Etwinning

A Taste of Maths (ATOM), who says no to a sweet?

Title: A Taste of Maths (ATOM) Educational level: Compulsory Secondary Education

Subject: Mathematics

Six countries: Spain, Greece, Holland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Rumania, have been represented by teachers and students in this project.  

Named project of the month in March 2011, we applauded its quality on our website. Now, it's the Spanish teacher, Valentina Cuadrado Marcos, who is presenting ATOM.

“The project is closely connected to the CLIL methodology, which we have decided to use in our bilingual sections. When we requested an English Bilingual Section, which would include Mathematics and Technology classes, one of the key strategies was to participate in an eTwinning project in which  contents of these subjects would be worked on. So the multidisciplinary activities in the ATOM project, the main objective of which was to stimulate the motivation and curiosity of the participants in Mathematics, fitted perfectly into the bilingual section. 

We tried at all times to combine mathematical contents which were common to the participating countries with aspects from daily life and the culture of different places in Europe. The use of concrete objects related to food, art, literature and the representation of mathematical concepts facilitated active research on the part of the participants and changed their point of view with regard to Mathematics. 

The diversity of the ICT tools was one of the aspects which was most valued by the participants and their families, as it permitted them to develop their imagination and their creativity according to their own competencies and learning styles. The mastery that they have acquired using VUVOX and  Glogster for their presentations and Mixbook to publish their written production is especially worthy of mention.

We managed to activate the curiosity of the participants for solving mathematical problems using two factors: a linguistic one, replacing the word "problems" with "riddles" and a technological one, as all the contributions had to be presented in a user friendly manner.

Active and direct participation in Flashmeetings to communicate with their work companions, as well as encouraging closer relations, also allowed the participants to use English in a more realistic way. I have to mention the meeting held on International Pi Day. We prepared a PI(E) lunch for which all the students had to bring a pie or tart decorated with the letter Pi and show it to the camera. The Pi on our PIE. The level of collaboration, including that of the families, was very high. As well as the interest which came from the ATOM project, the activity also served to strengthen the ties of friendship and collaboration among the group, so that it was doubly important. 

From my point of view, the "ingredients" which made the ATOM project a success can be summarised in the sequencing of motivating activities, the variety of the ICT tools, the team work among families, students and teachers, and active participation and continual effort. For an English teacher like myself, ATOM was a challenge in which I enjoyed working in a team with my companions in Mathematics and Technology Sergio San Victoriano and Luis Vaquerizo, and was witness to the excellent work done by Irina, Erik, Maria Teresa, Eva, Heleni and Efi".

The families, as revealed in the opinion of Mercedes Serret Jornet, mother of one of the Spanish students, also have a very positive opinion of the project: “We place a great deal of value on the use of the new technologies, computer programmes and Internet. Our children acquired a level in English, especially spoken English, which I consider to be very high, and which included a wide vocabulary. If we add to this that they were happy to go to class, tried to do all the work, improved every day, and didn't get behind in any subject, I don't think we could ask for more...”

For his part, José Luis Sardón Martín, director of the IES Alonso de Madrigal school, comments: “The prize we received just goes to show that «A Taste of Maths» is a pedagogically innovative curricular project which encourages the use of ICTs, the integration of curricula and foments collaboration among the teachers and students of the partner schools”.

And, A Taste of Maths (ATOM), isn't only a 2012 eTwinning National Prize, but we already know that it is also a winner of the 2012 European Prize, in the category of 12 to 15 years of age. Will it also be awarded Best eTwinning Project 2012 during the annual Conference? 

Valentina says goodbye with a public invitation: “Try Mathematics with us, you may like them”.

If you watch this presentation - shown at the 2012 e Twinning National Prizes Ceremony - you can see the main characteristics of the project:

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Links:

TwinSpace: http://new-twinspace.etwinning.net/web/p38463/welcome

Blog: http://atasteofmaths.blogspot.com/

Wiki: http://english4madrigal.wikispaces.com/