Mathematics

Minecraft Education

Exciting News! We have been fortunate to have Deakin University pre-service teacher, Miss Promm, in her final placement, teach 7D Mathematics and particularly Measurement in the last month, all via remote learning.  Some of the lessons were undertaken in a trial of the instructive virtual environment, Minecraft: Education Edition! The results from this trial were quite impressive, so much so, Bridget was asked to do a Minecraft lesson with another year 7 class!

The Department of Education and Training has provided all Victorian government schools with access to Minecraft: EE, to support transformative teaching and learning. Minecraft: EE offers free resources to help educators and families stay connected, navigate remote education and engage in creative learning. Explore fun challenges, immersive worlds, STEM lessons and more!

The students downloaded the software and were transported into a 3D environment, answering measurement related questions whilst manipulating ‘concrete’ and moveable materials. In a final ‘build challenge’, students were asked to build, using between 120-200 cubic units/blocks, a house, creature or something creative, take a photo of their finished design (within the program) and indicate how many cubic units they used.

Results from the use of Minecraft have been shared with other Maths teachers, so hopefully all students will have the opportunity to learn in this fun and immersive environment and once again thank you Miss Promm.

Mr Raven & Miss Promm

Year 8

Year 8 students have been learning to calculate areas. 

Zac Barlow from 8D did some fantastic work and showed his process as below:

from  this while I was still teaching the concept to the class.    His name is Zac Barlow from Yr. .  See photo and work below:

General Mathematics Semester 2

The General Mathematics Team decided to introduce two new topics this semester, Matrices & Graphs/Networks. Matrices have applications in the real world related to encryption, security & solving multidimensional problems. Networks applications include the world wide web, communication and transportation route planning. Feedback from both teachers and students so far indicate high levels of engagement with these topics and students successfully demonstrating the outcomes. Here are 3 problems you can try to solve:

Problem 1:  The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg

A traversable graph is one you can draw without taking your pen off the paper, and without going over any edge twice.

Problem 2

Matrix Problem:  find the value of a & b

Problem 3

Matrix Problem:  find the value of x & y

Paul Deacon

Head of Mathematics