Launch of the Nuffield / Bowland mathematics materials to support teachers assessing the KS3 key processes

The Nuffield Foundation and Bowland launched their joint project on materials to support teachers in assessing the key processes in mathematics on 13th September 2010 at the Nuffield Foundation in London.

The launch was attended by a wide range of representatives from the mathematics community. The presentation was jointly led by Nuffield and Bowland and showcased teachers who had trialled the materials in the classroom. The teachers also discussed how they had supported their departments in assessing the key processes and what strategies they had used to engage their students.

The Nuffield AMP materials are based on the GAIM resources first published in 1992. These were open-ended tasks where achievements in using and applying mathematics could be assessed alongside content.

Key processes became part of the statutory KS3 mathematics curriculum in September 2008. They are the processes of representing, analysing, communicating and reflecting and interpreting and evaluating. These key processes are considered to be the elements of using and applying mathematics, so it is appropriate that materials designed for assessing, using and applying are re-fashioned.

However, the new assessment criteria are more complex and therefore teachers require support and scaffolding on how to assess the key processes. This support comes in the form of a progression table for each of the tasks, breaking down the steps in progress for each process for the particular task. Bowland have also provided two CPD packages to support teachers in carrying out assessment in the classroom.

Both the original GAIM materials and the new Nuffield AMP materials are available on the National STEM Centre elibrary.