Numeracy Project
The definition of numeracy used in the Numeracy Development Project is: "To be numerate is to have the ability and inclination to use mathematics effectively - at home, at work and in the community". So Numeracy means much more than facility with number.
Peter Hughes, who is a Principal Lecturer in the School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, designed the project to help teachers effect this definition of numeracy by changing the focus of teaching from teacher-led procedures to student learning and using a deep number sense.
Initially the project involved teachers of years 1 to 8. Currently Peter is involved in the planning and delivery of the Secondary Numeracy Project.
Peter is also involved in developments to improve teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge. The effective teacher of mathematics needs
- a thorough and deep understanding of the subject matter to be taught, how students are likely to learn it, and the difficulties and misunderstandings they are likely to encounter.
- to understand that algebra arises from within number.
Further information on the Numeracy Project can be found at: http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/numeracy/index.aspx
Top
Sir John Logan Campbell Classroom at the Liggins Institute
Principal lecturer Dr Bev France has been part of a team that has set up a biology/biotechnology focused classroom in The Liggins Institute, a centre of excellence for medical research at the University of Auckland. School students can visit the classroom and do practical work that may not be accessible in their own classrooms and even more importantly be able to meet scientists who are using these techniques in their research. This project has been supported by a Tertiary education Commission (TEC) grant.
Bev France (right) talks to two teachers in the Sir John Logan Campbell Classroom.
The aims of this project are:
- To provide teachers and students with access to the Liggins biological research community
- To develop curriculum materials based on access to these university facilities
- To develop the potential for teachers to contextualise the resources of the Liggins Institute for their classrooms
Bev is also completing a research report that investigates the interactions between teachers, students and scientists in the project. Her aim is to assess the impact of the classroom project on secondary students’ attitudes to science and perceptions of scientists.
Background information on the Sir John Logan Campbell Classroom can be found at: http://www.liggins.auckland.ac.nz/newsandevents/newsandevents.html
