Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed knowledge and understandings of appropriate teaching strategies; support resources for teaching mathematics; recent developments in mathematics education; the use of technology in teaching mathematics. Students should have demonstrated skills in a variety of teaching techniques including exposition; discussion between teacher and students and between students themselves; practical work; consolidation and practice; problem solving, including the application of mathematics to everyday situations; investigational work. Students should also be able to effectively plan and teach sequences of mathematics lessons from a selection of topics and areas; use a variety of assessment and reporting methods of mathematical achievement; cater for students of mixed ability; develop a resource kit of methods, materials, tests, publishers and suppliers, professional contacts and associates. Students should have developed values or attitudes which show a commitment to the teaching of mathematics to all students; an awareness of the professional responsibilities of a mathematics teacher; a willingness to participate in faculty or departmental meetings in schools.
Synopsis Students wishing to take mathematics as a single method, using some other discipline for their second method, must take this subject. The subject will be based on a number of broad objectives which will enable successful students to (a) broaden their awareness of mathematics as a subject; (b) develop a knowledge of teaching styles and methods in mathematics; (c) explore the needs of various groups of children; (d) develop a knowledge of the resources available to a teacher of mathematics; (e) learn essential parts of school mathematics not previously studied.
Assessment A precondition for a pass in this method is a pass in practice teaching and 80% attendance at all timetabled classes + A satisfactory level of achievement is also required for each of the following tasks Introductory essay: 5% + Teaching round VCE observation: 10% + Lesson plan: 25% + Unit of work: 25% + Graphics calculator assignment: 15% + Solution to a VCE CAT project: 15% + Lesson plan book: 5%