New:
Developing Mathematics through Contexts
Over the past 30 years researchers at the Freudenthal Institute in The Netherlands have developed a mathematics curriculum and a theory of pedagogy known as Realistic Maths Education (RME). This curriculum uses realisable contexts to help pupils to develop mathematically, and has now been adopted by the vast majority of schools. Mathematically, The Netherlands is considered to be one of the highest achieving countries in the world.
In 1991, The University of Wisconsin, in collaboration with the Freudenthal Institute, started to develop a middle school curriculum based on RME. This curriculum is known as 'Maths in Context', and has now been adopted by numerous schools and districts across the US, with research suggesting significant gains in pupil achievement.
In 2003, The Centre for Maths Education at MMU purchased a set of MiC materials and trialled them with Year 7 classes in a local school. The reaction to the materials was extremely positive, and there was a real sense that this approach is worthy of continued exploration.
As a consequence of the above, Gatsby Charitable Foundation have agreed to fund a 3 year project, beginning in September 2004, aimed at exploring the implementation of MiC in UK schools. Initially this will involve a number of schools in the Manchester area, with staged introduction of the materials at Key Stage 3. If results are encouraging, it is intended to expand the project to other areas of the UK from September 2006.
The project aims to examine the effectiveness of MiC in the UK setting, and also to consider the support needs of the teachers and pupils involved.
The intended Project outcomes, as identified in the original proposal, are set out below;
- To trial and evaluate a pedagogy of RME through the use of MiC
- To identify transfer and compatibility variables including the fit of MiC to the National Strategy and end of Key Stage 3 assessment
- To identify significant teacher attitudes and skills required in this approach to teaching.
- To identify development needs of teachers utilising RME
- To develop materials including website and DVD to support teachers
- To establish a network of support to allow effective expansion of this approach nationally
Principals in the project at the Centre for Mathematics Education are:
- Paul Dickinson P.Dickinson@mmu.ac.uk
- Frank Eade F.Eade@mmu.ac.uk
Participating Schools 2006-2007
- Glossopdale Community College Talbot Road Glossop Derbyshire SK13 7DR
- The Queen Elizabeth School Hollin Lane Middleton Manchester M24 6XN
- Cedar Mount High School Matthews Lane Gorton Manchester M18 7SP
- Wellacre Technology College Irlam Road Flixton Manchester M41 6AP
- Turton High School Bromley Cross Road Bromley Cross Bolton BL7 9LT
- The Blue Coat School Egerton Street Oldham Lancashire OL1 3SQ
- The Kingsway School Foxland Road Cheadle Cheshire SK8 4QX
- Cheadle Hulme College Woods Lane Cheadle Hulme Cheadle Cheshire SK8 7JY
- Levenshulme High School for Girls Crossley Road Manchester M19 1FS
- Trinity C of E High School Cambridge Street Hulme Manchester M15 6HP
- Droylsden High School for Girls Manor Road Droylsden M43 6QD
- Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic High School Urban Road Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8HT
- St Christopher's CE High School Queens Road West Accrington Lancashire BB5 4AY
- Settle Middle School Giggleswick Settle BD24 0BU
- Settle College Settle North Yorkshire BD24 0AL
- Newall Green High School Greenbrow Road Wythenshawe Manchester M23 2SX
- Broughton hall High School Yew Tree Lane West Derby Liverpool L12 9HJ
- Ashdown School Canford Heath Poole Dorset BH17 8RE
- Oaklands Community School Fairisle Road Lords Hill Southampton SO16 8BY
- Walney School Sandygap Lane Walney Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria LA14 3JL
- Culverhay School Rush Hill Bath BA2 2QL
- Park School 1 Copsewood Road Southampton SO18 1BY