3. Learning &
Teaching With The Modules - Part 7 - Classroom Management
The classroom structure that the modules were developed to support can be a
significant change from a traditional maths classroom and teachers often ask how
to manage the day to day running of the lessons. My first comment is
always to point out to people that the lessons are not meant to be self-paced.
Although students will work at differing rates and teachers may allow them to
change the sequencing of activities or applications it is important to always
maintain a "class atmosphere". This will facilitate the cooperative
learning aspects, allow teachers to talk generally to the whole class when
consolidating concepts or discussing ideas, and make the general management of
learning easier.
I try to always have classes move from Exploration to Formalisation and from
Formalisation to Application altogether. This can be achieved by having
different expectations of what each child will cover, setting different targets
for different children, and by setting work goals regularly for the whole class.
Remember that the aim is to provide students with learning experiences that will
develop certain key outcomes. Not every child has to complete exactly the
same amount of material in the set timeframe.
Where activities or applications involve direct group work these
should be programmed for certain days in the learning period and all students
should complete them at the same time. On careful analysis of the
activities and applications teachers may notice that the last of each are
usually significantly longer items requiring a greater depth of thought and a
longer period of time. This feature has been designed into the modules
to help with the concept of all students changing stages together.
Finally, the issue of feedback on activities and applications.
At appropriate times during lessons it is important to stop the class and go
over the "solutions" and "key outcomes" of each activity or application.
This is best done when all have finished the item although this may not be
possible with later items. This phase is important for both teacher and
student as the feedback that both get will allow reflection on what was
learned and what remains to be fully understood.
I hope this provides further useful background for
teachers using 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 #6 (A free resource for
readers!)
Here is the sixth 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 "Congruent Pairs" from module
B06: Design & Construct. It is based on students recognising congruent
shapes composed of 5 cubes but positioned differently.
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. OTRNet at the MAWA
Secondary Convention and MAV Conference.
For teachers in Western Australia I would like to let you know that I will be
presenting three sessions at this year's Secondary Convention coming up at the
end of the month. These sessions will be:
- Online Resources for the Integrated Maths Modules - a technology based
workshop investigating the Teaching & Learning Resource pages available to all
teachers on our website.
- Focussing on Learning In the Maths Classroom - a presentation that looks
at a way of structuring maths lessons around Constructivist based learning in
a Student Centred Environment with students working Cooperatively.
- Cooperative Learning in the Maths Classroom - a presentation/workshop that
takes a more in depth look at why and how to use cooperative learning
strategies in your lessons.
For teachers in Victoria and others attending MAV I will be presenting two
sessions at this year's conference. These sessions will be:
-
Integrated Maths Modules I: The Innovative Teaching Structure they Support -
Presenting an innovative classroom structure for learning mathematics, with
an introduction to the modules written to support the structure.
- Integrated Maths Modules II: A Workshop Detailing How, What & Why - This
workshop will enable teachers to: Understand the structure and content of
the modules, Reflect on their suitability as a learning resource ,
Understand how they can be implemented into a course, Increase awareness of
relevant new pedagogies, Connect curriculum, pedagogies and the modules.
OTRNet will also have displays at these conferences. Come up and say
hello or discuss an issue or a resource you might be seeking.
6. Upcoming PD from the
Associations
Notice of Professional
Development from the Associations.
MAWA:
2004 Secondary Convention:
November 28th to 30th: Scotch College & The Esplanade Hotel
MAV:
2004 MAV
Annual Conference: Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December: Monash University, Clayton
Campus
MASA:
Science & Mathematics Experiences in the Middle Years: Mon 29th Nov:
Australian Science & Mathematics School
AAMT:
Biennial Conference: 17th to 20th
January: Sydney University of Technology
QAMT:
Investigations
on the Internet
Categories A and
B of our Subscription Service each have 20 Investigations with Assessment
Tasks that you can download in digital format for
students.
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
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Mark R.
O'Brien
Online Teachers Resource
Network
PO Box 49
Glen Forrest WA 6071
Phone: 0427 957 313 or
(08) 9573 1367
Fax: (08) 9238 1334