Outdoor Maths Gary Hughes Maths Coordinator South Oakleigh College Why do it?

Past PoLT Student Perceptions, Yr 8 & 9 Students felt that teachers acknowledged and expected good work Students noted that they didn’t often work in groups, nor did they link to people and places outside the school Discussion with focus groups of students provided anecdotal evidence of their sense of a disconnection between classroom learning and “real” knowledge

Past Student Attitudes to School Survey What did this show? Students believed that they were highly motivated, however they also felt a need for greater: school connectedness learning confidence

Past Student Attitudes to School Survey So the Question was: How could we better engage students and help them to progress?

PoLT Survey Student Learning Preferences: Aggregated data from Year 8 and 9 surveys was examined. What do students think?

PoLT Learning Preferences

What are the preferred learning activities? Doing hands-on activities Doing investigations or projects of my own choice Watching the teacher show us how to do things Going on excursions Trend seems to be a liking for a more active approach (Worksheets and reflective writing were not popular!)

What next? Monash network involvement in AGQTP to investigate an identified area of need for improvement – we chose to explore doing more Maths outside the classroom

What happened in the past?

What do the Students think works?

Preferred Ways of Learning Maths: Learn outside classroom Small group work

Next step: Design/ modify lessons which take advantage of opportunities to learn outside the classroom, and incorporate group work. Some Examples: Human graphs – “live” coordinate geometry

Go Outside and find Triangles

Yes…..they are everywhere!

Other Examples: SPACE Quadrilaterals in the foyer using string Creating human pyramids in the gym MEASUREMENT, CHANCE AND DATA Data analysis using column graphs eg survey cars in the car park Data analysis using scatter plots eg measure height vs arm span Estimation using pace length

Other Examples: Have students teaching each other in small groups. Involve them in topic selection, learning objectives, resource selection, methodology and even assessment rubrics Use interesting maths games. Ensure they deliver quantifiable improvements related to learning outcomes. Having fun is important, but keep activities focused on defined learning objectives outcomes. 32

Useful Resources RIME MCTP Maths 300 Google Earth (Virtual Outdoors!) http://realworldmath.org/Real_World_Math/RealWorldMath.org.html http://www.mathopenref.com/ http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

Summary We are achieving improved results at South Oakleigh College by raising engagement levels in junior secondary maths Student preference is for group and hands on activities Range of options only limited by imagination Outdoor activities have had immediate impact Students appreciate, respond and excel 34

Thank You Debbie Locco (SOC – Principal) Kate Evans (EMR – Numeracy TLC) Maths Teachers at South Oakleigh College EMR/AGQTP 35