Annual Conference 2022

Mathematics Association of NSW (MANSW) Annual Conference 2022

Gary Davies Mathematics Teacher

The theme for this year’s Mathematics Association conference was, Changing Times, Changing Directions; fitting, not only in the Covid/post Covid era where we, as educators, have had to change our practice to ensure the needs of our students were met during remote learning, but also due to curriculum changes. We have now had a few years of the new Stage 6 Mathematics syllabuses, while the new Stage 4 and 5 Mathematics syllabuses are due for implementation in 2024. It is also important that we consider how changes in technology, changes in values, and the global perspective affect what we need to do in our classrooms. How do we best engage our students in Mathematics and ensure they are adequately prepared for life post-school? The keynote address by Professor Catherine Attard, Western Sydney University, was a timely reminder that we need to consider the transitions between primary and secondary education. Primary schools use many concrete materials in their teaching of Mathematics, but we tend to forget about this in our secondary classrooms and often the students really miss this. Concrete to abstract is crucial for the learning of Mathematics.

Megan Rodda, DoE Adviser Years 7–12, continued this theme with her presentation, Building a Thinking Classroom. She provided a range of strategies, including considerations of where students work; how they collaborate; how we can maintain the flow, ability, and challenge without boredom or frustration; and mobilise knowledge. Both Robert Yen, Cengage Education, and Megan Rodda presented on the new 7-10 Mathematics syllabus, particularly the changes to the Stage 5 Mathematics pathways which lead to students’ choice of Mathematics Courses in Year 11 and 12.

Professor Chris Matthews, Chair of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance, spoke about the connections between mathematics and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, while Peter Gould, retired Leader Numeracy, Department of Education, spoke about how mathematical reasoning is thinking logically about quantitative and spatial relationships and is at the heart of working mathematically; distinguishing what “could be” from what “must be.” There were numerous other outstanding presentations on best practice in Mathematics that shared new ideas, strategies, and resources throughout the three days of the conference. Some of the presentations included: The Wonderful World of Networks: Stage 6 by Sarah Warry (Trainer Mathematics Growth Team), The Simplex Algorithm and the Science of Burger Making by Alistair Lupton from South Australia, Engage, Extend, Enrich on how Woolgoolga High School increased numbers in the calculus based courses, Literacy in Mathematics (Canberra Grammar School), Filling the Gaps using the Five Question Approach by John Ley, Sessional Academic in Mathematics (Education WSU), Using Latex in Creating Assessment Tasks (David Reidy, La Salle Academy), Stuart Palmer showing us how we can use the new Casio calculators (due for release next year), and John Drake reminding us to have Fun in Mathematics and sharing numerous activities that we can use in the classroom to engage our students and encourage their critical and creative thinking skills.

In brief, the MANSW Annual conference is the best professional learning any Mathematics teacher in NSW could possibly attend.