Editorial & Content Aug, 1998

MANSW

The Mathematical Association of New South Wales, Inc.
Promoting Quality Mathematics Education for all.

Reflections: August 1998

Contents of Volume 23, No. 3.

Editorial

Letters to the editor 1

Point of View

How is new technology to be integrated into the syllabus?, Derek Ward 3

Reflections on mathematics curriculum

Some observations of the Malaysian school system, Allan White 5
The times they are a-changin', Robyn Gibson 8

Reflections on the 1997 Higher School Certificate

Learning from their mistakes, 1997, Robert Yen 12
How many ways can you skin a geometric cat?, Jim Stamell 17

Reflections on the role of the mathematics head teacher

The role of mathematics head teacher: A beginner's guide, Paul Hypatidis 20
Head teacher influence on classroom teachers' use of student-centred strategies, Jim Milford 21

Reflections on teaching number and measurement

Misconceptions regarding fractions:
A case of poor understanding or poor explanation?, Gerard Battle and Neville Hatton 24
Directed numbers using three-legged races, Matt Bower 28
Measurement and rates ó converting units the easy way, Robert Beardmore 30

Reflections on technology

More teaching ideas for using graphic calculators in the classroom, Frank Sharpe and Matthew Dunstan 31
A generalized bee-hive cell optimization problem using the
TI-92 computer symbolic algebra, Bert K Waits and Franklin Demana 35

Reflections on sport and mathematics

The value of graphical presentation of data: An example from cricket, Iain Skinner 39

Reflections on mathematics

Heron's formula revisited, Ronald J. Andrews 43
The travelling salesperson's dilemma, Phillip Nance 45

Reflections on worksheets

The maths exchange: Sharing classroom ideas and activities 47
Recognizing number plane graphs 48
Guessing heights 50
Writing a formula 51
Angles and shapes crossword 52

Review

MathsNet 7, Authors: C. Quinlan, M. Clark, G. Abrahams

EDITORIAL

This issue of Reflections introduces a new feature. Point of View will include short papers that express a personal opinion about a current area of debate in mathematics education. Derek Ward shares his concerns about the future role of graphic calculators in the school curriculum. He asks several important questions and challenges curriculum developers to seriously consider these issues.

Do you have a Point of View that you would like to share with readers of Reflections? How do you feel about:

the treatment of a particular topic in current syllabuses;
the new Years 9-10 Syllabus;
the new Year 10 examinations;
a calculator-free section in examination papers;
a recent HSC question;
new courses in mathematics for the HSC;
using investigations as a way of assessing student knowledge and understanding in mathematics;increasing statistical applications in HSC courses; or
teaching chance and data in the primary curriculum?

Point of View will appear in the May, August and November issues of Reflections so we encourage readers (or the mathematics faculty at your school) to share their opinions.

In this issue we present another wide variety of papers to cater for the diverse needs and interests of subscribers. The contributions examine curriculum in Malaysia and New South Wales; analyse student mistakes and responses to last year's HSC papers; provide advice about being a head teacher of mathematics; and explore a variety of approaches to teaching number and measurement. We also include further teaching ideas for using graphic calculators in your classroom; suggestions for using cricket results for graphical representations; proofs of a famous mathematics theorem and a well known dilemma; and the usual smorgasbord of worksheets to try.

The photographs on the front cover were taken by Allan White during his stay in Malaysia and those on the back cover were taken at the University of ew South Wales, St. George Campus in its final years of operating as a teacher training institution.

Judy Anderson,Editor