In just a few weeks on 13 August, Grade 9 and 11 learners across the Eastern Cape will be putting their maths and science knowledge to the test in the province's first "MathSci" competition - and it's run completely on Mxit. Last year saw the province's first Maths competition on Mxit - called MathMxit - and the high-tech mode of testing has this year been extended to include science. In the Eastern Cape, the competition will run over three rounds taking place on August 13, September 10 … [Read more...] about SA’s first MathSci competition on Mxit
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Maths lessons in Xhosa
Maths pupils from grade one to matric now have access to over 950 free maths lessons presented in their mother tongue. This is thanks to a group of 20 passionate young South African university students, who invested hundreds of hours of their time to translate over 950 Khan Academy online video lessons from English into isiXhosa. The entire school maths syllabus is now available on the internet in isiXhosa. Pupils can either do the lessons individually, or they can be used in a … [Read more...] about Maths lessons in Xhosa
Uitenhage’s Lyle Resouw excels at winter school
Muir College matric pupil Lyle Ressouw has come first in his grade for the past eight years - and continued his winning streak at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's winter school for maths and accounting, coming first overall for maths and second for accounting. No mean feat when you consider that Ressouw - who won a Samsung Galaxy tablet for his maths achievement and a R1000 Greenacres gift voucher for accounting - was up against 500 fellow accounting pupils and 350 maths pupils in the … [Read more...] about Uitenhage’s Lyle Resouw excels at winter school
Maths Genius refutes WEF report on SA’s Maths and Science
“South Africa's ranking as worst in the world for its maths and science education is "a state of emergency", the opposition has said. The Democratic Alliance called for a full skills audit of all maths, science and technology teachers”, wrote a BBC correspondent. This calls for all maths and science education stakeholders in the country to get together and formulate a proper way of evaluating progress that is not biased and value-laden and not be quick to adopt poorly formulated foreign reports … [Read more...] about Maths Genius refutes WEF report on SA’s Maths and Science
SA’s mathematics and science education ranked as the worst in the world
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) says the World Economic Forum (WEF) global report on Information Technology is not credible or accurate. "This report falsely insinuates that South Africa's mathematics and science education is ranked as the worst in the world. The report is not a credible or accurate reflection of the state of education in South Africa," the department said in a statement. In that regard, the department rejects the finding as it is based purely on the opinions or … [Read more...] about SA’s mathematics and science education ranked as the worst in the world
Conference to improve Science and Maths underway in PE
Discussions on how to improve maths and science results are already underway. An international conference on the topic is being held in Port Elizabeth. http://youtu.be/5CWLckX2VCw Creator: sabcdigitalnews Posted to MyPE by: Alan Straton Submit your favourite Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch videos for consideration for publication on MyPE by filling in the form below: Click here to see more PE Videos. … [Read more...] about Conference to improve Science and Maths underway in PE
Promoting engineering as a career
The top 30 Grade 11 & 12 learners from the Govan Mbeki Maths Development Unit (GMMDU) were invited to the merSETA Winter School, held at the NMMU in Port Elizabeth from Sunday, 23 June to Friday, 28 June 2013. These learners attended the maths and science programme with GMMDU over 12 Saturdays from January this year. The learners are from the rural areas of Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Cookhouse and Somerset East Region. The aim and focus of the winter school is to encourage learners to … [Read more...] about Promoting engineering as a career
Why you Shouldn’t Take a Winter Break
Imagine training an athlete for six months, getting them to the prescribed level of conditioning - and then telling them to take a month off and do nothing! Now imagine getting them back on the field of competition at the end of the month and expecting them to perform at their training peak. While every good coach will build varying levels of intensity into their training programmes, none would ever recommend extended periods in which not even minimal skills are practiced. Ironically, … [Read more...] about Why you Shouldn’t Take a Winter Break
Free Maths and Science Lessons
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is giving the Grade 12 classes of 2011 and 2012 a second shot at success by offering free lessons to learners who are rewriting their final examinations for mathematics and science. Coega today called for applications from learners who are writing the exams in November 2013. The pilot project, launched by the CDC's Maths and Science Academy, is offering lessons to learners who either failed or fared poorly in mathematics and science under the … [Read more...] about Free Maths and Science Lessons
Maths Skills Add up to Higher Earnings
Angela Harrison (Education correspondent of the BBC News) reports that a recent study shows that maths skills add up to higher earnings. The British government-funded studywas carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). While the study was conducted in England where the government is overhauling the maths curriculum at primary school it is not country or culture specific and is as relevant in South Africa as it is in any other country. It is unlikely that maths education in South … [Read more...] about Maths Skills Add up to Higher Earnings
Get your child excited about learning
It is World Maths Day today! Maths is important to everyone in their daily lives, and World Maths Day helps to raise the profile of the subject and show that it can be enjoyable too. National Numeracy believes that everyone can - with effort and support - improve their numeracy. The "I can't do maths" attitude is simply not acceptable. Science is another subject that “can’t” doesn’t apply to. What fun to find out that the ears of a cricket are located on its front legs? Or that sound … [Read more...] about Get your child excited about learning
New mobile app for Maths
The Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Unit (GMMDU), in partnership with the NMMU Department of Computing Sciences, will launch their new Mobile Mathematics App on Wednesday 22 August. In Version 1, participants will be able to test their maths knowledge, compete for the top spot in one of 10 levels, as well as overall position. More than 3000 multiple choice questions, ranging from basic arithmetic to Grade 12 Maths have been entered into the database. Later versions will include a maths … [Read more...] about New mobile app for Maths
Boosting Maths and Science Education
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) have teamed up in a bid to advance educational research and training for maths and science in South Africa. Thus far, the partnership, which from NMMU includes the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Unit (GMMDU) and its First Rand Foundation Chair in Mathematics Education, has led to two skills upgrade sessions, attended by 280 maths and science teachers from 40 schools across … [Read more...] about Boosting Maths and Science Education
Giving Maths Some Magic
Gone are the days when a text book, a chalk board and the droning voice of a teacher were the only requirements for a school maths lesson. Maths has become high-tech worldwide - with dynamic software developed to make geometry, algebra, calculus and statistics come alive at all education levels, generating excitement for a subject which, in this country, has lost popularity. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Unit (GMMDU) is ensuring the technology … [Read more...] about Giving Maths Some Magic
Maths NOT Your Strongpoint? Then Stay Away from NMMU Next Week
Leading mathematicians from around the globe are jetting in to Port Elizabeth for the prestigious joint congress of the South African Mathematical Society (SAMS) and American Mathematical Society (AMS), to be held at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University from November 29 to December 3. About 350 delegates from countries all over the world - a third of them masters and doctoral students - will attend this second SAMS-AMS congress, which will include a visit by South Africa's deputy minister … [Read more...] about Maths NOT Your Strongpoint? Then Stay Away from NMMU Next Week
