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TRANSCRIPT
Towards the development of Towards the development of an online Community of an online Community of
Practice for Mathematical Practice for Mathematical Literacy teachersLiteracy teachers
Maggie VersterMaggie Verster
Duan Van der Duan Van der WesthuizenWesthuizen
What is Maths Lit (ML)?What is Maths Lit (ML)?
A Jamaican man wants a job, but the foreman won't hire him until he passes a little maths test.
Here is your first question, Here is your first question, the foreman said. the foreman said.
""WithoutWithout using using numbersnumbers, , represent the represent the number 9number 9."."
"Without numbers?" The Jamaican says,
"Dat is easy."
And proceeds to draw three trees.
"What's this?" the boss asks
"Ave you got no brain?
Tree and tree and tree make nine," says the Jamaican.
"Fair enough," says the boss.
"Here's your second question.
Use the same rules,
but this time the number is 99."
The Jamaican stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture that he has just drawn and makes a smudge on each tree.
"Ere you go."
The boss scratches his head and says, "How on earth do you get that to represent 99?"
"Each of da trees is dirty now. So, it's dirty tree, and dirty tree, and dirty tree. Dat is 99."
The boss is getting worried that he's going to actually have to hire this Jamaican, so he says,
"All right, last question.
Same rules again, but represent the number 100."
The Jamaican stares into space some more,
then he picks up the picture again and makes a little mark at the base of each tree and says,
Ere you go. One hundred."
The boss looks at the attempt.
"You must be nuts if you think that represents a hundred!"
The Jamaican leans forward and points to the marks at the base of each tree and says,
"A little dog come along and crap by each tree.
So now you got dirty tree and a turd, dirty tree and a turd, and dirty tree and a turd,
which makes one hundred."
"SO, WHEN I START?""SO, WHEN I START?"
ML provides learners with an awareness and understanding of the role that mathematics plays in the modern world.
MLis a subject driven by life-related applications of mathematics.
It enables learners to develop the ability and confidence to think numerically and spatially in order to interpret and critically analyse everyday situations and to solve problems.
What is mathematical literacy (ML)
CoP: Communities of practiceCoP: Communities of practice• “Communities of practice are
groups of people who share
• a concern
• a set of problems
• a passion about a topic
• and who wants to deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area
• by interacting on an ongoing basis”
(Wenger, McDermott & Snyder, 2002:29
The problem(s)The problem(s)
New subjectNew subject
Cultural contextsCultural contexts
LanguageLanguage
TextbooksTextbooks
Context vsContext vs Content Content
Teacher ProblemsTeacher Problems
Overload – timeOverload – time
Novice TeachersNovice Teachers
Inadequate trainingInadequate training
Teachers as learnersTeachers as learners
Negative learner & Negative learner & parent perceptionsparent perceptions
AssessmentAssessment– Learning ToolsLearning Tools– LevelsLevels
Solution??Solution??
Online community of practice (CoP)
ML Learning Ecology
Design ExperimentId
enti
fy t
he
pro
ble
m (
s)
Design an intervention
Imp
lemen
t
Analyse & Revise
MLTech tools
So what happened?So what happened?
Technological ChallengesTechnological Challenges
Access problemsAccess problems
Teacher computer skillsTeacher computer skills
Choosing the right toolsChoosing the right toolsThutong / Yahoo / MoodleThutong / Yahoo / Moodle
Registration problemsRegistration problems
Scanned documentsScanned documents
Chat problemChat problemss
Teacher challengesTeacher challenges
Slow startSlow start
Time problemsTime problems
Teacher resistance to Teacher resistance to collaborating onlinecollaborating online
Lurkers Lurkers Active Active membermemberss
Jareeebaaaaa….!!!!Jareeebaaaaa….!!!!
107 members and107 members andgrowing………growing………130 uploaded tests & exams / assignments/worksheets…..Face 2 Face workshops Face 2 Face workshops Virtual tea parties Virtual tea parties Access to “Expert” membersAccess to “Expert” membersPersonal developmentPersonal developmentConstant support + mentorinConstant support + mentoringg
ConclusionConclusion
Sharing are taking placeSharing are taking place
It is providing a support It is providing a support space for teachersspace for teachers
Blended approach must Blended approach must be taken furtherbe taken further
Lurkers must be enticed Lurkers must be enticed to become active to become active membermemberss
BibliographyBibliography
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