Our Projects
The main objective of the project is to show how advanced mathematical concepts can be taught to and understood by primary school students using specialist computer software and the development of an integrated ICT system. Students who have been through the program, which includes 13 lessons of intensive and fun learning Calculus lessons, are expected to acquire new skills to solve Mathematics and Calculus related real-world problems usually only attempted by senior secondary school students.
Project 2013
The Project 2013 involved delivering integral calculus to primary school pupils aged 10 to 12 years using the computer software MAPLE®. This software is currently used in the first and second year mathematics units in the Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime) programmes at the University of Tasmania, and was selected due to its ease of use and the WYSIWYG interface. The project utilised the following functionality within MAPLE:
The methodology was an intervention study of a class of about 25 students in five state schools from the Australian states of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Around 66% of pupils are educated in state schools in Australia.
The project has demonstrated successful curriculum transformation through the use of ICT by showing that 10 year old students in school can learn integral calculus through the use of appropriate technology and techniques. The results indicate that the students have acquired a good understanding of the concepts and the relevant applications.
The Project 2013 involved delivering integral calculus to primary school pupils aged 10 to 12 years using the computer software MAPLE®. This software is currently used in the first and second year mathematics units in the Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime) programmes at the University of Tasmania, and was selected due to its ease of use and the WYSIWYG interface. The project utilised the following functionality within MAPLE:
- how to input mathematical functions;
- manipulate functions and solve equations;
- graph and visualise functions and solutions;
- perform calculus operations such as integration; and
- calculate the value of any given integral between limits
The methodology was an intervention study of a class of about 25 students in five state schools from the Australian states of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Around 66% of pupils are educated in state schools in Australia.
The project has demonstrated successful curriculum transformation through the use of ICT by showing that 10 year old students in school can learn integral calculus through the use of appropriate technology and techniques. The results indicate that the students have acquired a good understanding of the concepts and the relevant applications.