Professional reading
Below is a selection of links to professional reading (as well as some audio and/or video resources) on a variety of subjects and from a variety of sources. The intention is that this collection will be changed and added to over time.
Improving Learning in Mathematics
The link below provides access to an audio file and PDF of accompanying slides from a presentation by Professor Malcolm Swan (Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Nottingham) for the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education.
Professor Swan focuses on an approach which utilises collaborative learning of fundamental mathematical concepts, and replaces over-emphasis on routine technical exercises with more challenging, complex tasks that require students to confront and discuss conceptual obstacles.
Informing Mathematics Pedagogy: TIMSS 2007 Australia and the world
Sue Thomson and Sarah Buckley have authored this report with classroom teachers in mind. They present an overview of the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Sciences) assessment together with a detailed item analysis of some questions from 2007. Teachers can explore the Australian results for each question, and examine whether the responses and understandings (or misconceptions) of students in the Australian sample are typical of those of their own students.
The report, and files containing all the publicly released 2007 TIMSS assessment items, can be downloaded from the page below.
Performance of Australian School Students in International Studies in Mathematics
This paper by Professor Kaye Stacey and Dr Max Stephens provides an overview of the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) international assessment programs, and what recent results have told us about Australian students' achievement in mathematics and mathematical literacy.
(The paper can be downloaded as a PDF file from the page below).
A Journey Just Begun
Paper by Harry Langes outlining a collaboration between several NSW schools and their local Indigenous community which resulted in a positive and productive partnership (extract from Quality Mathematics in The Middle Years).
qmmy-langes.pdf 140.06 kB
Numeracy in Indigenous Contexts
Article from Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom vol. 13 no. 4 (2008) in which Bob Perry and Peter Howard discuss the development of teaching and learning strategies designed to enhance Aboriginal students' mathematical learning outcomes.
apmc13-4-perry.pdf 345.32 kB
Mathematics: understanding the score - Improving practice in mathematics (secondary)
One of two booklets from Ofsted (UK) which aim to help teachers improve pupils’ understanding of mathematics and give them confidence in using the subject in everyday life. (Published March 2009)
Mathematics: understanding the score - Improving practice in mathematics (primary)
One of two booklets from Ofsted (UK) which aim to help teachers improve pupils’ understanding of mathematics and give them confidence in using the subject in everyday life. (Published March 2009)
Twelve outstanding secondary schools - Excelling against the odds
This report, published in February 2009 by Ofsted (the UK's Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills), examines why some schools succeed brilliantly against all the odds while others in more favourable circumstances struggle.
A National Strategy for Mathematical Sciences in Australia
This report, prepared by Prof. Hyam Rubenstein as Chair of the National Committee for the Mathematical Sciences, was published on 3 March 2009. It can be downladed from the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) website using the link below.
Another angle on angles
A collection of 3 Powerpoint shows by Tandi Clausen-May that use a dynamic approach to develop the concept of angle as a measure of turn.