St. Mary's College, Arklow

Project Maths

Project Maths involves the introduction of revised syllabi for both Junior and Leaving Certificate Mathematics. It involves changes to what students learn in mathematics, how they learn it and how they will be assessed.

Project Maths aims to provide for an enhanced student learning experience and greater levels of achievement for all. Much greater emphasis will be placed on student understanding of mathematical concepts, with increased use of contexts and applications that will enable students to relate mathematics to everyday experience.

The initiative will also focus on developing students' problem-solving skills. Assessment will reflect the different emphasis on understanding and skills in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

The Mathematics syllabi will be introduced by strand as follows:

1. Statistics and Probability
2. Geometry and Trigonometry
3. Number
4. Algebra
5. Functions

Timeline for introduction of these strands:

Strand - Date - Students
1 and 2 - September 2010 - First and Fifth years
1,2,3 and 4 - September 2011 - First and Fifth years
1,2,3,4, and 5 - September 2012 - First and Fifth years

WHAT'S IN IT FOR STUDENTS?

According as the revised strands are introduced, students will experience mathematics in a new way, using examples and applications that are meaningful for them. These will also allow students to appreciate how mathematics relates to daily life and to the world of work. Students will develop skills in analysing, interpreting and presenting mathematical information; in logical reasoning and argument, and in applying their mathematical knowledge and skills to solve familiar and unfamiliar problems.