Challenging Maths – Using Glow to support a more able pupil in maths
Please note that this cookbook refers to Glow Meet using Marratech. Glow Meet is now delivered over Adobe Connect which offers enhanced functionality. To find out more about Glow Meet using Adobe Connect then click here. The principles around the benefits of Glow Meet are the same regardless of the technology used for Glow Meet.
Challenging Maths – Using Glow to support the more able in maths
Overview
Marie-Louise Brogan is Depute Head Teacher at Holy Family Primary school in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire. As part of her remit she is responsible monitoring and supporting learning and teaching within the middle and upper stages.
In this cookbook we will look at how Marie-Louise used a Glow group and Glow Meet to support mathematics with a Primary 6 pupil. The child had passed Level E mathematics in Term 2 in P6 and after consultation with the secondary school and his parents this Glow group was established to provide depth and breadth to his mathematical experiences.
Context
As the learner had completed Level E maths and was ready to embark on the Level F programme and with the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence outcomes and experiences it was decided that the school would need to look at an alternative way of providing a broader and deeper experience for him. After consultation with the secondary school he would be attending it was decided that he needed to take part in maths challenges and projects which would deeper his understanding of maths and give hi real life contexts in which to apply his skills. As he worked as an individual there also needed to be challenge and enjoyment for him and a way to make the maths active. A concern at the time was that he was not having the opportunity to discuss his ideas and findings with peers and that his maths was very textbook focussed.
It was decided to create a Glow group where an individual programme of work could be stored and links to challenging web sites and games would be listed. The secondary school provided some ideas for projects and the class teacher in consultation with Marie-Louise created challenges for him.
As the programme developed a child from another associated secondary school was brought to the PT’s attention and as a result also became a member of the Glow group. The two learners then met regularly using the Glow meet tool so that they had a peer to discuss their work with.
In this cookbook, we will find out:
• What the Challenging Maths Glow Group looks like
• How to create a Glow Group and add members to the group from other establishments
• How to use the whiteboard in Glow Meet to share ideas with each other.
Ingredients
What did Marie-Louise need to create the elements of the Glow Group?
1. A Glow Group
2. Access to Glow Group for class teacher , pupil and pupil from other establishment
3. Web cam with microphone and speakers
It was necessary to ensure staff had Administrator rights within the Glow Group to enable them to make changes to the Glow group and add members to the Group and the learners had contributor rights.
In the next section, we will take a look at the ‘Challenging Maths’ Glow Group and learn how to recreate elements within it.
Recipe
Video Clip
*What does the Challenging Maths Glow Group look like?
*How to add membership within your own establishment to a Glow Group
*How to add membership from another establishment to a Glow Group
*How to add Glow Meet to a glow group
*How to use the whiteboard to share ideas and work collaboratively from different establishments
*Video of Marie-Louise on the impact of the programme
Impact
The impact of this Glow group is clearly beneficial for the learner. He is able to share his ideas and have a more active and collaborative approach to maths. Through his discussions with the other child he is able to have challenge and enjoyment in maths and have the opportunity to listen to someone else’s way of tackling problems. Using Glow Meet has allowed us to open up a maths forum for both children and meet the learners’ needs in mathematics.