Professional Development

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Professional Development African Institute for
Mathematical SciencesSchools Enrichment
Centre http//aimssec.aims.ac.za NEW SKILLS NEW
HOPES NEW HORIZONS FOR MATHEMATICS IN SOUTH
AFRICAN SCHOOLS

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AIMSSEC works with teachers and learners
Teachers on AIMSSEC course
Video-conference at AIMS 2003
Video-conference MTN Sciencentre 2005
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African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
Schools Enrichment Centre AIMSSEC

• AIMSSEC promotes
• enquiry based learning
• mathematical thinking
• problem solving and
• use of computers
• AIMSSEC distributes free learning resources

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AIMSSEC - part of a community of trainers,
teachers and learners in all provinces
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All belong to

• A community
• of learners

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Learning about

• Mathematics
• Learning mathematics
• Teaching mathematics

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To Empower Teachers

• AIMSSEC is building
• a network
• of mutually supportive groups
• in all the provinces.

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Network of groups of teachers

• Network across S. Africa
• for teachers to support
• and help each other
• To learn together
• askAIMS gives mathematical
• help to teachers learners
• AIMSSEC website, mathematics
• problems, discussion forum, news
• of events

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Reality today A vision for tomorrow

• Today many rural schools in South Africa do not
  have electricity and there is a critical
  shortage of mathematically qualified teachers.
  Our project uses satellite and cellphone
  technology to reach rural areas making them part
  of the Stellenbosch University E-campus
• One day the internet could give all schools the
  same excellent library of learning resources and
  opportunities for E-learning.

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Empowering teachersTraining the trainers

• A Cascade Effect
• To serve teachers in more remote rural
  communities
• Accredited professional development courses
• Training teachers to be subject leaders
• Teachers run workshops for other teachers
• New ACE is a partnership between
• AIMSSEC
• IMSTUS (University of Stellenbosch) and
• MCPT

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AIMSSEC trains mathematics teachers

• To help to break the vicious circle AIMSSEC
  trains and supports teachers so they become
  confident lifelong learners and enjoy the
  experience

• AIMSSEC offers three months distance
  learning courses involving ten day residential
  programmes for teachers subject advisers field
  trainers from all the SA provinces.

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AIMSSEC preliminary course
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AIMSSEC preliminary course

• Preliminary Course Mathematical Thinking,
  Problem Solving and Technology in Teaching and
  Learning Mathematics.
• Selection Instrument
• Fifty educators and field trainers are
  selected each year for the two year Advanced
  Certificate course to train Subject Leaders in
  Mathematics.

• Three month distance learning courses
  incorporating an intensive 10 day residential
  programme.
• This course has been run 10 times

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ACE to Train Mathematics Subject Leaders

• Partnership between AIMSSEC, IMSTUS MCPT
• To serve educators in rural areas far from other
  universities
• 50-60 educators and field trainers selected each
  year for Advanced Certificate Course to train
  Mathematics Subject Leaders. New cohorts each
  year in new centres
• Two year blended learning NQF level 6
  qualification accredited by Stellenbosch
  University
• Residential component, online learning, classroom
  visits
• Sessions in US Interactive Telematic classrooms
  all over S.Africa linking groups in 2009 in
• EAST LONDON, POLOKWANE, DURBAN and BELLVILLE
• MCPT IMSTUS coordinators
• Training in Action Research can lead to Masters
  and PhD

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Blended Learning

• Webstudies links teachers online for discussions,
  accessing information, submitting assignments,
  practice tests etc.
• CDs and hardcopies provided to save internet
  time
• Training in Action Research, and writing research
  reports.
• School visits

• Residential courses
• Use of satellite classrooms (dish, decoder TV)
• Cellphone technology
• Students run workshops

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AIMSSEC VISION A Community of Learners

• Lecturers, advisers, teachers and children
  alike we are a community of learners with AIMSSEC
  and its partners IMSTUS and MCPT at the centre.
  Our network extends across South Africa and we
  meet in local groups. We aim ultimately to offer
  a forum for all mathematics teachers and learners
  in South African Schools connected by modern
  technology. The beauty and power of mathematics
  challenge our intellects, inspire our imagination
  and motivate our learning. We are striving
  together to improve the teaching and learning of
  mathematics.

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AIMSSEC Global links

• Videoconference lessons
• School partnerships
• Lecturers from all over the
• world work as unpaid
• volunteers in South Africa
• to train teachers

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Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)Lifelong Learning

• Teacher with teacher
• AIMS students and graduates work as
• volunteer mentors and tutors e.g. maths classes
• on Saturday mornings at AIMS, maths and
• science clubs in schools, mentors for individual
• children.
• Popular lectures for the general public and
• hands on maths

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AIMSSEC Summary of current activities and future
plans
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A Vision for Africa

• AIMS students come from all over Africa.
• AIMS is building a network of similar institutes
  in other African countries.
• AIMSSEC could offer a model of teacher
  development to other countries.

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Muizenberg

• Thank you
• Toni Beardon
• toni_at_aims.ac.za