The Maths and Science Department

The Mathematics department exists to ensure that the college’s overall vision, mission; goals and objectives are implemented and achieved. To this end we strive for excellence in the teaching and learning of mathematics through exploration, investigation, modeling, simulation and problem solving organized around cooperative learning experiences. Three critical ideas underpin the department’s philosophy:

1. Pedagogy
2. servant leadership
3. coaching

Further, the vision of mathematics education and training at Shortwood is based upon the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (2006) six principles for teaching and learning mathematics:

1. Equity
   
   Excellence in mathematics education requires equity—high expectations and strong support for all students.
2. Curriculum
   
   A curriculum is more than a collection of activities: it must be coherent, focused on important mathematics, and well articulated across the grades.
3. Teaching
   
   Effective mathematics teaching requires understanding what students know and need to learn and then challenging and supporting them to learn it well.
4. Learning
   
   Students must learn mathematics with understanding, actively building new knowledge from experience and prior knowledge.
5. Assessment
   
   Assessment should support the learning of important mathematics and furnish useful information to both teachers and students.
6. Technology
   
   Technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics; it influences the mathematics that is taught and enhances students' learning.

Additionally, we aim to provide our students with the following:

1. knowledge of concepts, content, and procedural skills required for teaching mathematics and the C-Sec, and Advance Level mathematics.
2. A love and appreciation for mathematics
3. Critical thinking skills through research, peer collaboration, and peer coaching experiences
4. Self-awareness skills to analyze their strengths and weaknesses and to encourage life long learning
5. Modeling of excellent pedagogy in the teaching of mathematics by utilizing appropriate teaching strategies, technology, and experimentation, and simulation