So much of mathematics is focused on the end point: the answer, the solution, the proof. We attach so much emphasis on the destination — the more efficient the better. We place such high value on the final moment of the mathematical process; this is reflected in the language we choose to define one of…
I occasionally find problems to solve or scroll back through my camera roll for screenshots of problems shared online. I use these problems not to keep my mathematical skills sharp, but to rekindle my joy for mathematics and the continuous wonder it provides my mind. Sometimes I get to do this through my work, and…
A few months ago, my wife and I introduced our 2 year old son to his first bike. It’s different to my first bike in a lot of ways: it’s brand new #middlechildlyf, weighs nearly nothing, and has no pedals or brakes. It also has no bell, which is a genius omission. My first bike…
Recently, I have been utilising Open Middle problems more and more. What I particularly like about these problems is the sense of challenge that drives students to find a possible answer. After using many awesome problems directly from the Open Middle website, I decided to have a go at writing my own and use these develop…
Problem Based Learning in Mathematics – how can we authentically respond to the students’ needs while maintaining the appropriate level of challenge, harnessing student interest, and helping them connect their prior knowledge with new content that they see as useful and important?
How I teach maths. 