Teaching Committee Subcommittee 118

In 2003 the (then) DfES launched its new ICT strategy for schools with the publication of “Fulfilling the Potential: Transforming teaching and learning through ICT in schools”[1].  This effectively changed the focus from installing and networking ICT equipment and generic ICT support for schools to embedding the effective use of ICT in normal subject teaching.  It also heralded the start of a close working relationship between the Department and the Subject Associations.  Since then the MA has been heavily involved, frequently working with the ATM, with work to support the ICT strategy, centrally funded through the Government’s Becta[2] agency.  This has involved providing advice, developing resources and providing CPD opportunities.  The MA was a partner, with the University of Chichester and Plato Learning (formerly New Media plc), in the Mathematics Consortium which developed an online CPD service, Enhancing Subject Teaching Using ICT’ (ESTUICT), to support the use of ICT in KS3 maths.  The materials produced for this project are currently available on Teachernet[3], which is shortly to be relaunched by Becta as ‘Reach’.  The MA is also involved in a partnership to support the dissemination of KS3 ICT-based materials developed under the Bowland Trust initiative[4].  As well as such centrally funded work, the MA has been involved in working with a range of companies and organisations to provide resources and information for schools.  These include supporting the pilot schools for the Maths Alive! ICT based KS3 materials published by RM plc[5], working with Intel to develop the free Mathematical Toolkit resources[6], and with SMARTBoard to produce exemplar materials for the effective use of IWBs in KS3/4 maths[7].  In 2005 the DfES funded the distribution of the ATM book ‘Integrating ICT into the mathematics classroom’ to all English secondary schools[8].  This book was accompanied by a free CD of resources mainly developed by the ATM and MA with Becta funding – and which includes lesson plans, software, articles, a gallery of photographs, CPD support materials, and advice.  The advice is also published by the MA as: ‘ICT and Mathematics’[9].

The MA’s Teaching Committee has an ICT subcommittee (SC 118) – of which I am chair.  Following a recent review we are now seeking to widen participation in the SC, particularly from teachers in primary, secondary and 16-19 education.  Of course the ICT work of the MA spans many areas of its business, including particularly its Teaching, Professional Development and Publications committees.  We need members who are experienced users of ICT in their own teaching who can help us:

• offer advice to agencies such as Becta, QCA, TDA;

• offer support to schools;

• draw up proposals for future funded work in ICT/maths;

• produce and/or commission resources and information to support the whole maths teaching community in making more effective use of ICT in teaching and learning;

• maintain a lively, accurate and informative ICT area of the MA web-site and

• otherwise improve the role that the MA plays in the ICT strategy.

Most of the business of the Subcommittee takes place through e-mail, with at most one meeting per term.  If you have any queries, would like more information or would like to be considered for membership then please contact me at a_oldknow@compuserve.com or on 01243 542526.