UoA Mathematics Education courses for the Ministry fee initiative 2011
The three UoA courses offered, and the period of delivery (year long per course), promote a timely professional development sequence (based on research findings) on; teacher mathematics (number) Content Knowledge, the use of Formative (mathematics) Assessment and consequent action in the classroom, and Pedagogy (Quality Teaching).
Courses (first year of sequence) available for this initiative at UoA:
EDCURRIC 349 A/B: Understanding and Extending Mathematical Thinking
Runs for the whole year (A in semester 1 and B in semester 2) at Under Graduate (3rd year) level: 15 points
The course has a particular numeracy focus on an in-depth understanding of the mathematics within the numeracy project to develop knowledge and understanding of the content of the Numeracy frameworks.
This course provides opportunities for teachers to extend their personal understanding of the wide range of numeracy strategies from elementary to sophisticated that children use to solve mathematical problems. Teachers will develop an understanding that the most efficient strategy to use is dependent on the nature of the problem. Teachers will have opportunities to reflect on reasons for learners’ “misconceptions” and plan for teaching thinking strategies in problematic situations drawn from case studies. Trialling aspects of the course classroom practice are a feature of this course.
EDCURRIC 714 A/B: Exploring Mathematical Thinking
Runs for the whole year (A in semester 1 and B in semester 2) at Post Graduate level: 30 points
This course provides an opportunity for teachers to critique historical number systems as a way of illuminating theoretical issues, and informing their teaching practice, around learning number and place value concepts.
Content will build upon the material covered in EDCURRIC 349 A/B Understanding and Extending Mathematical Thinking by examining similar aspects but in other number systems, and be assessed at the post graduate level.
Note:
1. Enrolment is in the EDCURRIC 714 A/B courses but attendance at the EDCURRIC 349 A/B sessions and completing the associated assignment work is an essential part of the EDCURRIC 714 A/B courses.
Courses (second year of sequence) available for this initiative at UoA:
EDCURRIC 369:
Runs for the whole year (A in semester 1 and B in semester 2) at Under Graduate (3rd year) level: 15 points
Approaches for teaching individuals and small groups of students who have been identified as achieving below expectations in mathematics, in New Zealand primary and secondary schools, will be explored. Numeracy assessment tools that identify the problems that students have with mathematical language and mathematical symbols will be examined.
EDCURRIC 715 A/B: Understanding Difficulties In Number Learning
Runs for the whole year (A in semester 1 and B in semester 2) at Post Graduate level: 30 points
This course critically examines how conceptual early number learning proceeds, and the key difficulties in learning number concepts and generalisations considered from a psychological perspective. There is an emphasis on the link between the language, symbols, and place-value used for instruction and the conceptual underpinnings of the mathematics to be learnt.
Note:
1. Enrolment is in the EDCURRIC 715 A/B courses but attendance at the EDCURRIC 369 A/B sessions and completing the associated assignment work is an essential part of the EDCURRIC 715 A/B courses.
Courses (third year of sequence) available for this initiative at UoA:
EDCURRIC 347: Helping Children Succeed in Mathematics
Runs semester 2 in South Auckland at Under Graduate (3rd year) level: 15 points
This course provides opportunities for teachers to discuss and analyse the development of children’s mathematics and associated pedagogies. The current numeracy initiatives and their implementation, both in teachers’ classrooms and more widely within their schools, will be examined and analysed. Trialling aspects of the course in classroom practice are a feature of this course.
It provides support for classroom use of numeracy teaching approaches and knowledge and understanding of basic knowledge and strategies with a focus on pedagogy.
EDCURRIC 717 A/B: Development of Numeracy Practice
Runs for the whole year (A in semester 1 and B in semester 2) at Post Graduate level: 30 points
A critical examination of the following themes: theories of learning and models of teaching of numeracy and their effects on students' mathematics learning; New Zealand government policy on mathematics education since 1950 and its influences on teaching numeracy; the influence of central government on curriculum materials in selected countries.
Note:
1. Enrolment is in the EDCURRIC 717 A/B courses but attendance at the EDCURRIC 347 A/B sessions and completing the associated assignment work is an essential part of the EDCURRIC 715 A/B courses.
GENERAL NOTE
The fees subsidy for primary teacher’s fees for these specified mathematics education courses is available in 2011. The Ministry will pay half if the school will pay the other half.