Expert Hints For Teaching The New Mathematical Studies SL Syllabus

This document provides tips for teaching the new IB Mathematical Studies SL syllabus from an experienced teacher and examiner. Some key tips include: [1] Students must learn how to show calculations by hand for the project component, especially statistical calculations. [2] Students should practice using their graphing display calculators which play an important role in the new syllabus. [3] Teachers should help students understand how to answer questions based on the wording and provide formula booklets and glossaries for support.

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Expert Hints For Teaching The New Mathematical Studies SL Syllabus

Uploaded by

Eddy R. Vélez

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Expert hints for teaching the new
Mathematical Studies SL syllabus

The new IB Mathematics syllabuses launch in September 2012, and we want to support
you as you make the necessary changes to your teaching. Here Jane Forrest, author of
Mathematical Studies SL and an experienced teacher, examiner and moderator, gives you
her top tips.

Knowing how to perform mathematical processes by hand is now a requirement for the
Project. This is especially important for the statistical calculations. Make sure your
students know that accuracy can be checked on their GDC, but the calculations need to be
set out in full.

Students need to learn to love their GDC. It plays an even bigger role in the new syllabus
and, in order for the student to become confident using it, they need to have time to
practise. After all, practice makes perfect!

TOK and International Mindedness now appear in the last column of the syllabus. If
you’re in a school where your students come from all over the world, don’t forget to use
them as your best resource for International perspectives.

Students need to understand what they are expected to do from the wording of
questions. Glossaries can be invaluable for clarifying terminology whether or not the
student is a native‐speaker.

Make sure that your students have a copy of the formula booklet from the start and
that they know what’s in it and where to find the formula they need to answer a question.

You don’t need to follow a mathematics text in the order that it’s written. For the
Mathematical Studies SL Course Book, the authors put the chapters in the order they
thought would be best for project work. Follow your own curriculum. Set short‐term, do‐
able goals so that the students develop confidence in mathematics. Never lose your sense
of humour and enthusiasm.

Mathematics should be meaningful and also fun. Think of your own special way to
introduce topics to your students. No two groups are ever the same, so vary your way of
teaching to hook the group. Introduce concepts using hands‐on activities, group work,
real‐life situations, experiments, simulations, etc.
How tthe IB Ma
athemattical Stud dies SL Course Boook
from O
Oxford caan help yyou delivver the new sylla bus

 For extraa practice in performing mathematiccal processess by hand . . .
Try the exxtension work on the CDD.

 For guidaance on using GDCs . . .
If your school uses the TI84+ or thhe Casio fx GGDC, instructions can be ffound on the e
CD. If you
u use the TI‐N
Nspire, you’lll find easy‐to
o‐follow scre
eenshots inc orporated
into the lessons in the
e book itselff. Plus, a dedicated chaptter takes an iin‐depth look
at using aa GDC.

 For ideass on introduccing TOK andd Internation nal Mindedn ness . . .
There aree useful wayss to introducce both of th
hese topics th
hroughout thhe text bookk,
including dedicated TTOK pages att the end of eevery chapteer which will prompt
reflection
n and discusssion.

 For termiinology clariification . . .
Use the gglossary on the CD.

 For inspirring ways too make mathhematics meaningful and d fun . . .
There aree lots of ideas for introduucing the varrious topics in the book bby linking
mathemaatics to real‐life situationns that students will conn nect with

 For moree time to con ncentrate onn delivering tthe course co
ontent . . .
Let your sstudents knoow that theyy can access wworked soluttions on the CD and
website. This will give
e you the tim
me to focus o
on challenginng your brighhtest
students and giving support to th ose who nee ed it.

tel +444 1536 4526
620   fax +44
4 1865 3134772
web w www.oxforddsecondary.cco.uk/ib