Web Sites These sites are in some way related to our work of supporting teachers who are helping students to learn to work like a mathematician. For each you can read a brief description and/or make a visit. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. If you know of another, please pass on the web address for us to consider.

Swedish Sphinx site by Sture Marklund. See below.

Maths300 Description below. Visit the site. Calculating Changes Description below. Visit the site.

Task Centres in Sweden Description below. Visit the site.

The Sphinx Description below. Visit the site. The Swedish Sphinx Description below. Visit the site.

 
Maths300
URL: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/maths300 or click on this heading.

The Task Centre Project operates on three major principles:

• a task is the tip of an iceberg
• a task has three lives (a pair of students, whole class, deeper investigation guided by an investigation sheet)
• a task illustrates the process of Working Mathematically

In addition about one third of the Maths300 lessons are extended by integrated software which opens investigative doors not previously possible. Also, since tasks are the basis of only half the Maths300 lessons, there are many more problem solving experiences included to support the shift to a Working Mathematically curriculum.

• Maths300 provides extensive detail to support teachers in modelling how to work like a mathematician.
• Each of our tasks offers an invitation to pairs of students to practise applying that model for themselves.

Starting Maths300 has been positively reviewed in MicroMATH, Volume 17/3, Autumn 2001, Association of Teachers of Mathematics (UK), p.46. This review is mounted on the public area of the Maths300 site.

You can also read/print below excellent reviews that have appeared in:

• The Classroom Connection
  Research Publications
• Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom
  Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers

Return to Web Site List

Once interested in a problem, mathematicians have to collect and organise data as they work towards a solution. Calculating Changes is a primary school project supporting development of a classroom environment and range of activities that allows children time to collect their own conceptual data about number. The professional development program is designed to support teachers interested in Engineering 'aha' Moments in Number.

It is a partner with the Task Centre Project because it:

• relies on using concrete materials, and calculators
• places students in problem solving situations
• encourages children to collect, organise and construct personal data about how numbers work

Return to Web Site List

Sveriges Matematik Läraförening (SMaL), the Swedish mathematics teachers association devotes part of its site to hands-on problem solving. Many schools in Sweden use the Curriculum Corporation tasks. Several firm and friendly contacts have been built between schools, teachers and task centre consultants in Sweden, Britain and Australia.

Mattegömmor
Swedish task centre teachers use their own word - Mattegömmor, coined by Barbro Anselmsson - to describe the tasks. Mattegömmor means a place where mathematics is hidden.
What a delightful way to embody the 'tip of the iceberg' concept.

Return to Web Site List

Task 166, Sphinx, has been explored in maths classes the world over. The creative teachers and students who have explored its iceberg and shared their results have made it into an extensive illustration of all the Task Centre principles. At this link you can explore the task too and find:

• a Sphinx shape to download
• multiple solutions
• attempts at proofs
• two extensive sets of lesson plans based on the task.

Return to Web Site List

An additional delightful link is to the Sphinx web site created by Sture Marklund, a Grade 4 teacher and grandfather from remote Sweden. It is based on Task 166, Sphinx. Sture comments:

I've tried Sphinx in my class. They loved it! "Let's make a whole wall covered with Sphinx shapes", they asked.

Return to Web Site List

• Nrich is a British site dedicated to enriching mathematics education through problems, games and articles. Being British its content is frequently linked to the stages and demands of UK curriculum documents, but there is plenty for everyone. It has a Weekly Problem section, a mass of past articles and a search engine for finding articles on a wide range of mathematical topics.
  Visit the site.
• The Mathematical Association of America provides an extensive on-line magazine titled Convergence which provides:
  ...a wealth of resources to help teach mathematics using its history.
  Teachers will find this an excellent source of information to extend their personal knowledge as well as a source of teaching ideas. Linking mathematics to its discoverers/inventors and weaving in something of their personal story is one way of enlivening the classroom. The site is currently partially funded by the National Science Foundation and there is a free membership form to fill out before being able to access the depth of the site.
  Visit the site.

Return to Web Site List

Follow this link to Task Centre Home page.