ReMSTEP Video on Parabolas
ReMSTEP Video on Parabolas
This video is intended for pre-service and in-service maths teachers to provide inspiration for classroom activities that deal with the underpinning concepts, rather than the technical and computational aspects, of mathematics.
This video is one of three produced as part of the ReMSTEP Project.
The presenter, Dr Norman Do, is a self-proclaimed mathematics geek, and a lecturer at Monash University. He loves to study and teach mathematics and aspires to engage people in study mathematics and to appreciate the diverse and varied jobs that exist for mathematicians. His main research interests lie in geometry and topology, including knot theory. (view Dr Do's profile here)
“We need to celebrate our mathematical heroes like Terry Tao, and we need to understand that if you’re a mathematician you can work behind the scenes in jobs as varied as biochemistry, animation and finance.” -- Dr Do
Before viewing the video.... instructions for teachers
View
- ‘Brainstorm’ examples and contexts where you are likely to encounter ‘parabolas’ in the real world.
- What are your memories of learning about ‘parabolas’ in secondary school?
- Where in the Australian Curriculum (ACARA) or Victorian Curriculum (VCAA) do students learn about the origins and applications of ‘parabolas’?
- How would you answer the common student question “When am I ever going to use this?”
- Would you ever use this activity in your classroom? Why? When? Where? and How?
- Would you ever use this segment of the video to show your students in your classroom? Why/Why not? When? Where? and How?
- Where do you see this activity best fitting into a unit on ‘parabolas?’
- Why would this task be useful for students to do?
- How do you think this idea is related to ‘parabolas?’
- Can you see where Norman might put another point?
- Would you use this activity in your classroom? Where? When? Why? How?
- Would you use this segment of the video to show your students in your classroom? Where? When? Why? How?
- Where do you see this activity in a unit on parabolas?
- Why would this task be useful for students to do?
- What links are made to other learning areas here?
- Would you use this segment of the video to show your students in your classroom? Where? When? Why? How?
- Would you use this video in your classroom? Where? When? Why? How?
- Where do you see this activity in a unit on parabolas?
- Why would this task be useful for students to do?
Further resources
- Australian Curriculum – mathematics
The Australian Curriculum – mathematics, the documentation of the mathematics curriculum for F-10. - Victorian Curriculum – mathematics
The Victorian Curriculum – mathematics, the documentation for the mathematics curriculum for F-10.
See also
The other two videos from this series: