2020 has been a successful year for the Alcoa Champions of Maths Program. Using a model for calculating approximate months of learning in PATMaths scores we saw that growth for students has consistently been higher in the year the program was run than the previous year. And we have seen incredible changes in the teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward teaching and learning mathematics.
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Teachers have reported a massive boost in confidence in knowing how to teach maths effectively, how to get students to think deeply, reason and discuss their mathematical understandings. Students have come to excitedly await the next problem-solving lesson and have found new levels of understanding and confidence in mathematics, beginning to truly see themselves as mathematicians.
We will enter our third year of the program in 2021 with the knowledge that the effectiveness of our work so far has been noticed. Within my own organisation, Scitech, we have been seeking ways to scale up the program and reach more teachers. Within the Alcoa Champions of Maths program I work with 8 teachers for a year, very intensively training them in the Powerful Problem-Solving approach.
Another industry partner, Chevron, had also identified the need to improve mathematics outcomes in schools, so together, we have developed the Lighthouse Maths program that will allow us to work across 16 schools training 32 teachers in this approach to maths teaching.
Lighthouse Maths will involve upskilling four of our previous Champions teachers to deliver the in-class support and coaching, working with schools in the Perth metropolitan area. We are very excited about making this available to many more schools and continuing to develop the experience and expertise of our Champions teachers.
We have also received great recognition outside of our own organisation. This year we were the proud winners of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Award for Best Community Partnership for the Alcoa Maths Enrichment Program. Our win was then shared in three newspapers.
Please use the contact form at the bottom of the blog if you would like to participate in the Lighthouse Maths program as we still have a few positions open for schools for this life changing opportunity.
We have also put together an amazing video capturing the essence of the Alcoa Champions of Maths program. Please enjoy:
Seasons greetings and a safe new year to all.
Keep thinking and enjoy the struggle!
Shyam
Scitech is a not-for-profit organisation proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
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