20 April 2009

The new way of writing in mathematics teaching

The reform of the post-secondary educations has introduced new types of written presentations in mathematics: Written work that cannot be tested at a written exam, but which can be included in an oral exam (as in C level in upper secondary school (STX)); synopsis in general study preparation; multidisciplinary projects where mathematics is one of the subjects; these are all examples hereupon.

The Association for Teachers in Mathematics in upper secondary school has in cooperation with Department of Science Education applied for and received funding from the Ministry of Education with the purpose of gathering and sharing experiences with teaching the many new types of written mathematical presentation, and of discussing the evaluation criteria and methods compared to the written products. An important aspect is to discuss the IT and CAS tools' use in written presentation in mathematics. 

Project coordinator of the development project:
Erik Von Essen, erik.von.essen@skolekom.dk (Association for Teachers in Mathematics)
Contact at UC: Christine Holm (DSE).

Project group:

Louise Stampe Berggreen, Øregård Gymnasium
Bodil Bruun, Mulernes Legatskole
Erik von Essen, Himmelev Gymnasium
Ulla Stampe Jakobsen, Herlev Gymnasium og HF
Kurt Jensen, Nykøbing Katedralskole
Olav Lyndrup, Nykøbing Katedralskole
Ib Michelsen, VUC Skive
Ellen Steengaard Munkholm, Odense Katedralskole
Katja Kofod Svan, Rysensteen Gymnasium
Marianne Terp, N. Zahles Gymnasieskole
Rasmus Østergaard, Nykøbing Katedralskole

Materials from the development project

Preliminary conference about the new way of writing in maths teaching the 15th of April 2008 

Around 60 teachers participated in the conference that set off the development project. On the basis of this conference a working group is set up with around ten upper secondary school teachers who will continue to work with different aspects of the project. 

The project group has worked with the new way of writing in four subgroups with different subjects:

  • Writing through SRP and AT - Mathematics in cross-disciplinary teams
  • Writing in the higher preparatory courses (HF) - What are the characteristics of the answers to written math exercises at C level?
  • Writing in STX B and A level - What are the characteristics of the good answers in written math exercises at STX?
  • Writing in projects at STX and HF 

The material that the groups have collected and composed includes authentic exercise answers, guides to evaluation of written answers, folders and handbooks addressed to teachers and students about different aspects of written work in mathematics.

The final material from the project group is now electronically avaliable (April 2009) on this site: