AAMT e-news

for the Australian mathematics education community

29 March 2016

Research survey

A research team at the University of Technology, Sydney is conducting a project to investigate quality teaching and learning in maths and science education. Secondary school teachers are invited to answer a survey about their teaching. The results will help inform quality practices in teaching and learning of maths and sciences. Responses to the survey are anonymous. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and on completion, you can choose to enter the draw for one of 5 $200 Visa cards or a smartwatch valued at approximately $800.
Go to http://bit.ly/1j5GgsN

Decadal plan for mathematical sciences (2016–2025)

The Australian Academy of Science has released 'The Mathematical sciences in Australia: A vision for 2025'. Developed through collaboration between major organisations in the mathematical sciences including AAMT, the plan summarises key opportunities and challenges facing the discipline; fundamental to the plan is the provision of a high quality mathematics education for all Australian students. The recent publicity about universities reintroducing prerequisites in mathematics for STEM and other courses flows from one of the 12 recommendations in the plan. Download the PDF from www.science.org.au/support/analysis/decadal-plans-science/decadal-plan-mathematical-sciences-australia-2016-2025.

Probablistic footy tipping competition

With the start of the AFL season, you and your students might like to get involved in the probablistic footy-tipping competition. The competition has has much to offer, at many levels: from students learning about numbers (fractions) between 0 and 1, or about probability and logarithms, to students learning differential calculus, or people just interested in information theory. Best of all, it's free!
Go to www.csse.monash.edu.au/~footy.

[featured resource] Engaging Maths: Higher Order Thinking with Thinkers Keys

Catherine Attard

All students should be encouraged to engage with higher order thinking tasks. This book uses a critical and creative thinking tool called Thinkers Keys, adapted to be specifically mathematical. The keys indicate the kind of thinking needed to do the task: ‘reverse’ thinking, ‘what if’ thinking, ‘invention’ thinking, ‘prediction thinking’, even ‘ridiculous’ thinking.

#MTA001 $35.00 * AAMT members: $28.00 *

www.aamt.edu.au/Webshop/Entire-catalogue/Engaging-Maths-Higher-Order-Thinking-with-Thinkers-Keys