Project Maths - Teacher Workshop - Kildare Education Centre

Here is a video of one of the Project Maths Development Team's Workshops, which took place in Kildare Education Centre. In this workshop the Regional Development Officer modelled an approach to the teaching and learning algebra using tables, graphs, words and formula. This workshop asked teachers to consider: "How can we increase students' understanding of algebra?" The approaches suggested in the workshop are challenging. The activities caused the teachers to rethink some fundamental beliefs about teaching and learning algebra.




Algebra is a topic in mathematics that a lot of students have varying degrees of difficulty with. Traditionally it has been taught as a set of standard procedures that have to be covered with very little context or application. The methodologies modelled at this workshop were based on the Teaching and Learning Plan: Introduction to Patterns and on a resource Patterns: A Relations Approach to Algebra which are on the Project Maths website: www.projectmaths.ie. These resources have been tried and tested in the 24 project schools and the results have been very positive.
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The teachers in the 24 project schools have given systematic feedback to the PMDT over the course of the last 3 years. Overwhelmingly they have reported that Project Maths has initiated the sharing of teaching ideas, knowledge and experience. Another finding is that the teachers have reported less reliance on the textbook but use it with other complimentary effective resources.

For many teachers and students Project Maths will be a change in the way they teach and learn maths and initially this can be challenging. In time students will develop the ability to think critically and creatively and use mathematics to solve problems in mathematical contexts.

As the workshops are unfolding and teachers are trying out new approaches in their classroom and while they may have been reluctant in the initial stages they are now fully committed and embracing the changes.

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