Perth Session Topics

Keynote

Calvin Irons and Brian Tickle

Strategies to Develop Deep Knowledge and Skills and Ensure Greater Success for More Students

(lower / middle / upper primary)

Deep knowledge and skills is one of the focal points of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. To achieve this goal, there is a need to rethink the sequence that we have traditionally followed and reconsider the emphasis we have previously given to many topics within mathematics.  This presentation will describe how to develop deep knowledge and skills in those topics that the new curriculum identifies as crucial. It will also explain the implications for adjusting teaching sequences to achieve these aims. Many practical examples will be given across the content and proficiency strands of the curriculum.

Session A

Judy Hartnett

Developing Deep Knowledge and Skills in Measurement

(lower / middle / upper primary)       **THIS PRESENTATION IS FULL – 17 MAY**

This session will work through identification of some of the deep knowledge and skills from the Measurement strand and will propose ways to include these as the focus of lessons and units of work.

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Allan Turton

Exploring 3D Objects: The Basics and Beyond 

(lower / middle / upper primary)

Do your students think that a prism is where criminals live? While getting students to memorise the correct geometric terms can be difficult enough, getting the right picture for the name is harder (and more important) than you might think. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore some fundamental concepts of 3D objects and investigate some special categories of objects.

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Kelvin Sparks

Using Rich Contexts to Develop Measurement and Statistics

(middle / upper primary)

By learning to take measurements and process data appropriately students learn more about the world and gain deep insights into the power and purpose of mathematics. The world is an exciting place for children to explore and mathematics is an essential tool for that inquiry but sometimes learning occurs beyond traditional subject boundaries. This workshop will examine in detail the role of mathematics as an inquiry tool in the context of two specific units of study.

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Paul Swan

Developing Geometric Reasoning and Measurement Concepts Using Tangrams

(middle / upper primary)

A tangram is a simple set of shapes that can be used to explore a great deal of mathematics. Participants will make their own tangram employing many mathematics concepts then use it to explore concepts such as congruence and similarity, area, angle, fractions and geometric or spatial reasoning.

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Session B

Rosemary Irons

Learning About Numbers: Natural and Complex for Young Children

(prep/ lower primary)

Learning about number is natural for children as they work with resources, draw pictures and recognise symbols in a mathematics-rich environment. The learning environment includes a range of number representations such as different arrangements of quantity, five- and ten-frame organisers and number tracks. These models help young children develop a strong conceptual understanding of number that enables them to represent number in meaningful ways and builds upon the joy of working with numbers.

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Paul Swan

Using Mathemagic to Explore Number Patterns, Early Algebra and Probability

(middle / upper primary)

In this session participants will learn to perform a series of tricks that are based on mathematical principles, not sleight of hand. After working through each trick the mathematics will be examined. In many cases the mathemematics relies on number patterns or properties of the number system we teach.

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Kelvin Sparks

Developing Deep Knowledge in Number and Algebra through Inquiry-Based Learning

(middle / upper primary)

Historically, number and algebra have been viewed as procedural knowledge in mathematics. However, this has been at the expense of students’ conceptual understanding. This session shows how to avoid this dilemma through inquiry-based learning. In an inquiry approach, teachers plan collaboratively to identify the enduring understandings involved in each mathematical topic. In this way, they can guide their students to ask questions, think critically about the mathematical skills they are learning, and thus develop deeper and more durable understanding.

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Gerard Tuffield

Stepping Stones: The Next-Generation Mathematics Program

(lower / middle / upper primary)

This product presentation will demonstrate ORIGO Education’s new online mathematics program that includes differentiated teaching modules and lessons plans and incorporates interactive teaching tools, games for reinforcing strategies, ready-to-project lesson illustrations, digital tools for bringing ‘Big Books’ to life, a glossary of mathematical terms, and professional development videos.

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Session C

Rosemary Irons

Language Experiences that Support Measurement and Geometry

(lower primary)

 Measurement and geometrical concepts requires specific vocabulary that is often new and unfamiliar to young students. Language and supporting experiences that children encounter in their day-to-day life at home and school will be reviewed and relevant measurement and geometry activities will be highlighted. As we guide learning by modelling appropriate language and creating interesting learning experiences, we also enhance mathematical concept development.

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Judy Hartnett

Using the Deep Knowledge and Skills of the Measurement Strand to Focus the Development of Assessment Tasks and Criteria

(lower / middle / upper primary)

This session will show how the use of deep knowledge and skills can assist the focus and clarification of assessment criteria and will use the Measurement strand for examples. This session builds on ideas from the presenter's other session but also stands alone as a workshop.

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Allan Turton

Angling for Understanding 

(middle / upper primary)

If you find yourself fishing for ideas to develop deep understanding about angles, this session may be just what you need. Many classroom activities about angles involve undefined expressions, unexplained rules and unfriendly protractors. This session will engage participants in hands-on activities designed to clarify, develop and strengthen the concept of angle.

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Calvin Irons

Using Number Puzzles to Promote Number Sense and Mental Computation 

(middle / upper primary)

There is a huge range of number puzzles that can be used to generate interest in mathematics and promote the application of mental calculation strategies. From strange tales about the magic square that date back more than 2000 years to the modern day Sudoku, there are many examples of weird and wonderful puzzles that stimulate and build reasoning powers involving number. This hands-on session will explore a few of those curiosities.

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Hall Jackson

Utilising eBeam IWB Pod for Primary Mathematics

(lower / middle / upper primary) 

Learn a range of technology skills you can apply to your interactive whiteboard. Examine teaching strategies to engage and monitor students including peer instruction, the creation of an e-portfolio using ORIGO's online resources, and the use of NAPLAN tests. The session will also demonstrate pre-prepared lesson plans, impromptu teaching approaches, and using IWBs without using a projector. 

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Closing Keynote

Brian Tickle

When the Student Becomes the Teacher

Several primary mathematics syllabuses in Australia acknowledge that students benefit greatly when they are encouraged to engage in rich dialogue about mathematical concepts, situations and problem-solving strategies. This session features students' responses and work samples that show what can happen when students are given the roles and responsibilities of the teacher.

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