What’s new for Australia?
An update on our content for Australia (April to June 2018)
For us, this past Term has been all about optimising our existing content. We’ve put a lot of effort into improving the topics that are core to your curriculum. We’ve created lessons where students can engage in deep learning through greater interactivity, more illustrative worked examples and opportunities to engage in more critical thinking.
Primary
New lessons have been the main focus for primary content this term, particularly in the areas of early arithmetic and early geometry. Below are some examples of new content you can use with your students, complete with brand new videos and worked examples.
Early Number (add/sub) > Identify and use patterns with addition and subtraction
Early Number (mult/div) > How do we know if the calculator is correct? (Investigation)
Early Geometry > Names and Properties of Shapes
High School
Indices review
Work has begun on a review of ‘Indices’ content and already the e-book and associated questions are much more closely aligned with syllabus outcomes. Coverage of individual concepts has been significantly improved. In particular, questions which target students’ understanding of index arithmetic specifically according to the types of bases (numeric or variable) have been refined or added to, in order to provide a clear path of extending simpler skills in more varied contexts. Students can find clear explanations of these concepts in lessons like this, having a smooth transition into using indices in the algebraic context.
Inequalities review
Similarly, students learning Inequalities for the first time or coming back for a refresher will be able to make use of new or improved content. Work to date on this area has been focussed on Yr 10 level work and in particular refining lessons and questions that develop students’ skills in the algebraic manipulation of inequalities. Check out this lesson to get a taste.
Senior Secondary
Like last term, Senior Secondary content has expanded in numerous and diverse ways. Here are just a few of the lessons, investigations and question sets that have been reviewed or newly made for our users:
Absolute Value Functions > Comparing y=|f(x)| and y=f(|x|) for linear functions
Rates of Change > The Derivative as a Limit — Limiting Chord Process
Polynomials > Physical characteristics of solving an equation
Trigonometry > Use the ambiguous case of the sine rule to solve problems
Logic & Reasoning > Recognise the hypothesis and conclusion in a conditional statement
Mathspace investigations are introductions or extensions of a particular area of mathematics that enrich learning and allow for students to explore deeper in their studies. These are also designed for teachers to use as they join students in their explorations, guiding them to ask good questions through interactive applets and a variety of applications to recognisable, real-world situations. Here are a couple of some new ones our team has made for you. Enjoy!
Geometry > Tuning a musical instrument
This one will be a treat for lovers of music theory (or the geometric mean). Using a number of interactive audio applets, students will get to hear mathematical reasoning for themselves as they observe the concept of ‘geometric mean’ hidden within musical scales. Be sure to get some headphones ready!
Music isn’t the only thing that can get you a ‘sound’ understanding of mathematics. Even a silent night sky can do that, as you’ll find in this introductory investigation into Networks. Students get to explore the constellations of the sky and are reminded that networks are all around them…or at the very least, above them. This is a great beginning to understanding the world through networks, which can be built upon later by other new lessons and questions. For example, check out this one on ‘degree’ and ‘adjacency matrices’ or browse through the whole topic here.