Conference synopsis 20240805 - Flipbook - Page 51
content knowledge, particularly for out-of-field teachers.
Funded by the Department of Education’s Strategic
Partnerships Program, BMU aims to upskill teachers
in delivering 7-10A mathematics with confidence and
competence. In this session, you will get insight into what this
program offers and what is included within it. You will discover
the structure of BMU, featuring 12 online, on-demand
modules. Each module is designed to be accessible at your
own pace and focused on key areas of mathematics, delivered
by subject matter experts. By exploring the program through
the virtual portal, you will get a feel for how it may help you or
your colleagues upskill themselves in secondary mathematics
content.
requirement to ‘conduct simulations, using digital tools to
determine probabilities and describe results’.
Key takeaways:
Carmel Mesiti and Kate Copping, Faculty of Education,
The University of Melbourne
(Year 3 to Year 8)
1. Comprehensive Build Me Up (BMU) program insight
through immersion into the course.
B11 CARD COLLECTOR – AN INTERESTING
PROBLEM FOR INVESTIGATION
Subtheme: Curriculum
Brian Lannen, Murray Mathematics Curriculum Services,
Angel Wong St Andrews Christian College
(Year 9 to Year 12)
Consider that a breakfast cereal company is running a
promotion by inserting a famous mathematician card into
each box of cereal. If there are six different cards in the set
and the placement of cards is equal and random, how many
boxes of cereal on average would you expect are needed in
order to collect the full set of cards? Participants will partake
in hands-on investigation of the card (or coupon) collector
problem with the opportunity to explore through intuition,
simulation and calculation. This classic problem could be used
as the basis for a Mathematical Methods investigation task,
specifically examining expectation, probability distribution
and confidence intervals. However, at a basic level, it is also
accessible to junior students and can be used to meet the
F-10 curriculum requirement to ‘conduct simulations, using
digital tools to determine probabilities and describe results
(VC2M8P03).’
3. Appreciation of the underlying mathematics of a classic
problem of probability.
Remember: Not essential, but a CAS calculator of your
preferred platform will be helpful.
B12 WHAT’S THE POINT? EXPLORING TOOLS
FOR TEACHING DECIMALS EFFECTIVELY
Subtheme: Curriculum
Do you want to enhance your teaching of decimals?
Understanding decimals is key for students’ numerical
proficiency and mathematical literacy. This presentation
explores four tools to enhance decimal comprehension:
decimat, number expander, hundreds grid, and a decimal
comparison model. Each tool offers unique strategies
for teaching decimals. We will explore their benefits and
limitations for classroom use. You will learn how to integrate
these tools into your teaching practices, aligning with the
Victorian Curriculum Mathematics 2.0. Come along to gain
a comprehensive understanding of each tool’s pedagogical
potential and practical strategies for effective implementation
in primary classrooms.
Key takeaways:
1. Importance of decimal understanding.
2. Exploration of four teaching tools.
3. Practical application and curriculum alignment.
Key takeaways:
1. Resource materials that could form the basis of a VCE
Mathematical Methods investigation task.
2. Activities that can help fulfil the F-10 curriculum
THE MATHEMATICAL
ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA
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