Access Maths online meeting
An enjoyable and informative discussion took place last week on a variety of matters relating to Access Maths.
We spoke about planning to integrate the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) strands, Mathematics and Numeracy, with existing teaching and learning. There was consensus that home economics and shopping-type activities lend themselves well to 'Maths/Numeracy in the real world'. It was felt that in the short term at least, many would go with the notion that all areas of these strands are presently being covered and that once teachers are comfortable with the initiative, change such as further cross-curricular working and innovative pedagogies may come. It was noted that although a separate strand of CfE, Numeracy is also mapped onto the Mathematics draft outcomes and experiences document. There was interest in whether ASDAN are engaging with CfE.
We discussed target setting (IEPs). In the past, reference had been made to the elaborated 5-14 and North Ayrshire's Level A targets. The ISE 5-14 website was mentioned as a place to go for existing target banks. It was felt that this may be a useful place to go as CfE commences, though we felt that other spaces should be opened up to allow teachers to build and share target banks.
We had it confirmed that a calculator is acceptable for use in an Access 2 NAB (and for derived Access 1 units). There was concern that NABs haven't been updated and that for many pupils with Additional Support Needs, Access 2 (Access 1 derived) units, certain outcomes are too difficult and inaccessible.
Finally, the TeeJay Maths Access 3 textbook was seen as more appropriate than Nelson Thornes' S3-1 and S4-1 for those studying the Access 3 course.
We spoke about planning to integrate the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) strands, Mathematics and Numeracy, with existing teaching and learning. There was consensus that home economics and shopping-type activities lend themselves well to 'Maths/Numeracy in the real world'. It was felt that in the short term at least, many would go with the notion that all areas of these strands are presently being covered and that once teachers are comfortable with the initiative, change such as further cross-curricular working and innovative pedagogies may come. It was noted that although a separate strand of CfE, Numeracy is also mapped onto the Mathematics draft outcomes and experiences document. There was interest in whether ASDAN are engaging with CfE.
We discussed target setting (IEPs). In the past, reference had been made to the elaborated 5-14 and North Ayrshire's Level A targets. The ISE 5-14 website was mentioned as a place to go for existing target banks. It was felt that this may be a useful place to go as CfE commences, though we felt that other spaces should be opened up to allow teachers to build and share target banks.
We had it confirmed that a calculator is acceptable for use in an Access 2 NAB (and for derived Access 1 units). There was concern that NABs haven't been updated and that for many pupils with Additional Support Needs, Access 2 (Access 1 derived) units, certain outcomes are too difficult and inaccessible.
Finally, the TeeJay Maths Access 3 textbook was seen as more appropriate than Nelson Thornes' S3-1 and S4-1 for those studying the Access 3 course.
posted by David Noble at Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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