Mathematics

Mathematics plays an essential role both within the school and in society. It promotes a powerful universal language, analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills that contribute to the development of logical, abstract and critical thinking. Moreover, understanding and being able to use mathematics with confidence is not only an advantage in school but also a skill for problem solving and decision-making in everyday life.

(IB MYP Mathematics Guide 2007)

Objectives

A: Knowledge and Understanding
The students should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of the concepts
• use appropriate mathematical concepts to solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar situations
• select and apply general rules to correctly solve mathematical problems

B: Investigating Patterns
The students should be able to:

• select and apply appropriate inquiry and mathematical problem-solving techniques
• recognise patterns
• describe patterns as relationships or general rules
• draw conclusions consistent with findings
• justify or prove mathematical relationships and general rules

C: Communication in Mathematics
The students should be able to:

• use appropriate mathematical language in both oral and written explanations
• use different forms of mathematical representation (formulae, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs and models)
• move between different forms of representation

D: Reflection in Mathematics
The students should be able to:

• explain whether his or her results make sense in the context of the problem
• explain the importance of his or her findings in connection to real life
• justify the degree of accuracy of his or her results where appropriate
• suggest improvements to the method when necessary

Assessment

Assessment incorporates the 4 criteria of MYP Mathematics listed below. Students will be awarded a level of achievement for each criterion for individual assessment tasks and at the end of each semester.

Areas of Interaction (AoI)

The curriculum is taught using the areas of interaction as lenses where students view topics, issues and events from different perspectives.

• Approaches to Learning (ATL): How do I learn best? How do I know? How do I communicate my understanding? ATL skills are central to mathematical learning that provides opportunities to develop thinking skills and attitudes towards learning mathematics through knowledge-acquisition, problem solving, communication, thinking inductively and deductively, information gathering, collaboration and reflection.
• Environments (E): Where do we live? What resources do we have or need? What are my responsibilities? Environment (E) in Mathematics aims to develop in students an understanding the interdependence between human beings and the natural and man-made environment through, awareness of environmental issues at local and global levels, responsibility in caring for the local environment, action as a result of physical or attitudinal changes, reflection of actions that protect or destroy the environmental balance within our world.
• Community and Service (CS): How do we live in relation to each other? How can I contribute to the community? How can I help others? Community and Service (CS) in Mathematics is to develop an awareness of social responsibility and empowerment to act in response to the needs of others through, awareness of the needs within the community; classroom, school, and local community, involvement and service using mathematical skills of analysis to determine what specific needs are, reflection on issues addressed and actions taken.
• Health and Social Education (HSE): How do I think and act? How am I changing? How can I look after myself and others? Health and Social Education (HSE) in Mathematics, is to enable students to make informed and responsible choices in order for students to develop as individuals and contribute positively by being, aware of personal health and social issues at all levels, informed of choices that lead to responsible behaviors, actively involved in promoting a healthy lifestyle, reflective of decisions and actions taken that affect health and social well-being in all contexts.
• Human Ingenuity (HI): Why and how do we create? What are the consequences? Human Ingenuity (HI) in Mathematics, is to develop an understanding humans’ capacity to invent, create, transform and enjoy the beauty of mathematics through, investigating historical significance of mathematical developments, research mathematical inventions and influences on technology.

Student Resources

• text books: Haese and Harris Mathematics
• Internet
• mathematical software: Geometers’ Sketchpad, Autograph and Cabri 3D
• Excel programme