MTQ Maths Investigations Using and Developing Mathematical Skills and Connections Across the Curriculum

MAT HS INVESTIGATIONS

The Maths Talent Quest (MTQ) is open to all primary and secondary students in Victoria and Tasmania.

The MTQ aims to promote interest in mathematics and foster positive attitudes amongst students, teachers and parents.

The focus is on the process of mathematical investigations.

The MTQ promotes the use and development of mathematical skills and connections across the curriculum.

MTQ investigations cater for student diversity.

They not only provide gifted and talented students, but students with an interest in Mathematics, the opportunity

to demonstrate their knowledge and learning as they explore and research a topic of their own choice.

They also allow students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from different cultures and from rural centres, to show how mathematics relates to their lives.

The Australian Curriculum The Australian Curriculum

& &

AusVELSAusVELS

MTQ -Maths Investigations- using and developing mathematical skills and connections across the curriculum

Aims for students to ‘recognise connections between the areas of mathematics and other disciplines and appreciate mathematics as an accessible and enjoyable discipline to study.’

Students need to recognise that mathematics is constantly used outside the mathematics classroom and that numerate people apply mathematical skills in a wide range of familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Using mathematical skills across the curriculum both enriches the study of other learning areas and contributes to the development of a broader and deeper understanding of numeracy

Mathematics is organised around the interaction of three content strands and four proficiency strands.

The proficiencies reinforce the significance of working mathematically within the content and describe how the content is explored or developed.

‘The curriculum anticipates that schools will ensure all students benefit from access to the power of mathematical reasoning and learn to apply their mathematical understanding creatively and efficiently…..’ ‘It encourages teachers to help students become self-motivated, confident learners through inquiry and active participation in challenging and engaging experiences.’

The Australian Curriculum & AusVELSThe Australian Curriculum & AusVELS

General Capabilities

Content and Proficiency

AusVELS DomainsMathematics, Thinking Processes, Communication, Design, Creativity and Technology, Information and Communications Technology, Interpersonal Development, English, Languages, Personal Learning, Science, The Arts, The Humanities, The Humanities Economics, The Humanities Geography, The Humanities History, Civics and Citizenship, Health and Physical Education . MTQ -Maths Investigations- using and developing mathematical skills and connections across the curriculum.

Thinking Processes

The type of skills normally associated with investigations are generally higher order skills or processes.

• These processes fall under the broad heading of Working Mathematically-

The Australian Curriculum proficiencies reinforce the significance of working

mathematically within the content and describe how the content is explored or

developed.• Thinking Processes- AusVELS Domain – students will be developing

creative and critical thinking abilities, and applying them to the expansion of their knowledge and skills.

• “We are preparing students for an uncertain future, there will be problems to solve that probably don’t yet exist.”

• The aim of developing thinking skills through the investigation process is - to provide students with the ability to apply and transfer knowledge to

new and different circumstances as they arise throughout life - to understand and act effectively in the ever changing world in which they

live.

Who can enter?

How do we enter?

Entry formats

Awards

Getting started

Classroom management

Judging Criteria

• All students from P-12

• Entries can be:- Individual- groups up to 6- classes up to 30

• A maximum of 8 entries per year level

• Visit www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm for the Information Booklet-Entry Costs, Judging Rubric and further details

• Download the Information Booklet from the MAV website – this is your ‘Number 1’ source for MTQ information

• Select which entries you are submitting - complete school judging if necessary

• Registration opens online Monday 15th April (go to MAV website)

• Registration closes online Wednesday 17th July

All entries must include a log, a journal or rough workings.

• Investigation• Creative writing

• Models

• Posters

• Technology-supported mathematics

• Games

• Film, video, audio tapes

Registration opens Monday15th April

Registration closes Wednesday 17th July

Delivery of entries Latrobe Wednesday 14th August

JudgingThursday 15th & Friday 16thAugust, Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th August

Display of entries Wednesday 21st August (Morning)

Entry Pick UpWednesday 21st August (Afternoon) & Thursday 22nd August (until 2pm)

Award Ceremony Thursday 24th October

Must include:

– An abstract

– Mathematical aims

– Observations and results

– Discussion on relevance of results

– Conclusion

– Log, journal or rough workings

• Real world Maths or mathematical situations

• Sequential steps• Formulate own questions• Apply prior knowledge and

strategies• Explore systematically• Use mathematical

processes• Justify the results• Summarize the findings• An investigation not a

research document or project

• Essays/stories

• Script for a play

• Must have a cover sheet showing

• -mathematical aims,

- key mathematical ideas,

- an evaluation

• Log, journal or rough working must be included

• Must reinforce a mathematical principle

• Be appropriately documented-refer rubric

• No larger than 70cmx70cmx70cm and 10kg

• Log, journal or rough workings must be

included

• Sequential presentation of the Mathematics involved

• Be appropriately documented-refer rubric

• No larger than A1 and fit a Postpak cylinder

• Log, journal or rough workings must be

included

• Must highlight aspects of mathematics

• Be appropriately documented including a hard copy of your project

• Log, journal or rough workings must be

included

• Windows or Macintosh on CD ROM

• Show development of mathematical ideas from developer and player’s perspectives

• Appropriately documented – an evaluation of a trial.

• Original and creative

• Log, journal or rough workings must be

included

• Must illustrate producer’s development of mathematical ideas

• Appropriate documentation

• Script & indexed commentary

• No longer than 15 minutes

• Log, journal or rough workings must be

included

• Certificate of Participation for all

• Encouragement – Certificate

• Credit - Certificate

• Distinction and High Distinction – Certificates and Book Vouchers

• Outstanding investigations are selected to represent Victoria in National MTQ

• Distinction, High Distinction and National Awards Presentation Ceremony-

Thursday 24th October - La Trobe

University, Bundoora

• Start working with classes early

• Give students ideas and inspiration

• Brainstorm with students - what are their personal

interests? - sports? - hobbies?

- controversial questions?

• Excursions/Camps

• Local business or Community interests

• National or Global issues or interests

• Individual/s, Group/s or Whole Class

• MTQ Vs Classwork

• MTQ Vs Set Project

• Implementation- Teacher Choice- One lesson per week, more than one a week, each day of the week, whole days or weekly

• Benefits – Working Mathematically

- Inquiry Based - Real-Life Learning - Making Connections - Application - Understanding - Engagement

(Please refer to Judging Criteria sheet)

• The Judging Criteria can be downloaded from the MAV website at http://www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm

• The Judging Criteria sheet has 4 Criteria with a total of 11 categories.

• Each category is scored as High, Medium, Low or Not Evident.

• Each category receives a corresponding score of 4, 3, 2, or 0.

• The highest possible score is 44.

1. Communication(4 categories)

2. Understanding(4 categories)

3. Ideas & Resources(2 categories)

4. Presentation(1 category)

(Please refer to Judging Criteria sheet)

• Interest• Explore• Create• Question• Communicate• Think• Solve problems• Collaborate• Time management• Design• Success• Rewards• Real Life/Meaningful

Mathematics, not presentation or multimediaexpertise, forms the basis of judging decisions-

• Topics must be age appropriate

• Demonstrate student ownership

• Demonstrate mathematical knowledge and use

• Provide clear evidence of student/group/class investigation process and development

• Context in which project developed is clear

• Contains a clearly stated acknowledgement of support

Judging- Thursday 15th & Friday 16th, Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th August at the State Judging Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora

• It is compulsory for each metropolitan school to provide a minimum of two hours judging

• Where schools have more than five entries, an extra two hours of judging must be provided for every five extra entries or part thereof

• Regional schools are encouraged to participate in judging

• Judges who are independent of schools are also encouraged to participate in judging

•Download the General Information Booklet, the Student Information and the Judging Rubric from the MAV, MTQ website at www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm

•Refer to the Questions and Answer section on MAV, MTQ website www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm

•Speak to the MTQ coordinators at office@mav.vic.edu.au or phone 9380 2399

•Contact MTQ coordinators regarding MTQ Teacher/School PD’s•Photographs are of prior years judging and investigation entries