The Project Maths Development Team held a Maths Conference on the 15th and 16th of November 2013 in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. A wide range of practical presentations were offered by teachers. The teachers’ presentations below arose from schools’ participation in a professional development initiative based on Lesson Study which captures and promotes individual teacher and school group collaborative planning, observation and analytic reflection on classroom practices and active student engagement in learning mathematics. The conference disseminated teachers’ strategies and real classroom experiences focusing on students’ learning.

In addition the keynote address: Hand in Hand: Problem Solving and Lesson Study, was delivered by Professor Tad Watanabe. Other speakers included: Dr. Anne Brosnan, National Coordinator (PMDT) who spoke about “Introducing Lesson Study to Post-Primary Schools in Ireland, Ms. Rachel Linney, Education Officer (NCCA) launched the NFER Final Report: Research into the Impact of Project Maths on student achievement, learning and motivation. Other guest speakers included the State Examinations Commission and the Department of Education & Skills. The Conference was officially opened by The Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock T.D.

Presentations by speakers

Introduction to lesson study

Dr, Anne Brosnan speaks about introducing lesson study to Irish post-primary schools

Rhythm and algorithm musical composition

Music Generation Wicklow and Scoil Chonglais perform a maths-inspired piece of music...

Overview of the NFER report

Rachel Linney from the NCCA gives an overview of the main findings of the NFER repor...

Teaching through problem solving

Keynote speaker, Professor Tad Watanabe, discusses teaching through problem solving.

Why teachers should engage with lesson s...

Keynote speaker, Professor Tad Watanabe, discusses lesson study and why teachers sho...

Presentations by teachers engaged in lesson study

An Introduction to patterns

St. Mark's, Tallaght

Use of Edmodo to facilitate learning

Loreto Abbey, Dalkey

Real-life applications of maths

Our Lady's, Drogheda

Array model & quadratic factorisation

Wesley College

Using carnival games to teach probability

Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk

GeoGebra and Constructions

St Columba's, Glenties

Linking Patterns through the Strands

St Patrick's, Gardiner Hill

Teaching geometry in context

Our Lady's, Drogheda

Introduction to solids and nets

St. Mark's, Tallaght

Introducing variables to first years

Sacred Heart, Westport

Teaching ratio and proportion

St Patrick's, Gardiner Hill

Patterns for Junior Cert.

Loretto Abbey, Dalkey

Introduction to Differential Calculus

Presentation School, Listowel

Introduction to Geometry in First Year

Coláiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen

Using GeoGebra to solve modulus inequalities

St Columba's, Glenties

Mathematical Literacy and Patterns

Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore

Problem solving as a means not an end

St. Mark's, Tallaght

Introducing tolerance and error

Loretto Abbey, Dalkey

Introducing integral calculus

St Columba's, Glenties

Taxation: Does your answer make sense?

St. Mark's, Tallaght

Transformations of functions in 2nd year

Presentation School, Listowel

Applications of HCF & LCM to problem solving

Loretto Abbey, Dalkey

Use of the array model in first year

Wexford Vocational College

Using mind maps in mathematics

Moate Community School