Reference no: EM132317003 , Length: word count:1800

Assignment - Theory Informing Practice

Whilst on professional experience, take notes while you observe, and / or photograph (or video) materials, whiteboards, students' work or the teacher's or your work or your teaching. After each lesson taught or observed, reflect on it and make journal notes. Identify an issue (or something you find puzzling) that could influence mathematics teaching and learning. In addition, talk to (interview) a mathematics teacher about this issue.

Part A - School Experience Report

(a formative assessment task that informs part b and is assessed as part of Assignment b) (100 words).

Provide a report for your peers of your school experience that focuses on a question that puzzles you about how to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics. This report is presented in the online discussion forum 'School experiences' (On Campus and Off Campus students).

Part B - Essay -Theorising practice (1700 words)

For your chosen inquiry, introduce your essay by explaining how this issue arose from your Professional Experience, and the question you will ask about it (introduction). In the next paragraph, provide data from your teaching practicum to elaborate on the nature of the issue or puzzling situation. This data may be journal notes, and / or video or audio of your teaching, and / or student work or board notes or other data that helps elaborate the issue. Review the research literature and identify various research findings related to your question of interest (inquiry). Discuss similarities and differences between the various findings (synthesis) and use this evidence to argue for the position you take (based on research evidence) about the question you posed (conclusions). In your final paragraph, discuss how your findings influence your teaching philosophy.

Note: If you do not have professional experience with a mathematics method, negotiate this assignment with the Unit Chair,

Criteria for Assignment 2b: Essay

Ability to produce a clearly-written and coherently argued essay

• well-written and coherent essay.
• well-structured and logically flowing argument.
• consistent academic referencing of literature and other sources.
• inclusion of relevant e-readings.
• evidence of wider reading.

Ability to follow an inquiry process

• inquiry question identified.
• inquiry focus supported with data from professional experience.
• inquiry argument made.
• inquiry argument justified with relevant literature.
• valid conclusions drawn about the inquiry question.

Ability to communicate your new understandings about your inquiry question

• statements made supported with research literature.
• cite relevant curricula and refer to these in the reference list.
• define terms used.
• explain meanings of quotes included.
• give common language meanings of technical terms used.

Ability to connect theory with teaching and learning practices

• demonstrate an evidence-based understanding of how students learn mathematics.
• demonstrate an evidence-based understanding of activities that support student learning of mathematics.
• demonstrate an evidence-based understanding of pedagogy that can support student learning of mathematics.
• demonstrate an evidence-based understanding of difficulties students can experience learning the mathematics of focus.
• identify 'big idea/s' that underpin the mathematics under focus.

Ability to synthesise inquiry findings to inform your teaching philosophy

• identify what you have learnt through this inquiry process.
• discuss how it differs to your previous ideas.
• discuss how this influences what you value about the teaching and learning of mathematics.
• identify ways in which this will change your teaching practice.
• identify strategies that could help you achieve this.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar