles from the IMM series.  Presented as a pdf file this puzzle can be downloaded by newsletter readers and copied for use in their classroom.
 
This week's puzzle is "Why did the man run down the street yelling polygon, polygon?" from module B04: 2D Shapes 1.  It is based on students using correct naming conventions for polygons.
 
To download the puzzle use the link below:
(It may work directly to left click on the link or you may need to right click and choose "Save Target As".)
 
 
 
5.    Upcoming PD from the Associations
 
 
Notice of Professional Development from the Associations.
 
MAWA:   
2004 Annual Conference: Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd August: Bunbury
 
QAMT:
Groundworks One Day Conference: Saturday 7th August: QUT Kelvin Grove Campus
Forum: ICT and Mathematics: Saturday 21st August: Venue to be announced
QAMT Conference: Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th September: Chancellor State College, Sippy Downs
 
MASA:
Middle School Mathematics Mini Conference: Wed 1st Sept: Scotch College
Statistics for Maths Studies 2005: Tues 21st Sept: Adelaide University
"Applications in Mathematics - Making the Connections: Thurs 14th Oct: Uni East, Adelaide
Middle School Maths & Science Conference: Mon 29th Nov
 
MAV:   
An Introduction and Overview of CAS: Tues 10th Aug: Wellington Sec College
The Mathematics of Mobile Phones: Friday Aug 13th:  Uni of Melbourne (Contact Sarah on 03 83446806)
Lets Get Connected - Internet, Computer, Graphic Calculator, Applications: Mon 16th Aug: Our Lady of Sion
Maths Methods - CAS: Wed 11th Aug: Haileybury College and Mon 23rd August: Our Lady of Sion
Middle Years Maths Day: Friday 3rd September: Croydon 
2004 MAV Annual Conference: Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December: Monash University, Clayton Campus
 
MANSW:   
General Mathematics: Sat 14th Aug: MLC School
Teaching Calculus Incorporating Technology: Thurs 9th Sept: Wiley Park Girls High
Practical Programming Ideas for years 9-10: Tues 24th Aug: Bethany College, Kogara
2004 Annual Conference: 26th to 28th of September: Mudgee
 

 

Investigations at the click of a button
 
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Mark R. O'Brien
Online Teachers Resource Network
C.O. Post Office
Wooroloo  WA   6558
Phone: 0427 957 313  or  (08) 9573 1367
Fax: (08) 9238 1334