Assignment 3: Maths resource folio

From Annotated Template in the PADLET

Jacinta’s extra TIPS and FAQs…

Content descriptor

Select one content descriptor to focus on in each level that correlates to your concept and shows a clear progression.

Approximately 40 words, per template

In this section you will...

Include the content descriptor. No further explanation.

Tip: Remember to reference the curriculum appropriately.

Make sure this is cited accurately. Loads of support for this on our Discussion Board and in the PADLET.

Curriculum connections

Description of how the concept is addressed, and how it progresses throughout each level.

Approximately 200 words, per template

In this section you will...

Explain how the maths concept is addressed and demonstrate your understanding of what the content descriptor means.

For example:

In the 1st template: explain any prior knowledge, what the content descriptor actually means and give practical examples

In the 2nd and 3rd templates: explain how this builds on the year before and show what this might entail with practical examples

Practical examples will show more depth and will demonstrate your understanding of the content descriptor further.

You can do this by providing: - examples of where the maths skills are used in real life - examples of how this might be taught in the classroom with links to the real world/numeracy.

You can also give practical real world examples in the Rationale.

For example: ....This includes language such as ‘between’, ‘near’, ‘next to’, ‘forward’, ‘toward’.  This can be seen in the classroom by the use of everyday positional language such as describing that a book is next to the table. These skills are seen in the real world in maps, directions and everyday location descriptions.

TIP: Lay the 3 content descriptors out in front of you: - What do you see as the main progression between the year levels? - How would the level of thinking differ as the children progress up the year levels? - Can you identify any key terms that might differ among the content descriptors or elaborations? These will be hints about the progression and expectations.

What do I write in TEMPLATE 1? - Begin your folio with a very brief introduction of the concept. You could discuss why the maths concept is important or beneficial to learn or where the concept sits in the curriculum – only do this in template 1 – never repeat yourself across all 3 templates.  

- Make sure to talk about any prior knowledge the children are bringing with them. Be specific with terminology. Give a brief example if you can. Remember that prior knowledge from preschool will only be informal, play based and links to the real world – perhaps knowledge from home.

- Then go on to explain the content descriptor in some depth. Explain what it means and give examples. 

What do I write in TEMPLATE 2 & 3? Remember to explain the content descriptor in some depth and include practical examples.

Be specific about HOW the descriptor has built on the previous one. HOW is the learning more complex? Look at the terminology in the descriptor and the elaborations carefully.

NO justification is needed in the Curriculum Connections. Just focus on the explaining the content descriptors and HOW they progress and get more complex.

Resource

Include the name of the resource, evidence of the resource and a brief description.

Please note, 2 out of the 3 resources must be ICT resources.

Approximately 120 words, per template

In this section you will...

Provide a specific resource to use in your mathematics classroom to address the content descriptor.

Provide these details:

· Clearly state what the resource IS

· Evidence of the resource in the form of an image – a screenshot is fine

· A 120 word written description of the resource and how it will be used

NOTE: In 120 words, explain what the resource is, and briefly how it will be used in maths learning. This section does NOT need any evidence. Or justification Just CLEARLY explain what the resource is and how you are suggesting it be used in the classroom.

For example....

Figure 1. Bee bots. (Primary ICT, 2018).

This ICT resource is... This will be introduced by... The children will...

Reminders:

Make sure ICT resources are integrated into the learning. They should be used in a way that enhances the learning further. The ICT still needs to show strong links to contemporary education and everything we’ve looked at in this unit so far

Make sure your resources and activities are the BEST POSSIBLE activities you can think of.

Think about contemporary education – active, hands on, play, real life links, critical thinking, collaboration, social learning, problem solving, inquiry learning, reasoning, justifying, learning outside or in flexible spaces, discovering answers and constructing knowledge….

This is a post I made in the week 9 Activity that might be helpful….

Try to think of the BEST POSSIBLE resource and activity that you can. Some ideas might be:

· How can the children discover the answers for themselves? Perhaps the teacher needs to pose a problem or investigation for the students to solve?

· How can the children think critically and use mathematical reasoning to justify answers?

· How can they work together and use their communication skills?

· How can we give the learning a more real purpose? (Even if it's fabricated!)

· How is the activity open-ended and the children making decisions?

· In younger levels.... how can we link to numeracy or play??

Rationale

Justification for your resource selection. This must be supported by academic literature.

Approximately 300 words, per template

In this section you will...

Justify the resource with a focus on explaining how it engages children in contemporary education, how it links to numeracy and how it addresses the curriculum .

Tip: Try to make links to numeracy and give practical real world examples to demonstrate a stronger understanding of how the resource can address the content descriptor. Be specific about your resource!

Support your justifications with evidence. Here are some examples:

ICT is beneficial because.... (citation). This resource links maths and ICT by....

This resource can enhance engagement by.... draws on student interest by... This is beneficial because.... (citation).

This resource allows for hands on, active learning... this is beneficial as...... (citation).

Working in groups enhances learning by.... (citation). Using this resource the children would work in pairs to.... The mathematical language being used is.... link to a real world example if possible.

The resource can help develop maths concepts by..... link to terms in the content descriptor.... Give real world examples. Connecting learning to real life is beneficial because..... (citation). This resource allows for...

Focus on your resource:

Justify your specific resource! When you give some lovely information and academic literature – you need to directly link your resource to the information – be specific!

Justify how the RESOURCE links to: - the specific content descriptor - to the real world/numeracy

- contemporary education

What do we mean by CONTEMPORAR EDUCATION?

Play

Real life links

Collaboration, communication and social learning

Critical thinking and problem solving

Inquiry learning

Hands on learning with concrete materials

Active learning

Discovering answer for themselves and constructing knowledge

Open ended tasks where the opportunities are endless

Children making decisions rather than being told what to do or produce

Targeting individual children at their own ability level

How many citations do I need and where does the evidence come from?

A lot of these ideas link to constructivism, cognitivism, Vygotsky and Piaget. Some ideas are from contemporary educational literature. We want to see lots of the weekly readings used and some further good quality educational literature. I’d expect to see at least a few citations in each template. It’s also about the quality of your evidence and how well it’s linked to your resource, rather than a pure number of citations. Try to support everything you are saying as it strengthens your justifications.

How many things do I justify?

You’ll justify the links to the maths content descriptor and to the real world/numeracy – this can be done in the same discussion if you’d like to! Then, think about your resource and activity and justify the MAIN contemporary elements. Perhaps 2-4 different things, depending on the depth of your justification – it’s up to you. Try to justify a variety of things in each template, to show a good scope of your understanding across all 3 templates.

Remember: To achieve those higher HD marks, make sure you are thinking critically about the resource use. See my tips in the A3 forum on our Discussion Board.