LINKS TO THE OUTCOMES IN THE OVERARCHING STATEMENT - MATHS LEARNING

Mathematics is integral in the education of young people. The Mathematics learning area, either directly or indirectly, contributes to each of the Overarching outcomes. In addition, through numeracy, it provides learning skills which contribute the achievement of the outcomes for most of the learning areas of the curriculum.

Students’ achievement of the outcomes in Working Mathematically, Number, Measurement, Chance and Data, Space, and Algebra will enable them to deal with quantitative and spatial ideas; to collect, display, analyse and interpret data; and to describe and reason about patterns and relationships. Thus, the Mathematics learning area takes a major – although certainly not sole – responsibility for ensuring that

students: 

• select, integrate and apply numerical and spatial concepts and techniques;

• recognise when and what information is needed, locate and obtain it from a range of sources and evaluate, use and share it with others; and

• describe and reason about patterns, structures and relationships in order to understand, interpret, justify and make predictions.

The Mathematics learning area supports and reinforces the literacy work of the school by setting expectations and providing feedback and support to students that is consistent with current thinking in literacy. It also takes a major responsibility for assisting students to learn to read, write, listen to and talk about mathematics, and to develop the range of special symbols, vocabulary and diagrammatic representations that mathematics contributes to language. In these ways, the Mathematics learning area makes a direct contribution to enabling students to: 

• use language to understand, develop and convey ideas and information and interact with others.

Mathematics plays a central role in the generation of technology generally and has, itself, changed significantly as a result of the impact of computing technologies. Through the achievement of a number of the Mathematics learning area outcomes, students:

• select, use and adapt technologies.

Through the Mathematics learning area, students come to appreciate the way in which mathematics is embedded in the very fabric of our own and other societies. Their understanding of the cultural and intellectual significance of mathematical activity, and how it influences what we are and might be, enhances the extent to which they:

• understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation ;

• interact with people and cultures other than their own and are equipped to contribute to the global community; and

• participate in creative activity of their own and understand and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others.

The outcomes in Appreciating Mathematics and Working Mathematically address the mathematical attitudes, appreciations, and individual and collaborative work habits that enable students to be critical, creative and confident users of mathematics. With the provision of a supportive environment for learning mathematics, appropriate mathematical challenge and teaching processes that foster autonomous learning in mathematics, this means that students:

• visualise consequences, think laterally, recognise opportunity and potential and are prepared to test options;

• are self-motivated and confident in their approach to learning and are able to work individually and collaboratively; and

• recognise that each person has the right to feel valued and be safe and, in this regard, understand their rights and obligations and behave responsibly.

Finally, the Mathematics learning area makes an indirect contribution to several Overarching outcomes – and hence to other learning areas – as a result of its responsibilities for numeracy. Numeracy generally benefits learning in most parts of the school curriculum, while being innumerate can inhibit and even prevent student

learning elsewhere. In particular, being numerate can significantly enhance students’ capacity to:

• understand and appreciate the physical, biological and technological world and have the knowledge and skills to make decisions in relation to it;

• understand their cultural, geographic and historical contexts and have the knowledge, skills and values necessary for active participation ;

• value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well-being; and

• participate in creative activity of their own and understand and engage with the artistic, cultural and intellectual work of others.