Ok, this is the final TNDOT on the 1911 pass Algebra Matric exam, consisting of the final three questions. The previous parts are TNDOT 10 and TNDOT 11, both of which have now been updated with solutions.
These last three questions don’t seem to me so interesting, except for pondering the way they were asked and what was expected. In any case, I’ll be interested in people’s thoughts.
The VCAA-Monash partnership on VCE mathematics exams is, to say the least, excellent news. The exams will still be based on a nutso curriculum and the questions will still be perverted by nutso CAS, but there is good reason to hope that, within these constraints, the exam questions will be more coherent and more coherently written, with fewer and smaller errors.
There is a long, long way to go, but it would not have been possible to get this far without: Minister Carroll calling for the second exam review; Dr. John Bennett’s review taking on the exam issues with seriousness and directness and intelligence; Kylie White taking over from the appalling Stephen Gniel as VCAA CEO; and White and her VCAA colleagues taking on not just the letter of Bennett’s recommendations but also the spirit. And still it could have easily fallen apart already. Because, even with VCAA’s new good will, engaging the properly strong mathematicians is no gimme. Continue reading “Melbourne University Goes AWOL”
It appears that Crikey‘s Guy Rundle has now gone a step too far, or once too often, or something. Last Thursday, Rundle texted in to Patricia Karvelas’s Radio National breakfast program that “every grope is now a sexual assault”. Karvelas read out Rundle’s full text on air, expressed her shock and off we went. As reported by the Guardian‘s Amanda Meade, ABC management complained to Crikey management, which sacked Rundle. Then the Sydney Morning Herald and the Herald Sun sunk their boots in. Not one person, it appears, has been of a mind to defend Rundle. I will.
It seems to me that this is a complete beat-up, that Rundle was correct, or at least correct enough, and that Karvelas was, at best, sloppy and lazy. The entire episode seems to me a perfect illustration of the media’s current concern for crusading at the expense of simple truth.
The Victorian Premier has issued a media release today:
And the media release in full (and as PDF), with brief thoughts afterwards:
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority has partnered with Senior Monash University mathematics specialists in a first-of-its-kind partnership to strengthen the quality of VCE maths exams and the review processes.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced the partnership today following recommendations from an independent review conducted earlier this year.
Senior Monash University mathematicians have been involved in the quality assurance processes for the 2024 VCE maths exams and the General Achievement Test (GAT) in a reviewing capacity.
From 2025, these academics will also be on the panel who write the VCAA’s VCE Mathematics examinations. This includes the examinations for Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods and General Mathematics.
The partnership highlights a commitment to the quality of mathematics examinations in Victoria, ensuring that mathematics students are provided with the best opportunity to be assessed fairly on the skills they have attained during their VCE.
It follows the independent review into the VCAA’s examination setting policies, processes and procedures that was chaired by Dr John Bennett AM. The review recommended implementing more suitably qualified academics on the VCE Mathematics examination development panels and stronger examination review processes.
The VCAA has implemented or is on track to implement every single one of the recommendations made by the independent review.
For further information about the VCAA’s exam improvements, go to vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/VCEExaminationImprovement/Pages/index.aspx
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Ben Carroll
“VCE can be a stressful time and students and families rightly expect high quality exams that give the best opportunity for a fair assessment on skills attained throughout the year.”
“Boosting the numbers of suitably qualified, senior mathematics specialists to oversee the development and review processes of VCE maths exams was a key recommendation of Dr John Bennett’s independent review.”
Quotes attributable to VCAA Board Chair, Diane Joseph
“The VCAA is proud to partner with the School of Mathematics at Monash University, bringing additional academic expertise to further enhance the quality and clarity of VCE Mathematics examinations.”
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering high-standard mathematics examinations for students in Victoria.”
Quotes attributable to Monash University School of Mathematics Head Professor Warwick Tucker
“By integrating the expertise of our mathematicians into the examination development and review processes, we aim to ensure that VCE Mathematics assessments are not only rigorous but also fair and reflective of the curriculum’s objectives.”
”This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to fostering excellence in mathematics education and providing students with the best possible opportunities to showcase their understanding.”
What does it all mean? Time will tell, and the exams are only the tip of the VCE iceberg, but it is obviously a very good thing. Even for 2024, when the mathematicians have been press-ganged into a presumably very quick vetting. 2025, with mathematicians seemingly in on the ground floor, should be significantly better again.
Credit to Minister Carroll, to VCAA under the CEO-ship of Kylie White, and to the Monash maths guys, in particular to Warwick Tucker.
Below is today’s ABC coverage, a couple news alerts from local breakfast radio, featuring nice audio grabs of Warwick Tucker, and a morning TV report on the news channel.
A very good interview with Kylie White and Warwick Tucker, from yesterday’s ABC Drive.
One of my favourite cookbooks is Cooking in a Bedsitter. The recipes are simple and unthrilling, but Katherine Whitehorn’s book is appealing for its very good humour and plain common sense. Continue reading “Cooking Lessons in a Bedsitter”
A couple days ago, I wrote about doing some fill-in teaching at Our Ladies of Perpetual Properness. That post concerned a crappy incident involving the Year 11 class. This one is about the Year 9 class, which I adored. All the classes were enjoyable, give or take the interference of a Deputy twat, but the Year 9 classes I actively looked forward to. The girls were charming: polite and very friendly, happy and hard-working; they wanted to learn. Continue reading “Don’t Show Your Working”
This is a continuation of last week’s TNDOT, the next four questions from the 1911 pass Algebra Matric exam (one of which, the either-or Q6, has already been posted and solved as part of TNDOT 5). This post seems to contain, by the way, a very early Victorian exam error.
I’ve also posted solutions to Q1-Q3 of last week’s TNDOT. I’m leaving Q4 for now, since readers have not yet offered much on it. Which means you guys are behind on your homework. (And we’re not going outside to play rounders until you have finished your homework.)
Have fun.
A few years back, I did some teaching at Our Ladies for Perpetual Properness. The school was desperate to find someone to fill in for a month or so and the Head of mathematics, recognising that I was a warm body and thus very qualified, asked me if I could do it. That was unusual. I knew the Head quite well but even heads who know me are loathe to trust me with their classes. Which is fine. I think I am more trustworthy than that but I accept that there are counterarguments.
Monday’s post, on Greg Ashman’s column and Clarendon College’s teaching method, appears to have struck a bit of a chord. At least it did with me. Which is of course what matters most.
I’ve been pondering the comments, pondering my own ponderings, and I had a chat with a great mathematics teacher, let’s call him Andrew, who had emailed me. Andrew was surprised that I was largely supportive of Clarendon’s march step teaching, and I am also surprised, even subject to the reservations I’ve expressed. I am still trying to sort out my thoughts on this and I have a few posts planned for the next week or so. I’m not sure these will indicate what I’m thinking about all this, but they may indicate how I’m thinking about all this.
The Legislative Council’s inquiry into education has finished up, with their report just released, here. Thanks to Terry for the flag. Continue reading “The Legislative Council Thing is Out”