Making more of Maths Jeff Horoch, Years 7 and 8 Numeracy Coordinator A Year 8 Interest Group in Mathematics was formed at the end of Term 1. There was a need for students who were achieving highly and very interested in Mathematics to further their mathematical thinking with other like-minded students. The program drew upon the proficiency strands of problem solving and reasoning within the Australian curriculum: ‘students develop capability in critical and creative thinking as they learn to generate and evaluate knowledge, clarify concepts and ideas, seek possibilities, consider alternatives and solve problems’ Mr Andrew Bigelow (current parent and Fund Manager) was able to offer assistance and mentored the students in the program.... The Year 8 maths interest group met throughout Term 2 and 3, mainly to help prepare for the Maths Olympiads. General problem solving techniques were explained and illustrated with Olympiad level questions as well as a review of questions in Olympiads as they were held. Apart from preparation for the Olympiad the group also attempted a measurement activity that involved estimating the height of the classroom using only a set square, drinking straw and some Blu-tac. This activity, normally targeted at Year 9 or Year 10 students, presented no problems to the group which showed a high level of problem solving skill.
LOGIE WORTHY TALENT Year 1 student Edwina Royce has been nominated for the Best New Female Talent Award at the 55th TV Week Logies. She is one of nine actresses vying for the prestigious award! Edwina plays Stella in Channel 9’s hit 2012 series House Husbands and has also starred in musical theatre, a Worksafe TV ad and SBS mini-series Better Man, which is due to air next year. Vote for our own College star at http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/vote.
Efforts were also made to introduce areas of mathematics that would not normally be encountered until the tertiary level, such as game theory, which allows for optimal strategies to be developed in a variety of competitive situations. A subgroup was formed with a brief of designing some computer software according to the students’ specification. A prototype Sudoku solving program and some initial work on solving the Rubik’s Cube was completed. Andrew Bigelow The interest group will meet again to discuss their performance in the Australian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads and to reflect on the program. Members of the group also entered the Australian Informatics Competition and represented the school in the Year 8 Mathematics Games Day where they were well placed amongst the 120 teams. It is hoped that the program can continue next year to provide our current Year 7 students with the same opportunities. Year 1 student Edwina Royce is in the running for a TV Week Logie Award
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