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intuitionist1:

It was a 1957 O level question. The topic is covered thoroughly in Chapter X of Durell's "School Certificate Algebra" textbook which I mentioned earlier.

- Sabbir

Ok, well it is too difficult for even bright 16 year olds because they have not been taught that topic or been given sufficient opportunity to practise the necessary algebra skills.   We cannot blame the students for that - all the pressure to dumb down comes from our political masters who demand ever increasing examination success rates.

intuitionist1:

My point all along has been that we should not succumb to such pressure and should take matters into our hands if necessary to ensure that our children/students receive an education that allows them to achieve their potential.

Is this the point where we form a mathematics terror cell?  

DM:

intuitionist1:

My point all along has been that we should not succumb to such pressure and should take matters into our hands if necessary to ensure that our children/students receive an education that allows them to achieve their potential.

Is this the point where we form a mathematics terror cell?  

Great idea. Should we could call it "Al-Mathematica"? ;-)

weebecka:

Ask the studenst you teach to show you mymaths Sabbir.  Look at the lesson on composite functions in C3 which I would set as a homework in conjction with the rich class task I suggested earlier. 

weebecka:

Absolutely. I never use it for teaching from scratch. But it allows me to (as in the example) teach a topic like 'composition of functions' through rich and contextual tasks and then to set the mymaths homework as reinforcement. Pre-mymaths I would have set a textbook exercise instead and sometimes I still do(we all get sick of mymaths after a while). But I generally find the mymaths explanations are better than the text book ones (partly because of the dynamic and interactive visuals), and that the gain whereby I can instantly see what students have done and how well they have done it (before they get to the next lesson) is huge. It makes working with rich tasks in class easier to do logistically.

More snore-tastic trash

The composite functions on mymaths is just a clunky platform that leads a teacher or leads to minimal bang for buck for pupils who canot sit and work. click, click, fill out an awkward box, waste loads of time click, click again and thats the end of the lesson.

The amount covered in said 'ICT resource' could be far more effectively taught without gimmicks.

Now you state your 'rich lesson'

Just where does this fit in with anything of worth? I have never seen anything 'rich' in an A level exam to do with composite functions and its sure aint one of the 'low road' lessons I would try and deliver to an a mixed ability cohort especially as allocated hours are minimal at best.

Now Weebecka, have you ever taught and been responsible for a cohort? have you ever been accountable for one full cycle of a GCSE or A level? 2 years, same kids, same school and no other teachers involved.

Im not interested in the 2 weeks you did in a dark corner of a private school in Outer Mongolia where you took your toy box for a week of edutainment before walking/being ushered away.

Much of the tripe you post are things 'consultants' come into schools to do but never teach 2 years right through where they have to put their name to anything

I will allow you adequate time to alter your ever changing CV before you respond

In keeping with our "Say no to modern technology" theme.