ATM Noticeboard

Bridging the Mathematics Gap

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:35:15 GMT

The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, wants the vast majority of pupils to be studying mathematics right through to the age of 18, and the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) is seeking views on how we can make this a reality.

We need your advice on the development of a course for students who do not currently take A-level mathematics but will still need to continue with mathematics. We want to engage the widest possible community – beyond mathematics and science organisations, and including individual teachers, students, academics, examiners and others.

So whether you are a geography teacher, an economics researcher, a PGCE student or a business owner, we would like you to share your thoughts and experience with us. You don't need to have any expertise in mathematics or mathematics education to participate. This is your opportunity to have your say and help influence future education policy.

Go here if you are interested in participating or would like to know more

You can also consult our website or register to our newsletter to keep updated about the project.

Your input will help us to develop an options paper in the summer, and we hope to hold face-to-face discussion meetings too in order to seek as many views as possible.

The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) is an independent committee, based at the Royal Society and operating under its auspices, that aims to influence Government strategy and policies with a view to improving the outcomes of mathematics teaching and learning in England and so secure a mathematically enabled population.

Maths and Stats Teachers day

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:54:35 GMT

Join us to learn how you can get free professional development with SAS UK and the Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCSE)

When: 09:30 - 15:00, Thursday 22nd March 2012

Where: Institute of Education, London WC1H 0AL

RSSCSE and SAS UK invite teachers to a day full of interactive practical ideas and activities for encouraging a better understanding of statistics. At the event, we will also be announcing the launch of SAS ® Curriculum Pathways® free Maths and Science online resources for UK schools.

The following are some of the topics that will be presented and discussed, and there will be plenty of ideas that teachers can take away and replicate. SportAtSchool by Kate Richards RSSCSE SAS® Curriculum Pathways® – UK launch by Sue Nieland and Kathy Maitland Tall Stories by Neil Sheldon, Manchester Grammar School, Chief Examiner in Mathematics for OCR Engaging Approaches to Probability and Statistics by Ted Graham, Centre for Teaching Mathematics, Plymouth University and the Further Mathematics Support Programme.

http://www.censusatschool.org.uk/

Email for further info: admin@rsscse.org.uk

Vision for science and mathematics education 5–19

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:29:01 GMT

This project aims to produce a vision for the future of science and mathematics education 5-19.

A Call for Views is now open and we would welcome responses by Fri 16 Mar 2012.

The project is led by a Committee which includes two previous Secretaries of State for Education, two scientist-media stars and a Nobel Prize-winning academic, and leading teachers and educationalists. Sir Martin Taylor FRS, Warden of Merton College, Oxford, is chair of the Vision Committee.

Areas of inquiry

The project has identified and will focus on five specific areas that are seen as essential components of a high-performing school and college science and mathematics education system:

Teachers (and the wider workforce)
Leadership and ethos
Infrastructure
Skills, curriculum and assessment
Accountability

More information on the Royal Society website

The Royal Society is also commissioning studies. Enquiries and information email; vision@royalsociety.org

Envisioning change and achieving transformation

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:30:40 GMT

5th annual conference of the UK ITE Network for Education Sustainable Development/ Global Citizenship now renamed the Teacher Education for Equity and Sustainability (TEESNet)

12 July 2012 London South Bank University (Keyworth Building) 9.15am - 4.00 pm

This year the theme of the conference is Envisioning change and achieving transformation: ESD/GC core 'competences' for educators.

We have two excellent key note speakers:

Arjen Wals Professor of Social Learning and Sustainable Development at Wageningen University, Netherlands.

Michaela Crimmin, Royal College of Art and formerly Head of Arts at the RSA

Further details at LSBU website

BSRLM Day Conference

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:35:18 GMT

Sat 03 Mar 2012

University Place, Manchester M13 9PL

Day conference of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics.

More info: http//www.bsrlm.org.uk/nextmeeting.html

Email for further info: sue.pope@manchester.ac.uk

Bridges 2012

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:02:20 GMT

Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture

Towson University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

25-29 Jul 2012

The 2012 Bridges conference will open with plenary talks by Nobel laureate John C. Mather of NASA’s Goddard Flight Center, and Ingrid Daubechies, president of the International Mathematical Union (host of the International Congress of Mathematicians).

The 2012 Bridges Conference will feature talks and artworks presenting the latest ideas in mathematics and the arts from experts around the world, including regular and short papers, invited talks, hands-on workshops, a visual art exhibition, a short movie festival, a musical event, a theater event, and an excursion.

More info here

Standards for Master Teachers

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:35:27 GMT

The DfE’s review of professional standards for teachers has now completed its work with the publication on 12 Dec 2011 of standards for ‘Master Teachers’.

This means, in line with the Cambridge Primary Review’s recommendation, that the current intermediate standards (Post-Threshold, Excellent and Advanced Skills) will disappear and there will be just two levels: the basic Teachers' Standards published in July 2011, and the new ‘Master Teacher’ standards.

Download the report here

Mathematics 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:06:12 GMT

22 Mar 2012

Mathematics 2012 is the seventh in the series of annual IMA conferences to promote mathematics. This series aims to demonstrate to both mathematicians and non mathematicians the many uses of modern mathematics. The work of the speakers this year includes the food industry, defence, finance and government. Also included are current topics in mathematics such as the promotion of mathematics to a wider audience and the interface between school and university mathematics.

Mary Ward House, London, WC1H 9SN

More info here

Inspiring Young People in Maths

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:44:04 GMT

This free conference is aimed at secondary teachers in Wales. The event will include talks from policy makers and pedagogical researchers, workshops developed by WIMCS, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, as well as sessions to debate key CPD issues.

info

Maths Shows for Schools website launch

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:38:52 GMT

How can a clown, a juggler, a comedian and a rock guitarist inspire the next generation of scientists? A brand new, unique, service for science and maths teachers is being launched today. SciEnts is a simple, high quality and brand new 'one-stop shop' for teachers looking to book an entertaining science or maths show. There are 15 'troupe members' to choose from, covering various STEM subjects and performance skills, from musicians and magicians to actors and circus acts.

SciEnts offers practical science opportunities that support teachers and complement school STEM enrichment to inspire the next generation of scientists. The site allows teachers to access the very best entertaining presentations for Enhancement and Enrichment opportunities to support science, engineering, technology and maths teaching. An in-school science or maths show supports busy teachers by offering amazing curriculum-linked shows for their students.

The site features only experienced, engaging presenters offering professional levels of service. They are all willing to travel UK-wide and all come with an enhanced CRB and adequate public liability insurance. The site allows teachers quickly to select from primary and secondary and also gives guidance for teachers about booking and making their STEM engagement day run well.

Cardiff-born Sarah Vining, creator of SciEnts, says, "Bringing a real scientist, engineer or mathematician into the classroom provides a direct link of personal experience between science and maths in the classroom and the world outside. If you want to genuinely engage children or adults with profound and practical science and maths for a reasonable price, you simply can't beat a professional science show".

Visit here

Email for further info: sarah@scients.co.uk

4th National Dyscalculia Conference

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:51:40 GMT

28 Jun2012

The Cumberland Hotel, London, W1C 1LZ

This unique conference, now in its 4th year, brings together the worlds of research, maths teaching and SEN expertise. 3 keynote speakers, Professors Brian Butterworth, Judy Sebba and Peter Bryant plus 3 breakout sessions, 5 streams, 8 workshop themes provide you with cutting edge research and opportunities to engage with leading practitioners from schools, FE and HE institutions. For all teachers of numeracy and maths, SENCos and Learning Support teachers, LA inclusion and numeracy support teams and Educational Psychologists. An Early Bird fees are available.

For further details

Email for further info: info@learning-works.org.uk

Dyslexia and Maths: NANAMIC

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:13:57 GMT

Fri 18 Nov 2011 10:00-16:00

Jury’s Inn, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ

To consider factors which affect learning in mathematics/numeracy; explore methods for diagnosing specific learning difficulties; discuss the design of programmes to help overcome learning difficulties; investigate strategies and resources to teach particular areas of mathematics/numeracy.

For teachers who teach mainly mathematics and numeracy; teachers and trainers of vocational subjects who also teach mathematics and numeracy within their specialist subject; learning support practitioners.

This one-day event will be presented by Julie Kay, former head teacher of Mark College in Somerset. Julie will look at factors which affect maths learning, testing to diagnose difficulties, setting up programmes to help overcome the difficulties and using strategies and resources to teach particular areas of mathematics.

Cost: Members: £95 :: Non-members £115 (inclusive of £20 membership for the current academic year which can be billed separately)

Booking form

Further details from Lesley Way at committee@nanamic.org.uk

Codebreaking, cryptography and programming: ACCU conference

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:06:26 GMT

Saturday 12 November 2011

The Bletchley Park Trust is delighted to announce that the keynote speaker for the Annual ACCU Conference 2011 will be prestigious 2006 Turing Award winner, Dr Frances Allen. Dr Allen will be giving away the secrets behind the codebreaking language and system she developed for the National Security Agency in the 1950s and 1960s.

Amongst the other distinguished speakers is world-renowned cryptography expert, Professor Fred Piper who will be discussing how cryptography has changed since 1945. Eminent computing veteran and Bletchley Park authority Dr Brian Oakley will be talking about language, codebreaking and Turing’s algorithmic approach to it. Dr David Hartley, distinguished computer scientist, has a talk entitled 'CPL – The Great Grandfather of C'.

Last year's speakers were Bruce Schneier, Whitfield Diffie, Andy Clark and David Kahn and raised badly-needed funds for the Bletchley Park Trust and The National Museum of Computing.

Registration and more info here

CensusAtSchool goes sporty

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:27:26 GMT

Launched in 2011 SportAtSchool is based on the successful international data handling CensusAtSchool project and has been inspired by the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. Like CensusAtSchool SportAtSchool uses an online questionnaire to capture learners’ data, the resultant real data can then be used with our resources and lesson plans. As usual these are free, downloadable and contain a variety of classroom activities.

Text for web link: CensusAtSchool goes sporty

Email for further info

Special Leaders Award 2011-2012

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:38:49 GMT

Primary Secondary and Advanced Leaders/Reporters Award for STEM The Special Leaders Awards for 2011/12 have been announced.

Special Leaders Awards are linked to specific STEM areas that the students can compete for that have a particular focus, with prizes attached. They are supported by various organisations. See the page on our website Special Leaders Awards for more information. The Leaders Award for STEM and the Reporters Award programme have been designed to raise young people’s awareness of careers in science, technology , engineering and maths. The idea is for the students to interview professionals from industry who have a background in STEM related occupations. It is open to all young people aged 5-19 and is free to enter.

The process is simple in that the students apply to Primary Engineer Leaders Award using an on-line application form which must be accompanied by a letter of application. Once accepted to receive the award the students must complete at least one interview with a representative from the world of science, technology, engineering or maths. The student then submits a written report of the interview. This is submitted electronically and assessed. If successful the students will receive their STEM Leaders/STEM reporters Award certificate. If the report qualifies for one of our Special Awards the student will also receive a prize.

For further information visit our website www.leadersaward.com or contact Harry Unsworth by email or by telephone 0161 205 0184

Leaders Award website

Email for further info

Educational Solutions was established by Gattegno

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:16:05 GMT

Educational Solutions has been doing work in more than 40 countries for more than 42 years. Dr. Caleb Gattegno founded Educational Solutions in 1968 in New York City. Their goal is to realize his bold vision for education; where it is recognized as a learning-centered science that is possible to master, and repeat thoughout the world, leading to the elimination of illiteracy and the freedom of all people to choose which skills to spend their time developing. They believe that learning any subject is not a matter of ability or history, only a matter of time.

They have a number of recent publications.

Special Edition of Gattegno Math

The Special Edition puts together all the elements of the original series in a set of six books, a parents’ guidebook and a complete set of Algebricks Rods. Easy-to-follow program instructions, hundreds of well-crafted games and activities intended to have your child thinking like a mathematician.

Gattegno Math Set

Words in Color Anniversary Edition

The Words in Color 100th Anniversary Edition can be used without special training on the part of the person who is teaching the program and is ideal for parents wishing to participate in their children’s education.

Hundredth Anniversary Edition

The Gattegno Effect

100 Voices on One of History's Greatest Educators to be released Autum n 2011

The Gattegno Effect

What We Owe Children Dr. Caleb Gattegno's Classic Republished and available free to Read Online

What We Owe Children

Towards a Visual Culture Back in Print

Dr. Caleb Gatttegno’s ideas about television and education make for enlightened reading even though it’s been more than 40 years since those ideas were first published in Towards A Visual Culture. The book is newly republished and available online.

Towards A Visual Culture

Teaching for Understanding

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:02:20 GMT

Four workshops to explore where a topic in maths comes from and images/activities to promote understanding.

More details: www.cornwalllearningonline.co.uk/cpd

ATM Calendar

Making More Maths Magic

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:01:32 GMT

A conference for Maths teachers organised by Coventry LA and Coventry University. Free of charge.

More info here

Maths-Art Seminar: Mathematics in Music

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:45:50 GMT

13 Oct 2011 - 18:00-19:30

Rolf Gehlhaar, 'Mathematics in Music'

Mathematics plays many roles in music: it can be used to describe the order found in music of the distant and the recent past. In so far as music may be considered as an architecture of sound in time, it has been used to generate order; and, of course it is essential to all the various different processes of digital sound synthesis so important to the music of today.

This presentation will discuss some of these various roles and their influence on the structure and sound of my own compositions.

More details here

Yorkshire SEN Mathematics Conference

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:52:55 GMT

Sat 12 Nov 2011

09:00-15:00

There will be 7 workshops which will address learning and teaching across the whole breadth of special educational needs from SLD to mainstream SEN and including learners with behavioural difficulties. Presenters include practising teachers from SEN settings as well as consultants experienced in offering CPD within SEN in Yorkshire and other regions. The event is wholly not-for-profit and so we are able to keep the course fee low at £100, which will include 3 workshops, lunch and refreshments. There will be just 50 places available and so early booking is recommended.

For more information, contact joe1013@sky.com

BESA ICT in UK State Schools research

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:51:43 GMT

At a time of significant uncertainty and funding cuts the results of the new 2011 British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) research indicate that that by 2012/13 nearly half of all schools anticipate more than 50 per cent of pupil-time being exposed to teaching and learning using ICT.

The headline finding of the 2011 survey of 1,324 UK schools (772 primary, 552 secondary), conducted in July 2011, was supported by the fact that 10 per cent note that nearly 100 per cent of all pupil-time will involve exposure to ICT. Also, 49 per cent of primary and 33 per cent of secondary schools stated that they were to maintain or increase their planned ICT investments for 2011/12.

BESA findings come from the 14th annual survey into the opinions and trends of 'ICT in UK State Schools'. The highly anticipated research, carried out in conjunction with the National Education Research Panel (NERP) provides analysis into the likely provision of technology in UK state schools in the next year and gives extensive insight into teacher confidence, training and the level of ICT in schools. The majority of schools are still concerned at not yet having a government policy for ICT in schools; however, the focus of government policy is to give schools the freedom and autonomy to choose the ICT tools and resources appropriate to meeting their specific needs.

The research seems to indicate that educators cannot look to detailed guidance from the Department for Education and must use what they have learned from the embedding of ICT over the past 15 years to move forward. Schools are showing their continued reliance on ICT by demanding even more training for their staff in order to make more use of their ICT infrastructure, more digital content, more access to the internet and more mobile solutions, not only to achieve best value, but also to meet the challenges of young people in the digital age. Ray Barker, director of BESA explains: “The BESA ICT in UK State Schools research indicates that despite negative views about the funding of ICT, an increasing amount of pupil-time is exposed to teaching and learning using ICT. The government has moved very quickly to change the entire education system over the past year and many educators are confused.

We have to be clear that schools are not going to be 'told what to do any more' so don't need to wait to be guided by the government on their ICT investments. Schools know that they must therefore continue to invest in ICT to stop a new form of digital divide being created - between schools. They are definitely not standing still - they are just getting on with it.

BESA ICT Research

How Fast Can Usain Bolt Run?

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:34:20 GMT

Professor John D. Barrow gives a a free public lecture on the Maths of Sport. How can Usain Bolt improve his world 100 metres sprint record significantly without improving his speed? How fast should he be able to run? We will also examine the mechanics of sprinting and the effects of wind assistance, timing accuracy, and altitude on sprint times and look at the status of the long-standing women’s sprint world records set by the late Florence Griffiths Joyner (‘Flo-Jo’) in 1988. All information can be found on the Gresham College website: www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/how-fast-can-usain-bolt-run

Where: The Museum of London, London Wall, EC2

15 Nov 2011

Gresham College website

Email for further info

Humour in Mathematics

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:57:00 GMT

Michael Hancock is collecting humourous incidents and anecdotes from maths teachers, pupils for both research and publication purposes. If anyone has an incident or anecdotes they would like to share then he would be very pleased to receive them.

Email: m.hancock-child@chi.ac.uk

Final Score

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:58:51 GMT

Professor John D. Barrow gives a a free public lecture on the Maths of Sport. Why are there so many different scoring systems in operation in sport? We look at how structuring matches into a series of sets affects the relative roles of luck and skill in determining the winner of the contest. Did table tennis make a significant change to the game when it changed its scoring system? We also look at events like the decathlon where points are awarded for performances in different disciplines to see what sort of decathlete is most likely to win given the present points system. 1pm to 2pm. Free. No reservations are required ("first come, first served"). All information can be found on the Gresham College website: www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/final-score

Where: The Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2

Web Link: www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/final-score

Email for further info: enquiries@gresham.ac.uk

BETT 2012: Powering Learning

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:50:37 GMT

BETT returns to London Olympia in 2012 from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 January, bringing together the global teaching and learning community for four, free to attend days of innovation and inspiration to power learning in the 21st century.

The BETT seminar programme has been revolutionised for 2012 to become ‘Learn Live’, an exciting, accessible programme of over 100 interactive and informative workshops, seminars, and discussion sessions, all with a hands-on approach. The Learn Live strands are ICT Learning and Teaching, ICT Buying and Integrating, Leaders and Special Educational Needs (SEN). The ICT strands will be curated by Naace, the ICT association for educators, technologists and policy makers who share BETT’s vision for the role of technology in advancing education.

There is little argument that ICT is firmly established in the learning environment. Yet, the sector continues to be in flux; curriculum, budgets and initiatives are all subject to change. Whatever your area of interest, pre-school through to adult education, BETT offers all visitors an exciting and inspirational tonic to their working day.

BETT 2012 will also host over 650 exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest ICT solutions, and act as a global stage to launch new products. Educators will have the chance to touch and test the latest resources to stay up-to-date and ensure the best purchasing decisions with budgets, big or small.

Brand new for 2012, the central feature Learn Live Teach Live, will be brought to visitors by Prof. Stephen Heppell. Exploring ‘New Worlds of Learning’, the feature will demonstrate the ability for teachers and students to connect as a global community and learn from one another with the help of new technologies. School children on the stand will be talking to and learning from peers around the world to share their discoveries of the New Worlds of Learning that are currently evolving.

BETT 2012 is free to attend and although registration is not yet open, visitors can register their interest online at www.bettshow.com. For further updates, visit the BETT 2012 Twitter page www.twitter.com/BETT_Show and become a fan of the Facebook page www.facebook.com/BETT_Show.

ACME Outer Circle Open Call

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:02:36 GMT

ACME would like to invite members of the mathematics education community, including practitioners, to join its Outer Circle of confidential advisers.

The ACME Outer Circle is composed of individuals chosen by the Committee to encompass a breadth of knowledge, support and influence on mathematics education policy. They are consulted individually or collectively, in confidence, on key issues. Involvement from Outer Circle members is flexible and can range from email comments to attending some meetings, depending on members' availability. Membership to the Outer Circle is for 3 years. If you would like to know more about the ACME Outer Circle, you can consult our website.

We welcome applications from across the full range of interests, but we are particularly seeking people from industry or with teacher training expertise. ACME is currently looking for 6 new Outer Circle members.

If this is something you might be interested in, please send us an email at acme@royalsociety.org with your CV and the name of someone (preferably linked to a mathematics subject association) who can vouch for your prospective contribution to ACME's work. The deadline for application is Friday 2nd September 2011.

Join in with The Code (BBC)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:30:23 GMT

The BBC is running some interactive puzzles to coincide with a new maths series that will transmit on BBC Two in late July.

One of these involves recruiting 1,024 people to receive a postcard clue.

By collaborating (virtually) with the 1,023 others, each participant helps solve a puzzle - and in doing so reveals some mathematical quirks.

Anyone is welcome to apply to take part. There are further details on the web.

But as we are keen to engage with people from all walks of life who can enthuse about maths, we'd like to invite your organisation to receive one of the clues.

If you'd like to nominate someone, please email us a name and their postal address.

You can email code@bbc.co.uk.

Maths event calendar with mapping...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:15:18 GMT

You might want to look at the ATM Mathematics Events calendar here...

Events can be submitted using the form linked from the same page.

Submitted events should include a Google friendly address in order to feed the map which can be seen beneath the Calendar itself. To check a Google friendly address go to Google Maps and test the address in the map search box.

ATM Mathematics Events calendar here...

Advanced Leaders Awards for STEM

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:21:11 GMT

Primary, Secondary and Advanced Leaders Award for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Introducing the unmissable Leaders Award for STEM! Open to all students between the ages of 5 - 19 years, our free Award provides the unique opportunity to link the professionals of today with the professionals of the future! Increase your community links whilst giving students the chance to investigate the wide variety of career opportunities available to them, stimulating their interest in the STEM subjects!

Register your school today with our Online Application Form to hear how we can connect you with professionals in your area- the inspirational figures that your students will look up to!

The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics Special Award for STEM - Does maths count? Our Special Awards have a particular focus, with prizes attached! We currently have 6 Special Awards for students and for the first time a Special Award is directed towards teachers, who can win up to £250!

Further information here

If you'd like to hear more about the Leaders Award please contact Virginia Harvey by email or on 0161 205 0184.

Maths of the weather

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:16:57 GMT

Teaching a complex subject like the weather can be a challenge. The Met Office has a full range of educational web-based resources available, all of which have been tailored to complement school curriculums.

Specific material for planning lessons is available specifically for teachers, providing them with a comprehensive background in areas including: understanding weather and the water cycle.

Current weather data from around the UK and the world can be accessed from the pages, together with lesson plans, class activities, animations and work sheets in line with Key Stages 1 through to 4.

Video conferencing facilities offer the chance for pupils to question the Met Office experts directly. Poster, DVD's and ‘hand's on' weather presenting kits complement the web-based material for lesson support.

Find out more about education at the Met Office