[Maths-Education] =?iso-8859-1?Q?FW:_=93Best_of_British=94_-_further_information_=28apologi?= =?iso-8859-1?Q?es_for_cross-posting=29?=

Sun, 27 May 2001 08:27:45 +0100

There seems to have been some confusion due to my copying Alan Rogerson's
use of the word "database" to mean a resource bank of physical books,
software and other materials (i.e. NOT a computerised database).

To summarise: Alan Rogerson has asked for samples of the best mathematica=
l
resources for consideration at a "World Supercourse" planning meeting in
Poland which will have representatives from some 20 countries around the
world.

If you have materials you would like to send, I can arrange this. The
logistical details are below:

If you would like me to take your materials, please send them before 10 J=
une
to
	John Bibby (SuperCourse meeting)
	1 Straylands Grove
	York YO31 1EB (England).
Alternatively you can send them direct to Poland (address and other detai=
ls
below). If any queries about this, please email joe.campbell@mathemagic.o=
rg,
or fax him on 01904-424381 as I shall be away quite a lot between now and
mid-June.

Thank you, and apologies for any confusion

JOHN BIBBY (writing in a personal capacity)

-----Original Message-----
From: John Bibby, MatheMagic/Count On - visit www.counton.org
Sent: 21 May 2001 19:42
Subject: =93Best of British=94 (apologies for cross-posting)

Dear All

This is to invite you to submit your =93Best of British=94 maths ed mater=
ials
for a database of innovative ideas, to be used in creating =93new and bet=
ter
courses for students around the world=94 - further details below.

Please copy this message to the manufacturers of any materials which you
think should be included in our =93Best of British=94 list.

I can take these materials with me next month when I go to Poland for an
=93International Supercourse=94 meeting which will begin such a database.=
 The
organiser, Alan Rogerson (Australia), is nothing if not visionary - furth=
er
details below and on the web. (Please note that I am doing this in a
personal capacity: I am not involved in the SuperCourse organisation and
accept no liability other than to try to get your materials to the
conference in Poland for you.)

If you would like me to take your materials, please send them before 10 J=
une
to
	John Bibby (SuperCourse meeting)
	1 Straylands Grove
	York YO31 1EB (England).
Alternatively you can send them direct to Poland (address and other detai=
ls
below). If any queries about this, please email joe.campbell@mathemagic.o=
rg,
or fax him on 01904-424381 as I shall be away quite a lot between now and
mid-June.

Over 80 people will be at the meeting in Poland, including ~50 from Polan=
d,
and ~30 from some 15 other countries. I will take as much material as you
care to send, but if it weighs over 1 kilo please will you enclose a smal=
l
contribution to expenses - I suggest =A32-=A35 per kilo (cheque payable t=
o
=93MatheMagic=94 please).

I=92m afraid I don=92t know a lot more about the meeting, except that Joh=
n
Gillespie, Alison Clark-Jeavons and Mike Spooner may also be attending.

JOHN BIBBY

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DFurther details received =
from Alan Rogerson
 These courses would be written by independent but cooperative teams of
writers in different countries. Each national team will be able to select
from the database what is best for their country to produce a
state-of-the-art Super Course =85 (This) could be a series of text-books,=
 or
resource materials, or books/ideas for teachers, or provide good models o=
f
text books for centralised systems of education. The overall objective fo=
r
each group in each country would be to make available for the first time =
the
very best materials/ideas that have already been developed, often in
isolation, in all parts of the world.

He writes: =93We are looking for the very best from your country - except=
ional
ideas that others can learn from! Supercourse is about creating the very
best, not just making the ordinary a little better. =93

Some further details are below and on
He explains the idea of the Super Course as follows:

Our Project can =85 create a large database of innovative ideas and usefu=
l
materials that have already been found successful in schools to create ne=
w
and better courses for students around the world. These courses would be
written by independent but cooperative teams of writers in different
countries. Each national team will be able to select from the database wh=
at
is best for their country to produce a state-of-the-art Super Course =85
(This) could be a series of text-books, or resource materials, or
books/ideas for teachers, or provide good models of text books for
centralised systems of education. The overall objective for each group in
each country would be to make available for the first time the very best
materials/ideas that have already been developed, often in isolation, in =
all
parts of the world.

The Educational aim of Super Course is to help students learn mathematics
better and to enjoy and to find more interesting and relevant the
mathematics they learn. The humanistic/political aim is to help eliminate
barriers and prejudices based on gender, race or social class and to empo=
wer
our students to change for the better the world they live in. The pragmat=
ic
aim is to produce a course and/or ideas and materials for students and
teachers that will be successful in terms of school adoption because it i=
s
the best course available in each country. With the now familiar miracle =
of
email and internet, it will be possible to communicate much of this datab=
ase
of ideas/material quickly and easily. We can also set up a network of
writing teams working in different countries, each designing a course
adapted for their own cultural context, but each having access to the
variety of ideas and materials developed so far by the world's best
projects. Our three years experience with the world's first and only virt=
ual
school the VSG will be invaluable in our incorporating in Super Course th=
e
very best and most recent technological innovations as they develop. The
role of new technology will be crucial in future educational innovation.

=85 Of special importance for the whole meeting will be the "Open Forum o=
f
Ideas" on Day 1, during which as much and as many ideas, materials,
software, will be displayed and demonstrated in all parts of the house. W=
e
have 10 computers available in the new computer room, all linked to Inter=
net
to showcase the very best software we know of from all over the world - t=
he
other rooms and hallways will be festooned with posters, information, boo=
ks,
booklets, worksheets and all kinds of materials for the teaching of
mathematics.

Would YOU please help us by bringing with you from YOUR country as many
innovative ideas and as much material/software as you can that is of the
HIGHEST quality - we are looking for the very best from your country -
exceptional ideas that others can learn from! Supercourse is about creati=
ng
the very best, not just making the ordinary a little better. If you are N=
OT
coming could you please send me any new and exciting things and we will
exhibit them - post them to this address:
Alan Rogerson,
ul LISTOPADOWA 1/45,
60-153 POZNAN,
Poland