News
Teacher Handbooks Now Available Online.
(30 August 2010)
Teacher Handbooks for Strand 1 and 2 are now available. The Handbooks provide guidelines to help teachers plan and develop a flexible integration of the syllabus and learning outcomes in the teaching and learning of different lesson ideas. For more information, click on the "Teachers" tab on the left hand side menu and select the relevant Strand.
Training for ICT on Mathematics, and Strand 1- Statistics and Probability Course.
(30 August 2010)
The Project Maths Development Team is pleased to inform you that the course of evening workshops on using ICT to teach Strands 1 and 2 is available again. The PMDT has collaborated with the NCTE to provide this course which will show you how you can use readily available software in your classroom to teach geometry, trigonometry and statistics for both Junior and Leaving Certificate click here for more details on course content. Contact an Education Centre near you for more details.
In parallel with this, the Project Maths Development Team in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence in Maths and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick, are providing again the workshops on Strand 1: Probability & Statistics. The workshops will focus on new elements of the course.They will cover topics from Junior Certificate (all levels) and Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) Probability & Statistics and progress to Leaving Certificate Higher Level topics such as Conditional Probability, the Binomial and Normal Distributions. For more information on course content click here We hope you will come along to these courses, which will be delivered through the Education Centre network.
Have you registered with Census at School yet?
19 August 2010
The new phase 10 questionnaire in now available. To register simply go to www.censusatschool.ie . If you are having difficulty with the registration process, view the quick guide on how to to register with Census at school.
Programme of Teacher Professional Development Year 2: Workshop 3
19 August 2010
Workshop 3 dealing with Strand 3 Number & Problem Solving will commence on Monday 27th September 2010. All teachers are invited to attend. Invitations will be issued shortly to school Principals. Faoi mar is gnáth, cuirfear ceardlann ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge chomh maith.
PMDT takes pride in its team of Local Facilitators
11 June 2010
The Project Maths Development Team (PMDT) is a growing entity! The work of the fulltime team was very ably complemented this year by the addition of a team of 56 local facilitators. These local facilitators are self-nominated and PMDT hopes that this number will grow next year as more teachers of mathematics come on board to facilitate the delivery of professional development to colleagues and to share and develop their experience and good practice.
Year 1 of the programme of professional development is drawing to a close. The involvement of local facilitators meant that PMDT was able to offer a series of ICT skills courses and content courses in addition to the programme of workshops run nationally.
Local facilitators ran 33 ICT courses in conjunction with the NCTE. These courses were attended by 512 teachers. Another team of local facilitators delivered 30 local courses to 630 teachers in Strand 1 Statistics and Probability. These courses were designed to support teachers in the use of the DVD which had been produced by the NCE-MSTL.
The demand for these courses was such that PMDT is now offering another 14 courses regionally in June with further courses planned for Term 1 of the 2010-2011 school year.
The course materials are currently available at www.projectmaths.ie
The PMDT welcomes its new facilitators and hopes that you too might consider joining our expanding team in the coming year.
ICT Course Notes for Strands 1 & 2, Now Available
10 June 2010
The Project Maths Development Team is pleased to inform you that the participants notes pertaining to the modular course on using ICT to teach Strands 1 and 2 are now available. The PMDT has collaborated with the NCTE to provide this course which will show you how you can use readily available software in your classroom to teach geometry, trigonometry and statistics for both Junior and Leaving Certificate. Click here to access notes
Course Content Notes for Strand 1: Probability & Statistics, Now Available.
10 June 2010
The Project Maths Development Team is pleased to inform you that the participant notes for the Modular Course on Strand 1 content are now available online. Click the Workshop Tab on www.projectmaths.ie to access the notes, or alternatively, click here
Summer Course for Strand 1 Content.
17 May 2010
The Project Maths Development Team is pleased to inform you that a 2 day Summer Course on Strand 1 content will be available soon. It is expected that the workshops will begin in early June 2010. Please check with your Local Education Centre for further details.
Vacancy for Regional Development Officer for Project Maths.
13 May 2010
The Teacher Education Section of the DES proposes to recruit one RDO to join the Project Maths Development Team from September 2010 to fill a vacancy in Region 1 (North Dublin, Meath, Louth, Monaghan, Cavan). A panel may also be established from which future vacancies nationally may be filled. Applications are now invited from suitably qualified teachers of mathematics who are fully registered with the Teaching Council and who currently hold a recognised post in a recognised second-level school or who are on secondment from such a position.For more information, visit the Drumcondra Education Centre website. The following documents are available for download from www.projectmaths.ie
Website Advertisement | Job Description | Application Form
Student CD now available on www.projectmaths.ie
07 May 2010
The Students' CD for Strands 1 and 2 is now available on www.projectmaths.ie. Click on the "Students" tab on the left hand side of the page to access the material, or alternatively click here
Project Maths National Roll Out to all Schools.
29 April 2010
The Department of Education and Science have posted circular 024/2010 to all schools. This document outlines the implementation of Project Maths in all schools from September 2010 onwards. Revised programmes in Mathematics at Junior and Senior cycle will be introduced on a phased basis in all schools beginning in 2010/11.
To view the circular, click here
Official Samples papers and Pre Leaving Certificate papers.
16 April 2010
The State Exams Commision have posted the Official Sample papers and marking schemes for Project Maths on their website, to view, click here.
To view the Pre Leaving Certificate papers and marking schemes developed by the NCCA, click here
Now Available
12 April 2010
Training for ICT on Mathematics, and Strand 1- Statistics and Probability Course
The Project Maths Development Team is pleased to inform you that a course of evening workshops on using ICT to teach Strands 1 and 2 is now available. The PMDT has collaborated with the NCTE to provide this course which will show you how you can use readily available software in your classroom to teach geometry, trigonometry and statistics for both Junior and Leaving Certificate. Local facilitators have been trained and the courses will begin in late March 2010 - early April.
Click here for more details on course content and commencement dates in a centre/school near you.
In parallel with this exciting news, the Project Maths Development Team in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence in Maths and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick, has trained Local Facilitators to provide workshops on Strand 1: Probability & Statistics. The workshops will focus on new elements of the course, methodology and the use of information technology. They will cover topics from Junior Certificate (all levels) and Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) Probability & Statistics and progress to Leaving Certificate Higher Level topics such as Conditional Probability, the Binomial and Normal Distributions. These courses will commence in April 2010. For more information click here
We hope you will come along to these courses, which will be delivered through the Education Centre network.
View flyer for ICT course | View flyer for Strand 1 Content course
Census at School resource on Probability.
12 April 2010
Too Many Boys?
Does probability relate to reality? Real data is contrasted with the theoretical probabilities of family make up using the assumption that the probability of having a boy is 0.5.
To view student activity, click here
Content Knowledge Courses for Probability & Statistics: Strand 1
15 March 2010
The Project Maths Development Team in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence in Maths and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick, have trained Local Facilitators to provide workshops on Strand 1: Probability & Statistics.
The workshops will focus on new elements of the course, methodology and the use of information technology. They will cover topics from Junior Certificate (all levels) and Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) Probability & Statistics and progress to Leaving Certificate Higher Level topics such as Conditional Probability, the Binomial and Normal Distributions.
These courses will commence in April 2010. Click here to see a list of dates and venues.
ICT and Maths
03 March 2010
Now Available
The ICT & Maths course is accepting enrolments in Education Centres throughout the country. The PMDT has collaborated with the NCTE to provide these courses which will show you how you can use readily available software in your classroom to teach geometry, trigonometry and statistics for both Junior and Leaving Certificate.
The courses will begin in late March 2010 - early April. Click here for more details on course content and commencement dates in a centre/school near you. We hope you will come along to these courses.
21 February 2010
Census at School: Resource 2.
Statistics Statements - True Or False?
This resource is based on key concepts needed by pupils to understand basic Statistics. Pairs are asked to discuss statements on cards and decide, with justifications, if the statement is True, False or Sometimes true. Solutions are provided in a separate file. (Questions H and I involve box and whisker plots which are not on the project maths syllabus.)
To go directly to this resource, click here.
10 February 2010
Coming Soon
Training on ICT for Maths and Strand 1 Statistics and Probability course.
The PMDT is pleased to inform you that a course of evening workshops on using ICT to teach Strands 1 and 2 will be available soon.
The PMDT is collaborating with the NCTE to provide this course which will show you how you can use readily available software in your classroom to teach geometry, trigonometry and statistics for both Junior and Leaving Certificate. Local facilitators are currently being trained and it is expected that the courses will begin in March 2010.
In parallel with this exciting news, and in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence in Maths and Science Teaching and Learning in the University of Limerick, local facilitators are also being trained to provide workshops on Strand 1 content. The workshops will focus on new elements of the course, methodology and the use of information technology. They will cover topics from Junior (all levels) and Leaving Certificate (ordinary level) probability & statistics and progress to Leaving Certificate higher level topics such as permutations, combinations and an introduction to probability, the Binomial Distribution ,sampling distributions, and the Normal Distribution. It is expected that the courses will begin in April. We hope you will come along to these courses, which will be delivered through the Education Centre network. More information will be available here soon.
08 February 2010
Launch of "Knowing What Counts" Report
The "Knowing What Counts" report on Irish primary teachers mathematical knowledge for teaching was launched on the 2nd of February 2010. It is a joint publication by Marino Institute of Education and the Department of Education and Science. The launch was addressed by Brigid McManus (Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science), Professor Michael Grenfell (Head of the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin) and Dr. Anne OGara (President of Marino Institute of Education). The author of the report, Dr. Sean Delaney, spoke about the research and called for prospective and practising teachers to be given greater opportunities to acquire the specialised mathematical knowledge that will help them teach mathematics better. To download a copy of the report, click here
Census at School: Resource 1.
1 February 2010
Using data from Census at School.
Are boys or girls more helpful when it comes to doing the dishes? Who is more likely to shirk their domestic duties?
The link below offers a simple example of set theory used to answer this probability question.
http://www.censusatschool.ie/resources/probability/170-washing-up
22.December 2009
Programme of Teacher Professional Development Year 1: Workshop 2
Workshop 2 dealing with Strand 2 Geometry & Trigonometry will commence on Monday 18th January 2010. All teachers are invited to attend. Invitations have issued to school Principals. Faoi mar is gnáth cuirfear ceardlann ar fáil tré mheán na Gaeilge chomh maith.
22 December 2009
Local Facilitators: (Update)
We are delighted with the response to date for the position of Local Facilitator with the Project Maths Development Team. We would like to thank all of you who have sent in nomination forms. Over 50 teachers have applied and training will commence in 2010. The application process is now complete. The Project Maths Development Team, in conjunction with the NCTE, will run a series of workshops to promote the use of GeoGebra and Excel in the mathematics classroom. GeoGebra is a free dynamic mathematics software package for teaching and learning. These workshops will be run over five evening sessions in your local education centre. Watch this space for further details. The Project Maths Development Team will also run a series of workshops focussed on the content of Strand 1 – Probability and Statistics. These workshops are being developed in conjunction with the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning Centre, University of Limerick. Watch this space for further details. |
25.10.2009
Local Facilitators Wanted
Would you be interested in becoming a Local Facilitator with the Project Maths Development Team?
We are delighted with the positive response from the evaluations of Workshop 1. We are also delighted with the number of teachers of mathematics who are willing to share their best practice, professionalism and creative ideas with all of us.
The evaluations have also indicated that teachers would like support in other areas, including Strand 1 and ICT. Do you feel that you have a particular skill or interest in these areas or in another area of mathematics which you would be willing to share to benefit other teachers of mathematics? Would you be interested in facilitating local workshops in partnership with us? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Please fill in the self-nomination form included in the attached documentation and return to grainneh@ecdrumcondra.ie
Information Note on Local Facilitators [pdf]
5.10.2009
A Significant Day for Post-Primary Teachers of Mathematics
Today, October 5th 2009, sees the commencement of the national programme
of professional development being provided as part of Project Maths.
More than 5,000 teachers will each be invited to 10 seminars over the 4 year period of the programme.
The programme, which is funded by the Department of Education and Science and administered by Drumcondra Education Centre, is being delivered by the Project Maths Development Team across the national network of Education Centres.
Round 1 will involve the provision of over 260 seminars. Teachers working in Gaeltacht or Irish language medium schools have been invited to a seminar in Irish.
Seminar 1 will introduce the Project Maths initiative, deal with learning and teaching in Strand 1 (Statistics and Probability) of the syllabus and present some of the suite of resources available to students and teachers.
Other elements of the planned programme of professional development
include the provision of an online course and local workshops. The Project
Maths Development Team will be seeking a number of Local Facilitators
whom they will train to assist in the provision of this comprehensive
programme of support. Watch this site for further information and for
your opportunity to be ‘not just a number’ and to become involved in
this exciting programme!
15.10.2008
Welcome to Project Maths, a key curriculum and assessment initiative in post-primary mathematics education in Ireland.
This website is designed to support the student and teacher of post-primary mathematics. On the site you will find information about Project Maths, the syllabus, the Project Maths Development Team and the programme of teacher professional development. The site also allows you to access a suite of resources which will support the learning and teaching of each strand of the syllabus. In addition you will find a series of key links. Project Maths is designed to teach Mathematics in a way which promotes real understanding, where students can appreciate the relevance of what they are learning and its application to everyday life, and how mathematics can be used to solve problems. The initiative has been strongly welcomed by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and by industry interests. Improving competences in Mathematics and encouraging more students to study the subject at higher level is an important part of the strategy to promote Irelands Smart Economy, and to create an ecosystem which promotes innovation, science and technology and supports competitiveness and growth.
Minister O'Keeffe
Filte romhat chuig an Tionscadal Mata, tionscaint rthbhachtach churaclaim agus mheasnaithe san oideachas matamaiticiil iarbhunoideachais in irinn.
Dearadh an suomh idirln chun tac leis an scolire agus an minteoir Matamaitice iarbhunoideachais. Ar an suomh, gheobhaidh t eolas faoin Tionscadal Mata, an siollabas, Foireann Forbartha an Tionscadal Mata agus an clr forbartha gairmila doid. Cuireann an suomh ar do chumas freisin teacht ar fhoireann acmhainn a thacidh le foghlaim agus teagasc gach snithe den siollabas. De bhreis ar seo, gheobhaidh t sraith de nasca rthbhachtacha. T an Tionscadal Mata deartha ar mhodh a chothaonn forthuiscint, trna mbeidh lirthuiscint ag na scolir do bharthacht a bhfuil fhoghlaim acu agus d chur i bhfeidhm sa ghnthshaol laethil, agus do conas is fidir Matamaitic a sid chun fadhbanna a riteach. Cuireadh filte chroil roimh an tionscaint ag an nGrpa Saineolaithe ar Riachtanais Scileanna sa Todhcha agus ag an earnil thionsclaíoch. Cumais mhatamaiticiúla a fheabhsú agus tuilleadh scoláirí a spreagadh chun staidéar a dhéanamh ar an ábhar ag an ardleibhéal, is codanna tábhachtacha iad seo den straitéis chun Eacnamaíocht Chliste na hÉireann a chur chun cinn agus chun eiceachóras a chruthú a chothaíonn nuálaíocht, eolaíocht agus teicneolaíocht, agus a thacaíonn le hiomaíochas agus le fás.
10.10.2008
Project Maths 'breaks new ground' in approach to curricular reform - Minister O'Keeffe
Minister launches pilot project designed to make maths 'relevant to everyday life'
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, has said Project Maths - a pilot project designed to teach maths in a way that promotes better understanding of mathematical concepts and the everyday relevance of the subject - breaks new ground in our approach to curricular reform.
Speaking at the launch of Project Maths in Scoil Mhuire Post-Primary School, Kanturk, Co Cork, today, Minister O'Keeffe said: 'Scoil Mhuire is one of 24 pilot schools that will be at cutting edge of maths reform in the years ahead.
'This model of curriculum reform has never been used before.
'It will allow us to trial the changes and, at the same time, develop lesson plans and exemplars for teachers.
'It will enable us to ensure that the optimum level of resources are available before Project Maths is mainstreamed in September 2010.
'The new model will allow the student experience - central to effective learning - to feed into the final syllabus development so that we can ensure relevance and quality in the new reforms,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
He pointed out that Project Maths is designed to provide a bridging framework from the revised primary curriculum into second level.
'It will promote greater maths literacy across the school population, bringing changed emphasis in the maths learned and, in particular, a strong focus on context, application and problem-solving in a general move towards a strengthened emphasis on real-life maths education.
'Project Maths is designed to encourage greater take-up at higher level and provide a solid foundation for careers in science, technology, engineering, business and the humanities as we seek to build the knowledge economy and society.
'It is intended that change in the different strands of maths will be implemented on a phased basis in a rolling programme of reform.
'Teachers and students included in the initial implementation phases will experience maths in a new way.
'Teachers will get classroom materials to enable them to adopt the new approach and they will be supported professionally in embracing change.
'These materials and supports will include lesson plans with teacher guides and student worksheets, online exemplars and a range of assessment materials.
'I congratulate all the partners involved in this exciting project and I thank the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for their innovative approach to curriculum reform and professional development,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
Background Note:
There are to be three phases of implementation: Statistics and Probability
and Geometry and Trigonometry in Year 1; Number and Algebra in Year
Two; and Functions in Year Three. The project schools that started the
cycle in September 2008 will complete the final phase in 2010/11.
The mainstream phasing will begin in September 2010, prefaced by a programme of professional training for teachers starting the previous year. The changes in each individual strand of maths will take place simultaneously at Junior and Leaving Certificate.
It is envisaged that, at Junior Cycle, a syllabus will be offered at two levels - Ordinary and Higher levels. However, an examination will be available at three levels - Ordinary, Higher and Foundation levels and, following a review of trends, a decision will be made about whether it is feasible to phase out the Foundation level.
In the Leaving Certificate, a syllabus will continue to be offered at Ordinary, Foundation and Higher levels. A Mathematics Curriculum Support Team has been recruited to provide support for the 24 project schools and to prepare for implementation of a national programme of in-service training for teachers in 2009. The project is being lead by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
The changes under Project Maths have been widely welcomed in the business sector and by bodies such as Forfás, the National Competitiveness Council and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
While particular emphasis is placed on the development and use of information processing, logical thinking and problem-solving skills, the new approach will also stress the importance of students developing their skills in communicating and working with others. These are important core skills which are transferable across the curriculum and contribute to effective lifelong learning.
