What the resource is:
This is one of four video clips on Teachers TV providing starter activities for mathematics and literacy. This 15 minute video clip provides eight lesson starter activities for KS2 mathematics lessons. Each of the eight clips presents a dramatised situation that highlights a mathematical problem involving one or more of these mathematical topics that can be used in the main part of the maths lesson: angles, fractions and percentages, multiplication and division, and volume. These clips are supported by teachers' notes that develop and enhance the introductory activity.
The aims of the resource:
The main aim of this clip is to provide teachers and trainees with an ICT resource to bring maths problem solving lessons to life. The clips provide opportunities for discussion of problem solving strategies. The clips can also provide teacher trainers with a starting point for introducing problem solving activities to trainees.
Key findings or focus:
This resource offers an alternative approach to introducing problem solving scenarios (rather than in written or oral form). The scenarios are short enough to be engaging but provide sufficient information for a starter activity. The clips vary in the degree of 'real-life' appeal, but all are captivating, and some are humorous. For example, one of the more light-hearted clips, clip 7, provides the pupils with an opportunity to help the bank robbers escape with the gold without being caught by the police by working out how many gold bars can be stolen without slowing the getaway vehicle down. On a more realistic note, clip 5 describes the scenario in which Nateisha is working out what fraction of her peers are having pasta for lunch. All could be used in cross-curricular activities.
The supporting teachers' notes provide brief, but well thought through, extension activities that the pupils could then work on independently. Each clip offers a suggestion for the year group the scenario is most appropriate for, but I would suggest this is flexible, depending on the class and how the scenario is used and developed by the class teacher.
The accompanying
Story Starts video contains a short introduction of how the resource can be used, and there is even an accompanying video that provides an illustration of the video clips being used in practice. This is not available on the Maths Lesson Starts video clip which is a missed opportunity if the most effective learning and teaching is to be achieved from the use of the clips. However, the teachers' notes, which provide extension activities, are a worthwhile addition to the clip and support the development of the activity.
The quality, authority and credibility of the resource:
The resource is quick and easy to view on the website by following the link, but it can easily be downloaded to a PC so that it can be used in an environment without internet access. Although it is suggested that the resource is used with IWB it can be used just as effectively with a digital projector and screen. One small irritation is that that each of the eight clips can not be watched separately, however Teachers TV Community Producer suggests using the time code to guide you to each clip or download the programme and create the clip of the story start you would like to use.
The video clips sit well within PNS Framework for Mathematics and can easily be integrated into lessons with no effort, as it neatly fits the structure of a flexible three-part daily maths lesson and each of the problem solving activities correspond with the five blocks.
Comments from teachers about the programme have all been very positive and they have reported finding the clips a useful tool in the teaching of problem solving in mathematics.
The implications for ITE tutors/mentors:
The resource is a useful stimulus with clips that can be used to illustrate effective pedagogy of problem solving in the primary classroom. It can be used to promote discussion and guidance about how to integrate problem solving activities in the daily maths lesson, and planning for differentiation. Furthermore, it can also be used to encourage critical discussion around the nature of problems solving activities, i.e. the difference between open and closed, and simple and complex problems.
The relevance to ITE students:
This is a useful ICT resource for trainees that brings maths problem solving lessons to life. The eight clips are designed to be used for the main part of the lesson for KS2 mathematics lessons. Each of the clips presents a dramatised situation that highlights a mathematical problem.
This resource offers an alternative approach to introducing problem solving scenarios that may be valuable for ITE students. The scenarios are short enough to be engaging but provide sufficient information for a starter activity for them to use. As a starter activity the clips could be used to generate a whole class discussion of effective problem solving strategies, which can then be followed up using the extension activity provided in the teachers' notes, in independent activity time in the daily mathematics lesson.
Reviewed by:
Paula Stone
Related Resources
The following might be useful to read in conjunction with this resource:
Jones, L. (2003). "The problem with problem solving", in Thompson, I. (Ed) (2005) Enhancing primary mathematics teaching. Berkshire, UK: Open University Press
Askew, M, Brown, M., Rhodes, V., Wiliam, D. and Johnson, D. (1997). Effective Teachers of Numeracy: Report of a Study Carried Out for the Teacher Training Agency. London: King's College, University of London.