The Le@rning Federation (TLF)
| www.thelearningfederation.edu.au The Le@rning Federation (TLF) is an initiative of the state, territory and federal governments of Australia and New Zealand, developing exciting, innovative and world-class online curriculum content to encourage student learning and support teachers in Australian and New Zealand schools. Challenge Acumentum's challenge is to develop learning objects for the Mathematics content area that implement constructivist educational theories and meets TLF's rigorous standards for online content. TLF supports development teams by providing access to Subject Matter Experts with a deep knowledge of teaching and learning in the content area. They also provide a rigorous Quality Assurance process to ensure all content meets their standards for educational soundness, usability, functionality and technical development. |
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Solution
Acumentum's learning objects offer a variety of learning experiences, mainly aimed at the middle years of schooling in the mathematics content area.
- Biz whiz unleashed is content for the "innovation, enterprise and creativity" content area. This series of learning objects addresses the issues of running a business using a board-game-like simulation of a dog-walking business. Random selection of "cards" ensure that the game is different each time, while two computer-manipulated players provide competition for the student.
- Wishball is a game designed to develop student understanding of place value in decimal fractions. Both teachers and students have found Wishball highly engaging and it is often used as an illustration of TLF maths content. Wishball is used as an example of TLF content on their website.
- Decimaster is a tool for exploring fractions expressed in a range of different formats. Students compare and match fractions and decimals presented in counting frame, dial, number line and other formats. Random generation of problems means that teachers can continue to use the tool time after time without repetition of the same set of problems.
- Hopper encourages students to become familiar with the patterns and sizes of products of two factors using the metaphor of a frog hopping to lily pads in a pond. Feedback on the estimates is given by the frog hopping in an engaging way to illustrate the calculation of the product.
- The Arrays series of learning objects explores the concept of factors and multiples by using an 'array' model of equal rows and columns. The series is aimed at encouraging students to identify the multiplicative relationships between numbers and being able to manipulate these to solve problems.
- The Survey series aims to help a student interpret a range of data in order to make recommendations. The learning objects have been designed to help students understand and become involved in the survey process. This includes selecting an initial topic, choosing the most appropriate questions to ask, sorting and analysing data, and finally writing a report on their findings.
- The Quality series aims to help students understand how to create and interpret boxplots. The learning objects introduce students to the quality assurance process. This is illustrated by sampling matchboxes or rice crisp packets, where boxplots are then used to see if the process is working correctly.
Results
Acumentum's quality control within development has resulted in minimal issues being raised by the TLF quality assurance process.
Wishball in particular has been a significant success with teachers and students. Student comments include:
"We thought it was a good idea because it helps kids learn lots about adding, subtracting, decimals and thousandths, hundredths, tens and units. PS. Your game is cool!!!!!"
RELATED LINKS
The TLF learning objects are listed below. Please select a learning object to view - this will open in a new window.
| Learning object title | Year levels |
| Biz whiz unleashed | 5 - 8 |
| Learning object title | Year levels |
| Wishball | 3 - 6 |
| Decimaster | 3 - 6 |
| Hopper | 3 - 6 |
| Learning object title | Year levels |
| Pobble arrays: find two factors | 2 - 3 |
| Arrays: factor families | 3 - 4 |
| Arrays: explore factors | 3 - 4 |
| Learning object title | Year levels |
| Skateboard survey | 6 - 9 |
| Home Internet survey | 6 - 9 |
| Leisure survey | 6 - 9 |
| Healthy life survey | 6 - 9 |
| Learning object title | Year levels |
| Fix the matchbox machine: scoop size and speed | 6 - 9 |
| Matchbox machine | 6 - 9 |
| Rice crisp machine | 6 - 9 |
