MPI - Create and Share in Mathematics

 Our last day of the Mathematics Practice Intensive for 2024!  I have to be honest and say that I will miss the sessions and all of the wonderful learning that has transpired.  My goal is to now use all of it in an absolutely amazing year of maths next year!

We learnt about another example of Maths Talks which was all around Images.  I can really see that my students are going to enjoy these activities and the chance to be detectives and really investigate all of the maths they can see in some really great images.  We were shared lots of great places in which to find these images.

An image that really resonated with me today was the brain image that really summed up being creative.  I actually think I will use it with my students too, it might even become our symbol for meaning Create.

I was also thinking that I want to have a visual presentation of all the different ways that students can create next year too.  Maybe as simple as having a section of wall where I add in the logos of the different sites etc. that they could use.  This could then ensure variety and choice in their Create Tasks.

When we are planning for these create tasks we also need to go through the process of:

• Active Verb
• Object Created
• Purpose
• Audience/End User
• Constraints

This will ensure we are creating opportunities for more genuine learning in our create tasks.

I am still working on the Sharing part of the equation.  I am leaving today's session with renewed focus on ensuring that my students' learning is shared in some way, this could be on their blog, this could be orally, but whatever it looks like, it is a very important part of the whole learning journey.

So, although it is the end of the MPI, I feel like it is only the beginning of my maths journey!!  I will leave for now with a quote that resonated with me:

Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.

— William Paul Thurston, American mathematician  

MPI - Statistics and Probability

MPI Day 8 was all about Statistics and Probability.  I really enjoyed today and it seemed to fly.  Statistics just seems so much easier to digest and teach than the likes of Geometry and Measurement which have so many parts to them.  

The Maths Talks focus was on Data Talks and I thought the examples shared with us were really great.  I can't believe I have never thought to add this into my programme before.  I really feel like I need to be smart about how I integrate all the Maths Talks examples into my daily programme and perhaps not just in maths time.  Keep it topical...there would be lots of data that could be shared at the moment about the US election, with summer heading our way there will be data about weather and temperatures and then perhaps Christmas present popularity data!

I also really liked the connections made with Critical Thinking.  Teaching students to take in the information or data with their smart critical thinking hats on.  Thinking about if the graph is a fair representation of what the data is actually telling us?

The CensusAtSchool site will definitely be getting a good look at for the beginning of next year.  From the Fabulous Feet lesson to Data Cards, lots of really great resources and ideas for teaching Statistics.

Right I am off to plan a few Probability lessons and hope that they become my most successful maths lessons ever that I can share in the next session!