First Nations Math Education II (07w5507)

Objectives

Elders from different First Nations are invited to attend as well as mathematicians and teachers. Through various sessions mathematicians will work with the elders to extract explicitly the

mathematical knowledge of their traditional ways. We will demonstrate how mathematics is implicitly and explicitly a part of Aboriginal traditional knowledge.

Our main goal is to create lessons that could be used in the current mathematics curriculum which would reflect Aboriginal knowledge.

This event which will run from December 2nd - 7th 2007 in Banff.

The preliminary plan is to set a two-group, two-day workshop for teachers, as this is a busy time of the year.

The Elders, Mathematicians and Math Educators will stay for the duration of the four day workshop. Schedule first group:

Sunday, December 2 -Arrival (Registered Participants check-in at Professional Development Centre (PDC) front desk after 4:00 PM)

Monday, December 3

9:00 -12:00 Math enrichment workshop for Teachers.
Educators and Mathematicians will give these workshops.

10:00 - 12:00 Elders will talk to Math Educators and Mathematicians about traditional knowledge.

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 5:00 Elders workshopElders will teach and discuss traditional ways of learning with teachers.Tuesday, December 4

9:00 -11:30 Math enrichment workshop for Teachers.
Educators and Mathematicians will give these workshops.

11:30 -12:00 (check-out time)
Teachers in this group need to check-out of the station by 12:00 PM, although they will continue with workshops until 5:00 PM

10:00 - 12:00 Elders will talk to Math Educators and Mathematicians about their traditional knowledge

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 5:00 Elders workshop. Elders will teach and discuss traditional ways of learning with teachers.

Schedule Second group:
Tuesday, December 4 -Arrival
(Registered Participants check-in at Professional Development Centre (PDC) front desk after 4:00 PM)

Wednesday, December 5

9:00 -12:00 Math enrichment workshop for Teachers.
Educators and Mathematicians will give these workshops.

10:00 - 12:00 Elders will talk to Math Educators and Mathematicians about traditional knowledge

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 5:00 Elders workshop Elders will teach and discuss traditional ways of learning with teachers.

Thursday, December 6

9:00 -12:00 Math enrichment workshop for Teachers.
Educators and Mathematicians will give these workshops.

10:00 - 12:00 Elders will talk to Math Educators and Mathematicians about traditional knowledge

2:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 5:00 Elders workshop
Elders will teach and discuss traditional ways of learning with teachers.

Friday, December 7 -Open House

Check-out 12:00 PM.

Goals for the meeting:

For Teachers:

-To learn more mathematics through math enrichment workshops.

-To become more in-tune with Aboriginal cultures and traditional ways of knowledge and learning.

-To implement this information in the classrooms where all children, not just Aboriginal children, can see how mathematics is used and developed and part of Aboriginal cultures as well.

-To use these lessons so that Aboriginal children see themselves and their culture reflected in the curriculum. Math, as one of the main subjects, could be a powerful way to start changes in the curriculum across the provinces, where Aboriginal culture has been mainly ignored.

For Elders:

-To see the mathematics in their teachings and activities.

-To use this new knowledge and pass it onto the next generation.For Mathematicians:

-To become more in-tune with Aboriginal cultures and traditional ways of knowledge and learning.

-New ways of looking at how mathematics are develop could help some of them in their own research.