Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Only offered to Cohorts.

This module examines the challenge of leading improvement in numeracy and mathematics teaching, which involves establishing possible goals for teaching, establishing relevant baselines, using evidence to inform planning and teaching, establishing interim targets, and considering processes for prompting and supporting teacher improvement.

This includes examination of models of teaching mathematics and models of numeracy teacher learning, and the challenges associated with the various models. In particular the E5 model for planning teaching and evaluating teaching mathematics and numeracy will be examined in detail and the ways that this can be used to inform teacher self evaluation.

The unit also includes the processes for gathering evidence about numeracy teaching and student learning, the processes for analysing such evidence, and the techniques of preparing reports that can serve as an initiator of improvement.

Objectives

The participants will:

• Examine the nature of knowledge for teaching numeracy and mathematics, and ways of defining and enhancing such knowledge
• Explore processes for working with teachers that can allow critique of numeracy, mathematics and the ways these are learned
• Develop strategies for working with teachers that have the effect of engaging them in numeracy learning while examining their own beliefs about numeracy and mathematics teaching
• Gather and analyse evidence of numeracy learning
• Consider the approaches and processes of whole school numeracy and mathematics plans.

Assessment

Analytical Report : 50% (4000 words); Developmental Project : 50% (4000 words)

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Peter Sullivan

Contact hours

Workload requirement: 24 hrs per week