Maths Talent Quest

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Maths Talent Quest 2008
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What is the MTQ?

• The Maths Talent Quest (MTQ) is open to all
  primary and secondary students in Victoria and
  Tasmania.
• The MTQ aims to promote interest in mathematics
  and foster positive attitudes amongst students,
  teachers and parents. The focus is on the
  process of mathematical investigations.

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Why Include MTQ?

• For Victorian students, many of the Victorian
  Essential Learning Standards can be addressed
  including
• Mathematics
• Communication
• Design, Creativity and Technology
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Thinking Processes
• For Tasmanian students the core content and
  teaching emphasis can be addressed through
• Mathematics Numeracy
• Vocational and Applied Learning
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
• Thinking

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Why Include MTQ?

• Projects and investigations cater for student
  diversity. They not only provide gifted and
  talented students with the opportunity to show
  their ability and to follow interests, explore
  and research, they also allow students from
  diverse backgrounds, particularly those from
  different cultures and from rural centres, to
  show how mathematics relates to their lives.

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Scenes from 2007
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Maths Talent Quest

• Who can enter?
• How do we enter?
• Entry formats
• Awards
• Getting started
• Classroom management
• Judging Criteria

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Who Can Enter?

• All students from P-12
• Entries can be
• - Individual
• - groups up to 6
• - classes up to 30
• A maximum of 8 entries per year level

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How Do We Enter?

• Download the Information Booklet from the MAV
  website this is your Number 1 source for MTQ
  information
• Complete your school judging and select which
  entries you are submitting to the MTQ
• Register online on the MAV website
• Entries close Monday 21 July 2008
• Visit www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm
• for further details

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All entries must include a SEPARATE DIARY
Entry Formats

• Investigation
• Creative writing
• Models
• Posters
• Technology-supported mathematics
• Games
• Film, video, audio tapes

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Investigations (1)

• Must include
• An abstract
• Mathematical aims
• Observations and results
• Discussion on relevance of results
• Conclusion
• Separate Diary

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Investigations (2)

• Real world maths or mathematical situations
• Sequential steps
• Formulate own questions
• Apply prior knowledge and strategies
• Explore systematically
• Use mathematical processes
• Justify the results
• Summarise the findings

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Creative Writing

• Essays/stories
• Collection of poems or letters
• Script for a play
• Must have a cover sheet showing
  - mathematical aims,
• - key mathematical ideas,
• - an evaluation
• A Separate Diary must be included

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Models

• Must reinforce a mathematical principle
• Be appropriately documented
• No larger than 70cmx70cmx70cm
• and 10kg
• A Separate Diary

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Posters

• Sequential presentation of the maths involved
• Be appropriately documented
• No larger than A1 and fit a Postpak cylinder
• A Separate Diary

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Technology Supported Mathematics

• Must highlight aspects of mathematics
• Be appropriately documented including a hard copy
  of your project
• A Separate Diary
• Windows or Macintosh on CD ROM

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Games

• Show development of mathematical ideas from
  developer and players perspectives
• Appropriately documented an evaluation of a
  trial.
• Original and creative
• A Separate Diary

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Film, Video, Audio Tapes

• Must illustrate producers development of
  mathematical ideas
• Appropriate documentation
• Script indexed commentary
• No longer than 15 minutes
• A Separate Diary

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Awards

• Certificate of Participation for all
• Encouragement Certificate
• Credit - Certificate
• Distinction and High Distinction Certificates
  and Book Vouchers

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To Get Started

• Start working with classes early
• Give students ideas and inspiration
• Brainstorm with students - what are their
  personal interests? - sports? -
  hobbies? - controversial questions?
• Excursions/Camps
• Local business or Community interests
• National or Global issues or interests

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Classroom Management

• Groups or whole of class
• MTQ vs classwork
• MTQ vs set project
• One lesson per week or whole of week
• Rewards - less formal homework
• more time - more assistance

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(Please refer to Judging Criteria sheet)
State Judging Criteria

• The Judging Criteria can be downloaded from the
  MAV website at http//www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/m
  tq.htm
• The Judging Criteria sheet has 4 Criteria with a
  total of 11 categories.
• Each category is scored as High, Medium, Low or
  Not Evident.
• Each category receives a corresponding score of
  4, 3, 2, or 0.
• The highest possible score is 44.

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(Please refer to Judging Criteria sheet)
State Judging Criteria

• Communication
• 4 categories
• 2. Understanding
• 4 categories
• Ideas Resources
• 2 categories
• 4. Presentation
• 1 category

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Why Include MTQ?

• Research
• Design
• Explore
• Create
• Question
• Communicate
• Think
• Solve problems
• Collaborate
• Time management
• Interest
• Success
• Rewards

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Notes from National Judges

• Mathematics, not presentation or multimedia
• expertise, forms the basis of judging
• decisions.
• Topics must be age appropriate
• Demonstrate mathematical knowledge
• Have evidence of how student/group/class
• has investigated topic
• Integrated piece of work
• Context in which project developed
• Student ownership
• Acknowledgement of support

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Judging runs from Sunday 10 August to Saturday
16 August
Judging Requirements

• It is compulsory for each metropolitan school to
  provide a minimum of two hours judging
• Where schools have more than five entries, an
  extra two hours of judging must be provided for
  every five extra entries or part thereof
• Regional schools are encouraged to participate in
  judging
• Judges who are independent of schools are also
  encouraged to participate in judging

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For Further Information

• Download the Information Booklet from the MAV
  website at www.mav.vic.edu.au/studact/mtq.htm
• Speak to the MTQ coordinators at
  office_at_mav.vic.edu.au or phone [phone]