| MANSW | The Mathematical Association of New South Wales, Inc. Promoting Quality Mathematics Education for all. |
Reflections: August 1998
Contents of Volume 23, No. 3.Editorial
Letters to the editor 1Point of View
- How is new technology to be integrated into the syllabus?, Derek Ward 3
Reflections on mathematics curriculum
- Some observations of the Malaysian school system, Allan White 5
- The times they are a-changin', Robyn Gibson 8
Reflections on the 1997 Higher School Certificate
- Learning from their mistakes, 1997, Robert Yen 12
- How many ways can you skin a geometric cat?, Jim Stamell 17
Reflections on the role of the mathematics head teacher
- The role of mathematics head teacher: A beginner's guide, Paul Hypatidis 20
- Head teacher influence on classroom teachers' use of student-centred strategies, Jim Milford 21
Reflections on teaching number and measurement
- Misconceptions regarding fractions:
- A case of poor understanding or poor explanation?, Gerard Battle and Neville Hatton 24
- Directed numbers using three-legged races, Matt Bower 28
- Measurement and rates ó converting units the easy way, Robert Beardmore 30
Reflections on technology
- More teaching ideas for using graphic calculators in the classroom, Frank Sharpe and Matthew Dunstan 31
- A generalized bee-hive cell optimization problem using the
- TI-92 computer symbolic algebra, Bert K Waits and Franklin Demana 35
Reflections on sport and mathematics
- The value of graphical presentation of data: An example from cricket, Iain Skinner 39
Reflections on mathematics
- Heron's formula revisited, Ronald J. Andrews 43
- The travelling salesperson's dilemma, Phillip Nance 45
Reflections on worksheets
- The maths exchange: Sharing classroom ideas and activities 47
- Recognizing number plane graphs 48
- Guessing heights 50
- Writing a formula 51
- Angles and shapes crossword 52
Review
- MathsNet 7, Authors: C. Quinlan, M. Clark, G. Abrahams Review by Robert Yen 53
EDITORIAL
This issue of Reflections introduces a new feature. Point of View will include short papers that express a personal opinion about a current area of debate in mathematics education. Derek Ward shares his concerns about the future role of graphic calculators in the school curriculum. He asks several important questions and challenges curriculum developers to seriously consider these issues.
- the treatment of a particular topic in current syllabuses;
- the new Years 9-10 Syllabus;
- the new Year 10 examinations;
- a calculator-free section in examination papers;
- a recent HSC question;
- new courses in mathematics for the HSC;
- using investigations as a way of assessing student knowledge and understanding in mathematics;increasing statistical applications in HSC courses; or
- teaching chance and data in the primary curriculum?
Point of View will appear in the May, August and November issues of Reflections so we encourage readers (or the mathematics faculty at your school) to share their opinions.
In this issue we present another wide variety of papers to cater for the diverse needs and interests of subscribers. The contributions examine curriculum in Malaysia and New South Wales; analyse student mistakes and responses to last year's HSC papers; provide advice about being a head teacher of mathematics; and explore a variety of approaches to teaching number and measurement. We also include further teaching ideas for using graphic calculators in your classroom; suggestions for using cricket results for graphical representations; proofs of a famous mathematics theorem and a well known dilemma; and the usual smorgasbord of worksheets to try.
The photographs on the front cover were taken by Allan White during his stay in Malaysia and those on the back cover were taken at the University of ew South Wales, St. George Campus in its final years of operating as a teacher training institution.
Judy Anderson,Editor
