SUBJECT MAJORS

SM11. Geometry
9 credit points.

This is a practical course designed to provide students with an opportunity to study figures and the movement of those figures. From given investigations students begin to develop a higher level of geometric thinking. Initially, they engage in making conjectures from experimentation and observation of visually introduced activities. By developing informal, intuitive understandings of the characteristics of figures, students build, through induction and analysis, more formal, abstract and rigorous conjectures, generalisations, and proofs. Students also study deductive reasoning by learning to translate logical arguments into symbolic form and then use the rules of logic to determine whether those arguments are valid.

SM22. An Introduction to Historical and Socio-cultural Perspectives on Mathematics
9 credit points.

Through a study of the genesis of various branches of mathematics and the mathematicians involved students develop an historical perspective on the subject along with an appreciation of its nature, role and fascination. By examining some of the practical, philosophical, scientific, artistic, economic and political circumstances that have challenged and inspired mathematicians, students gain insight into socio-cultural factors influencing the evolution of mathematics. Students also study ethnomathematics - the mathematical ways of thinking, or 'world-views', of different cultures. Using knowledge of how mathematical contributions have been conditioned by the civilisations in which they occurred, students examine mathematical ideas and practices within aspects of their culture.

TEACHING METHODS

TM12. Mathematics Teaching Methods 1
9 credit points.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of mathematics teaching in Vanuatu. Initially, students reflect on their teaching practice to develop their knowledge of teaching and learning in mathematics. They describe and analyse these experiences from more theoretical perspectives. Students research mathematical strands and topics from the Year 7 and 8 syllabus and plan lessons relating to these topics in order to plan and conduct micro teaching sessions with their peers. During these micro teaching sessions students develop knowledge and practice skills in lesson planning, especially in introducing a lesson, the use of questioning techniques, dealing with students' responses and summarising and concluding lessons. Students also engage in problem solving sessions where they investigate mathematical processes to develop their mathematical potential.

TM21. Mathematics Teaching Methods 2
Semester 3. 9 credit points.

Throughout this course students reflect on their experiences, knowledge and understandings to examine their beliefs about mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning. They are challenged to think critically about the nature of mathematics and mathematics education. After analysing the syllabus and investigating the topics taught in Years 9 and 10, students plan units of work for implementation during Teaching Practice 2. In the process they learn how to apply the theories, issues and practices relating to constructivism, problem-solving, interactive teaching, classroom discourse, equity, assessment and technology to their teaching.

EXTERNAL COURSES: University of the South Pacific

MA101. Mathematics for Social Sciences
Semester 1. 9 credit points.

As a course intended to service disciplines in the Social Sciences and Education, students study linear algebra (linear equations, systems of linear equations and linear programming); calculus (the limit and derivative of function, derivative formulae, applications - graphing functions and optimisation, and integral calculus), and probability and statistics, including counting techniques.

MA131. Introductory Statistics
Semesters 3. 9 credit points.

This is a course designed to introduce students to statistics using ideas in probability and descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include descriptive statistics, the use of graphs, charts, histograms and frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, probability rules, distribution of random variables, probability distributions, sampling theory and estimation of parameters, tests of hypothesis, and regression and correlation.