• Student Presentation 30%
• Critical Analysis 30%
• Exploratory Research Proposal 40%

NOTES:

Here are some sample assignments. Precise assignments and their due dates will be finalised (following class discussion) by the end of the first class.

1. Student Presentation (30%)

Each pair of students will be expected to plan, present and lead a discussion on an assigned reading, during one of the classes.

The presentation will consist of:

• a critical synthesis of the salient content described in the assigned reading (e.g. the purpose(s) of the piece in question, the theoretical concern(s), the concept(s) being developed, what specific data is described and discussed);
• a description of the possible relevance of the content of the reading to mathematics education in schools;
• one or two reflective question(s) for discussion by the class (the question(s) should be framed so as to provoke debate).

The presentation of the article and its discussion should be planned to last no more than approximately thirty minutes with an additional thirty minutes set aside for discussion. Presenters may use Powerpoint (excluding title page, no more than a dozen slides, please) or other visual emphases or class tasks to support the presentation.

2. Critical Analysis (30%)

Course participants will produce a critical analysis of one of two assigned academic journal articles. The critical analysis should consist of between 1000 and 1500 words. The course instructor will provide the articles and assignment criteria at the first meeting. The paper is to be submitted in early November.

3. Exploratory Research Proposal (40%)

Each student will author a paper (1000–1500 words) relating to a course theme, concept or framework. The purposes and expectations of this assignment will be discussed during the first weekend.

The paper should reflect elements from the assigned readings, class discussions and critical analyses of current practices. The paper will be in the form of a proposal for research, will provide a clear summary of a proposed research project with sufficient detail of the key aspects to enable it to be understood and evaluated, and should consist of the following sections: description of a problem to be examined (300–500 words);

• description of a problem to be examined (300–500 words);
• research question(s) arising from the problem to be examined (200–300 words);
• significance of the problem to be examined to personal learning, professional practice or professional knowledge (300–400 words);
• proposed data source(s) and methods (200–300 words).