485-348 Learning Area: Mathematics 3 (Advanced)

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Satisfactory completion of 485-240 Learning Area: Mathematics 2 (Advanced)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject deals with applications and investigations, communication, reasoning and problem solving in primary school mathematics. Students will apply their knowledge of mathematics to situations from the real world and from within mathematics. They will study the problem solving processes involved, relevant research methods and how productive strategies can be taught to children. The place of the Working Mathematically strand in the school curriculum will be closely examined. The development of mathematical ideas from a historical and philosophical view will be explored through case studies e.g. of negative number or changing methods of computation. The demands of mathematical notation and characteristics of mathematical language are examined along with teaching strategies and resources for teaching mathematics to children for whom English is a second language. Students will develop units of work for use in primary mathematics classrooms.

On completion of this subject students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of metacognitive aspects of doing mathematics, and give an account of the historical and philosophical development of selected mathematical concepts and of how they have come to assume their current place in mathematical practice.

Assessment

A 2-hour examination and two written tasks (one related to students learning English as a second language) equivalent in total to 2000 words.