Revision of the 10-12 Mathematics Curriculum

Alberta Education

Curriculum Coordinators Meeting

October, 2007

Western and Northern Canadian Protocol (WNCP)

Partnership among the Education Ministries

includes Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Yukon

Cooperate on matters relating to the education of students from K-12 to:

make optimal use of shared knowledge, expertise and experience

facilitate student transfer between jurisdictions

realize savings on learning and teaching resources.

WNCP Mathematics Program

Goals

development of a Common Curriculum Framework (CCF) for K-12 mathematics

selection of learning and teaching resources in English and French

Based on a consensus model

Alberta has a leadership role

Each jurisdiction uses the CCF as a foundation to develop its Program of Studies

Consultation and Communication with Stakeholders and Partners

Online survey gathered input from post secondary institutions, business and

industry on required student competencies in mathematics in the winter of 2004-05

Provincial focus group sessions gathered input from high school teachers on student and teacher

needs in the fall of 2005

External Advisory Committee broad stakeholder representation includes teachers,

administrators, post-secondary representatives, parents, employers - ongoing since 2003

Mathematics Roundtable (MRT) discussions with teachers, post-secondary, business and industry

on the structure and content of the high school mathematics program – ongoing since April 2006

Revisions to the Common Curriculum Framework for Grades 10-12 Mathematics

Revisions are based on these guiding principles:

improved transition from grade 9 to grade 10 mathematics

reduced number of topics/outcomes in the grades 10-12 mathematics program

opportunities for students to transfer between the course sequences

programming to facilitate transition from high school to:

→post-secondary programs that may require theoretical calculus

→post-secondary programs that will not require theoretical calculus

→various college/technical programs

→apprenticeship programs

→direct entry into the workforce

WNCP Process and TimelinesFace to face consultations on Working Draft

September/October 2006

Face to face consultations and online feedback on Consultation Draft

February/March 2007

WNCP CCF for Grades 10-12 completed

January 2008

Alberta Program of Studies completed

June 2008

Officially begin the process of resource development

June 2008

Feedback from Alberta Stakeholders

Students need to be able to transfer between course sequences at the grade 12 level.

Concerns over the amount of content

WNCP Fundamentals of Mathematics was ‘light’ - it needed more algebra

Post-secondary acceptance of WNCP Fundamentals of Mathematics

Some post-secondary institutions are interested in accepting the WNCP Fundamentals of Mathematics for entrance but further revision to the Consultation Draft was needed.

Response to Feedback

Alberta stakeholders felt that the WNCP Fundamentals of Mathematics course sequence, as written, would not allow for transferability in grade 12 and would not receive post-secondary acceptance.

Alberta decided to draft its own -2 course sequence for grades 11 and 12.

A group of teachers and post-secondary representatives drafted the outcomes for the Math 20-2 and 30-2 courses.

Structure for Alberta High School Mathematics

Math 9

Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

Combined Math 10 course

leading to Math 20-1 and

Math 20-2

Math 10-3

Math 20-2 (Alberta)

Math 30-2 (Alberta)

Math 20-1 Math 30-1

Math 20-3 Math 30-3

Implementation Timelines

Sept. 2010 Sept. 2011 Sept. 2012

Provincial

Implementation

(English & French)

Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

The Three Course Sequences

All three course sequences are designed to provide students with mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills. It is the choice of topics through which those skills are developed that varies among course sequences.

All three course sequences provide mathematical rigour.

The goal of each course sequence is to provide the prerequisite skills, knowledge and attitudes for specific post-secondary choices.

Mathematics 10–1, 20–1 and 30–1(Pre–Calculus Mathematics)

Designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills necessary for entry into post-secondary programs that may require theoretical calculus.

Topics include algebra, geometry, equations, study of functions (including polynomial, exponential and logarithmic, trigonometric, reciprocal, radical, and rational functions), transformations, permutations and combinations, and probability.

Changes to Math 20-1 and 30-1Since Spring 2007

Reciprocal trig ratios were added.

Equation of the unit circle was added.

The use of logical reasoning and proof was made more explicit.

Permutations, combinations and the binomial theorem were added.

Alberta Mathematics 20–2 and 30–2

Designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills necessary for post secondary studies in programs that do not require theoretical calculus.

Topics include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, introduction to functions, reasoning and logic, set theory, probability and statistics.

Changes to Math 20-2 and 30-2 Since Spring 2007

Measurement outcomes related to the use of instruments were removed.

Projects will be incorporated throughout the program.

Surface area and volume were moved to common 10.

Logical reasoning and proof were expanded.

Outcomes on radicals and rational expressions were added.

Mathematics 10–3, 20–3 and 30–3(Apprenticeship & Workplace Mathematics)

Designed to provide students with the mathematical understandings and critical thinking skills necessary for entry into the majority of apprenticeship programs or direct entry into the workforce.

This course sequence includes number sense, algebra, geometry, measurement, finance, probability and statistics.

Next Steps

Further consultation with stakeholders including:•Teachers

•ACAT Mathematics Articulation Committee

•Math Advisory Committee

•Math Roundtable

•Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Completion of the WNCP CCF for 10-12 Mathematics – January 2008

Development the Alberta Program of Studies for 10-12 Mathematics – June 2008

ContactsKathy McCabe, Program Manager, K-12 Mathematics, Curriculum Branch, Alberta Education, E-mail: Kathy.McCabe@gov.ab.ca Tel: (780) 427-5628

Lorne Lindenberg, Curriculum Manager, 10-12 Mathematics, Curriculum Branch, Alberta Education, E-mail: Lorne.Lindenberg@gov.ab.ca Tel: (780) 644-5318

Vivian Abboud, Program Manager, K-12 Mathematics, French Language Services Branch, Alberta Education, E-mail: Vivian.Abboud@gov.ab.ca Tel: (780) 422-1988

Christine Henzel, Resource Manager, K-12 Mathematics, Learning & Teaching Resources, Alberta Education, E-mail: Christine.Henzel@gov.ab.ca Tel: (780) 415-8958

Debbie Duvall, Resource Manager, Mathematics Learning & Teaching Resources, Alberta Education Email: Debbie.Duvall@gov.ab.ca Tel: (780) 422-3275