Maths outside the classroom
Details:
3:10 – 4:00 pm
5th of December
Room: 1S 210
Matthew Davey
This workshop will delve into the transformative potential of outdoor mathematics education, examining its advantages in cultivating real-world problem-solving skills and fostering meaningful connections between mathematical concepts and everyday experiences. The RISE Program will be used as a case study to share experiences, successes, and challenges. This program is a strategic transition initiative for Year 9 students, emphasizing personal growth, community service, and authentic real-world experiences. It is based within the beachside urban campus of Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.
Classroom-based mathematics instruction offers a controlled environment conducive to indoor learning, yet it often falls short in fostering real-world connections and practical problem-solving skills. This can create a perception of mathematics as abstract and disconnected from everyday life, which hinders student engagement and long-term retention. Conversely, outdoor mathematics education presents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world application. However, the transition to outdoor mathematics instruction requires teachers to adapt their pedagogical approaches and develop specific lesson plans (and back up lesson plans). The days of ‘winging it’ are no more.
Join us in reimagining mathematics education; not just for the real world, but in it!
About the Presenter
I am a high school Maths and Science teacher of 14 years. I am passionate about building positive relationships with students, and having them experience joy and success with Maths. In particular, for students to see the real world application of Maths, to their world. For the last two years I have worked in an outdoor education setting, embedding Australian Curriculum Mathematics into an alternative, urban campus set in a beachside suburb of the Gold Coast, QLD.
