Recorded on 8th November 2023
Dr Caty Morris
This webinar will consider the key concept of Culture and its connection with Maths. We will explore the rich contexts of material culture, cultural expressions and instructive games & toys.
Recorded on 8th November 2023
Dr Caty Morris
This webinar will consider the key concept of Culture and its connection with Maths. We will explore the rich contexts of material culture, cultural expressions and instructive games & toys.
Recorded 27 June 2023
Dr Caty Morris ATSIMA/University of Adelaide & Toni Falusi, University of Adelaide.
This webinar, developed in consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA), introduces culturally responsive maths pedagogy, a way of teaching that harnesses the diverse cultural characteristics, experiences, and perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase student interest.
The rich history and culture of First Nations Australians is explored to gain an understanding of how to teach in a culturally responsive manner. Teachers will gain an understanding of how to include cultural diversity in maths teaching through a number of approaches including incorporating the Cross-curriculum Priorities from the Australian Curriculum; and through the use of the Goompi Model and 8 Ways Framework for designing culturally responsive maths lessons.
Professor Chris Matthews, Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) and University of Technology, Sydney, introduces the Goompi model and how it can be used to create different pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of mathematic. He shows examples from the classroom from this approach that:
1) allowed students to create their cultural expressions of certain mathematical concepts and
2) allowed Indigenous educators and students to explore the connection between their culture and mathematical concepts.
From these examples, Professor Matthews demonstrates how this approach creates a deeper understanding of mathematics and connects the students to the teaching and learning of mathematics.
See article by Dr Caty Morris in The Mathematical Association of Victoria, The Common Dominator 4/23.
See article in The Mathematical Association of Victoria, The Common Dominator 2/24.
Strand: Number / Statistics
Lesson length: 60 mins
Part 1: In this first of two lessons, students investigate and play a First Nations Australian children’s instructive game of throwing skill called Kolap. They collect and represent data, and discuss their findings.
Part 2: In this, second of two lessons, students create a visual representation of the data collected and recorded while playing a First Nations Australian children’s instructive game of throwing skill called Kolap.
Use this sequence of three lessons to engage in a real-life mathematics experience that’s on-Country/Place and connects with a First Nations’ culture, that is, connects mathematics with culture. Students can use their collection of gum leaves to explore stories that involve addition and subtraction.
These lessons were developed in collaboration with Caty Morris and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA).
The original concept of the Yuendumu leaf game was developed by Kumanjayi Nangala. Permission has kindly been granted for use in this resource.
Explore the lessons
This lesson plan has been developed in collaboration with the CSER team, University of Adelaide.
In this lesson, students explore First Nations Australian architecture – in particular dome dwellings – and put a 3D twist on it with their own architectural creation. They:
• investigate and explain how and why First Nations Australians’ dwellings are oriented in the environment to accommodate climatic conditions
• explore the designs of dwellings of First Nations Australians, investigating the perimeter, area and purpose of the shapes within the designs
• investigate the design of First Nations Australians’ dwellings, exploring the relationship between the cross sections and the dwellings’ construction.
Students work in groups to explore various forms of architecture both traditional and contemporary, and then design and plan their own which they create in the Gravity Sketch iPad application. Gravity Sketch is a 3D design tool that enables users to create and design in 3D.
This lesson plan has been developed in collaboration with the CSER team, University of Adelaide.
In this lesson, students investigate First Nations Australian fish nets and use virtual reality to design and create their own interpretation or representation.
The lesson includes:
• exploring fish nets to identify shapes and nets and their purpose
• investigating objects and technologies of First Nations Australians, analysing, and connecting surface area and volume, and exploring their relationship to capacity.
Students work in groups to explore a variety of fish traps and nets and then design and plan their own nets which they create using a 3D design tool.
This resource includes lesson plans, student workbook, and teacher background information. In the lesson, students investigate First Nations Australian spear throwers and use virtual reality to design and create their own interpretation or representation. Students work in groups to explore the design and innovation behind First Nations Australian spear throwers and then design and plan their own in teams which they create using a 3D design tool. We would like to thank Google Australia for funding the development of this lesson plan in collaboration with the CSER team, University of Adelaide.
October 2020, Black Heroes of Mathematics Meeting. This playlist will host recordings from the Meeting. The meeting is supported by Institute of Mathematics and its applications (IMA), London Mathematical Society (LMS), British Society for the History of Mathematics.
A website highlighting the works of Indigenous Mathematicians including Native American Mathematicians and Pacific Islander Mathematicians, Native Hawaiian Mathematicians, and Chamorro Mathematicians.
The third article Mathematics education in North East Arnhem Land shares how mathematics is taught to students at Yirrkala School with a balance of western and Indigenous knowledge.
The resources developed by Make It Count will help schools working at the intersection of Indigenous education and mathematics education. Resources include tools for collecting data, units of learning designed by our creative and innovative educators, and professional reading.
Make It Count is for educators working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners in mathematics education. It is a teaching and learning resource, and a professional learning tool.
Make It Count is about a way of thinking – and a way of doing.
It offers pathways, possibilities and ideas for schools and professional learning communities to make their own inroads and innovations into improving mathematics and numeracy learning outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners.
The Orb is an online multimedia resource developed by The Department of Education Tasmania. The resource provides teachers with a wide range of materials to assist in the teaching of Tasmanian Aboriginal histories and cultures. It is an innovative approach to supporting teacher practice and is available globally online. The resource has three sections: Living Cultures, Layers of Time, and Connection to Place. It is a culturally responsive resource that reflects local values and knowledge.
Prof. Chris Matthews’ keynote address (parts 1 & 2) Aboriginal Education Conference, Adelaide, August 2018.
Teaching Culture = Deep Mathematical Learning
Through a cultural lens, Prof. Chris unpacks the Goompi Model and explores different ways to teach mathematics based on creativity and self expression.
Prof. Chris Matthews presents the Hanna Neumann Memorial Lecture 2011 at the AAMT-MERGA Conference 2011.
Finding Terra Nullius – A Personal Journey in Mathematics Education
This is a follow up interview with Prof. Chris Matthews after the Hanna Neumann Lecture at the AAMT-MERGA Conference in Alice Springs in 2011.
Prof. Chris Matthews from Renee Hoareau
Connect with Maths – Quality Teaching and Learning for Indigenous Learners
Prof. Chris Matthews
Changing our mindsets on how we see mathematics to enable children’s curiosity
The first article Indigenous perspectives in mathematics education, Chris explores the foundation of mathematics from an Indigenous perspective and discusses the concept of two-ways learning to achieve meaningful education outcomes for Indigenous students.
The second article Indigenous perspectives in maths: Understanding Gurruṯu takes a closer look at Yolŋu mathematics and the interconnected relationships of Gurruṯu.
Interactive Numeracies is full of Maths situations in everyday Indigenous family and community life.
A resource for year 3 to TAFE learners.
The seven problem-solving tasks are the tip of the iceberg – teachers can take the learning as deep as their students want to go. The Interactive Numeracies resource is full of numeracy situations translated to the mathematics classroom.
The seven tasks from the resource are Footy trip, $20 Round off, Chrissy combo, BBQ burnout, Pack a box, Maths Most, and Checkout Challenge.
The Handbook discusses topics such as: what is numeracy, a numerate student, contextual teaching strategies around family organization, shopping, and socializing.
A blog is written by Caty Morris and Sue Thomas during a trip to the Kimberley
The third article Mathematics education in North East Arnhem Land shares how mathematics is taught to students at Yirrkala School with a balance of western and Indigenous knowledge.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we work and live, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and Community. We also pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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