This lecture was given at the launch of the new edition of the New Syllabus Mathematics series. The Secondary 1 books for Express and Nornal (Academic) as well as the Additional Mathematics books will be used from 2013.

1. Some Trends in Mathematics Education &
Implications for Instruction and Assessment
Dr Yeap Ban Har
Consultant
New Syllabus Mathematics Series
www.banhar.blogspot.com

2. Outline
 Trends in Assessment
 Mathematical Modelling
 Teaching Through Problem Solving

3. Trends in Assessment
Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA)
www.pisa.oecd.org

8. Trends in Assessment: Looking into the Crystal Ball
• More real-life context
• More formulation of situations prior to solving
• More communication

12. Example
Straits Times July 20, 2012
“The research ranks the preschool environment in 45
countries. Singapore ranks 29th, …”
How to compare
Variables
preschool environments?
Finland has a good
preschool environment. Index
Singapore does not.

13. Example
Straits Times July 20, 2012
“The research ranks the preschool environment in 45
countries. Singapore ranks 29th, …”
How to compare
Variables
preschool environments?
Finland has a good
preschool environment. Index
Singapore does not.

14. Variables & Weight
Availability 25%
Affordability 25%
Quality 45%
Social Context 5%
How to compare
Variables
preschool environments?
Finland has a good
preschool environment. Index
Singapore does not.

15. Example
Straits Times July 20, 2012
“The median gross monthly preschool teacher wage ($1,840)
was just 63 per cent of Singapore’s overall median gross wage
($2,925) last year.”
How are pre-school
Median
teachers paid?
Pre-school teachers
are poorly paid in 63%
Singapore

16. Example
Straits Times July 20, 2012
“The median gross monthly preschool teacher wage ($1,840)
was just 63 per cent of Singapore’s overall median gross wage
($2,925) last year.”
How are pre-school
Median
teachers paid?
Pre-school teachers
are poorly paid in 63%
Singapore

17. Try It!
Develop a mathematical model to predict the
winning time for the men’s 200m race at the
London Olympics.

19. Trends in Assessment: Suggestions for Instruction
• Provide extended mathematical modelling
experience once a term which can be part of
continual assessment
• Assess sub-skills of mathematical modelling in
written examination
• A balanced approach that emphasised both
formulating, solving and interpreting.

20. Teaching Through Problem Solving
Three-Part Mathematics Lessons
Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice

21. Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice
Use the play dough to make a cuboid.
Cut it into two identical prisms.
What is the volume of each prism?

22. Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice

23. Problem 11.258 20th July 2012
Use the play dough to make a cuboid.
Cut it into two identical prisms.
What is the volume of each prism?
Method 1 Method 2
Its volume is half that Its volume is the
the corresponding product of cross-
cuboid. section area and
height.

24. Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice

25. Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice

26. Teaching Through Problem Solving
Three-Part Mathematics Lessons
Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice
Secondary 1 Sum of Interior
Angles of a Polygon

27. Teaching Through Problem Solving
Three-Part Mathematics Lessons
Problem Independent
Guided Practice
Solving Practice
Secondary 3 Angle
Properties of Circles

28. Some Trends in Mathematics Education &
Implications for Instruction and Assessment
Dr Yeap Ban Har
Slides are available at www.banhar.blogspot.com