Extended Tasks for GCSE Mathematics

This series, which formed a support package for GCSE coursework in mathematics, was developed as part of a joint project by the Shell Centre for Mathematical Education and the Midland Examining Group.

The project followed the announcement in January 1984, by Sir Keith Joseph, the then Secretary of State for Education and Science to introduce a new common 16+ examination in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This new examination, the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) included coursework which formed part of the school-based assessed element.

Teachers were being asked to adopt a different role from that which they had previously, and in most cases successfully, used. There were to be new methods of assessment, carried out in the classroom, and a greater emphasis on practical and investigative work. These materials discuss the changing roles of teachers and students and offer ideas, suggestions and examples of investigations carried out by students along with extensisve teacher's notes and guidance.

This resource comprises:
• The Teacher's Guide
• IMPACT - a departmental development programme
• Eight books of investigations classified into four categories
• Pure investigations, Statistics, Practical Geometry and Applications.

Each of the eight books offer a lead task which is fully supported by detailed teacher's notes, a student's introduction to the problem, a case study, examples of students' work which demonstrate achievement at a variety of levels, together with six alternative tasks of a similar nature.

The alternative tasks simply comprise the student's introduction to the problem and some brief teacher's notes. It was intended that these alternative tasks should be used in a similar manner to the lead task and hence only the lead task has been fully supported with more detailed teacher's notes and examples of students' work. The books conclude with comments from an examining board moderator.

HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment. Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date. Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/cxxh