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Accelerated Learning in Mathematics
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Accelerated Learning in Mathematics
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Many of our students at Brigidine aspire to be one of our mathematicians who undertake studying mathematics at an accelerated level. This program commences in Year 9 where students who have been accepted to study Mathematics Accelerated choose Mathematics as one of their elective subjects in addition to their normal Year 9 lessons. This means these students are effectively studying the equivalent of two subjects of Mathematics. In Year 9, they complete both the Year 9 and Year 10 Mathematics 5.3 courses in one year, allowing extra time to be given in later years to the Preliminary and HSC Mathematics Advanced and Extension courses. The accelerated students complete their HSC Advanced course and sit their HSC examination in Year 11, and continue with the extension course(s) into Year 12.
Our accelerated students love mathematics and enjoy absorbing themselves in solving mathematical problems. For most, the program heightens their understanding and the benefit of problem solving, critical thinking and having a self-challenging attitude. They quickly learn to accept that it is more important to be curious and explore their thinking to deepen their understanding to get to an answer, rather than concentrate on the answer (right and wrong) itself. The ultimate goal of acceleration is not just to get our students through the Advanced Mathematics course by the end of Year 11 but to have developed a deep conceptual understanding, coupled with procedural fluency and the ability to reason and apply mathematics which will enhance whatever course of study interests them when they go to university. Many of our students go on to follow STEM pathways at university but our accelerated students have not limited themselves to this more traditional pathway. Law, business and economics, actuarial studies and teaching are other choices, to name a few.
Of particular interest is the esteem that universities hold for students who challenge themselves to do more than just the minimum required for entry to a course. The UTS Bachelor of Accounting Cooperative Scholarship is limited to about 30 students each year and comes with a substantial financial offer. Our accelerated students have been very successful at obtaining positions in this course and they have said that the ability to think and reason as well as the tenacity to work through difficult problems, skills they developed as part of the accelerated program, have enabled them to feel confident in this very challenging course. Whilst this degree is an accounting degree it equips students to become business leaders of the future.
JACQUI BRIDGES HEAD OF MATHEMATICS
Our current Year 12 Accelerated students have found the Accelerated Mathematics course and the skills they have learned to be valuable in their other subjects as well as having the potential to assist them in their life after high school.
I completed the Accelerated course so I could do Extension 2 Mathematics in Year 12. This will help me with my future studies because I am planning on doing Computer Science and Advanced Maths in university, and the content that we learn in Extension 2 overlaps with the content in these university courses, which will make it easier for me in the future.
SARAH WANG
Learning the Accelerated course in tandem with the Physics and Chemistry courses has been extremely beneficial in helping me cement my skills and knowledge in these subjects. Completing the Advanced Maths HSC course a year early was also enormously helpful in relieving some of the pressure in my final year of high school, as I had one less subject to worry about. I chose to take Accelerated Maths in Year 9 because I had genuinely enjoyed Maths in Years 7 and 8 and felt that I would be interested in pushing myself further. Being able to do both Years 9 and 10 in a single year and then moving on to complete my HSC in Advanced Maths a year early definitely made me work hard and engage with the subject, but also gave me a lot more freedom in my final year. As a senior student, being able to take Extension 1 and 2 Maths has shown that it was definitely worth it.
COURTNEY WILKINSON
The best thing about this course is the friendships that I have made with the other girls in my class. They are all so accepting and supportive of each other and have made this course so enjoyable. By being part of this class, my career aspirations of being an actuary or engineer feel more achievable. The skills I have learnt have helped build my confidence in my capability of overcoming future challenges associated with these professions.
CHARLOTTE PRICE
I chose acceleration because I really wanted to push and challenge myself academically and saw the benefits of finishing two HSC subjects early. The Accelerated Maths course has enabled me to grasp a deeper level of thinking and the ability to attain and apply knowledge which has been invaluable. This course has led me to completing the Extension 2 course, and has made me realise my appreciation for and potential in the subject. Now I want to pursue a career in the accounting/ financial sector after university.
MAYA PREZIUSO
I initially chose to take on the Accelerated Maths course as it gave me a rare opportunity to challenge myself and to move at a pace that I felt better suited me as a learner. I have loved that the class remained together over four years. This allowed us to work well as a group, and to formulate strong friendships. The Accelerated Maths course has inspired my love of maths and will definitely assist me on my path to becoming a Mathematics teacher in the future.
