Conference synopsis 20240805 - Flipbook - Page 114
SESSION H: Friday, 3.10pm-4.10pm (cont.)
H24 MATHEMATICAL MODELS THAT
MEASURE OUR WORLD
Subtheme: Curriculum
Kaye Stacey, The University of Melbourne
(Year 7 to Year 12)
When we think of measurement, we usually think about
measuring physical quantities such as temperature or length.
But every day, we use measures for many other ‘quantities’
such as the star rating for healthiness of food, GDP, BMI,
biodiversity, social inequality or the infectivity of a disease.
These are mathematical models, used to understand and
make predictions about the world. Defining a measure
mathematically enables data collection, identifying
relationships to other variables and making predictions about
the future. The Victorian Curriculum (Mathematics) 2.0
describes mathematical modelling as a key to informed and
participatory citizenship. But this requires a fuller appreciation
of mathematical modelling than applying known techniques
to already mathematised situations. In this session, we
consider examples of mathematical models commonly used
in everyday life or science, examine what makes them good,
and discuss how students can learn how experts and citizens
can use these mathematical models to make good decisions.
Key takeaways:
1. Most people do not create mathematical models, but we all
use them.
2. Mathematical models give us the best-known way to
predict aspects of the future but might be wrong.
3. Understanding how mathematical modelling is used in
society is an important outcome of learning mathematics.
H25 REAL TRIGONOMETRY USING REALTIME REAL-WORLD DATA
Key takeaways:
1. A practical application of the use of trigonometry.
2. Great for students who want to be pilots.
3. The use of a spreadsheet and or CAS calculator to perform
trigonometric navigation calculations.
Remember: Delegates should be familiar with the app
Flightradar24 and have it installed on their mobile phone.
H26 OUR JOURNEY THROUGH IMPROVING
OUR TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS
Subtheme: Pedagogy
Timothy Ross, Jaswinder Kaur and Emily Beale,
Woodmans Hill Secondary College
(Year 7 to Year 10)
At Woodman’s Hill Secondary College, we have implemented
collective teacher efficacy to improve the way mathematics is
taught at our school. Through weekly check-ins, data analysis,
and relentless hard work, we have successfully transformed
our classrooms to meet students at their individual points of
need, fostering growth regardless of their initial abilities in
mathematics. This reflective approach has been instrumental
in driving our progress and identifying areas for improvement
as a team.
Key takeaways:
Subtheme: Technology
1. Importance of responding to student data.
Enzo Vozzo, Mentone Grammar
(Year 9 to Year 12)
2. Possible starting points for differentiation in your
classroom.
Flightradar24, a popular plane tracking app, gives users
access to a flight’s real time data such as speed, altitude,
track, latitude and longitude. Using plane and spherical
trigonometry, this real-time, real-world data can be used to
calculate and confirm that the speed and track of a flight are
correct using four different methods. Three methods involve
plane trigonometry, and these will depend on particular
3. Implementation of school-wide change in mathematics
teaching.
THE MATHEMATICAL
ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA
114
aspects of a flight: Method 1 deals with flights that are
travelling due north or south, Method 2 deals with flights that
are travelling due east or west, Method 3 deals with flights
near the equator travelling in any direction. Method 4 uses
spherical trigonometry and is the method that is actually used
by flights. The theory behind each method will be discussed
along with worked examples. All these calculations can be
done on a CAS calculator or on a spreadsheet.
