Explain this
ATM Conference 2013 • Maths for Real
ATM has been involved in the business of the professional development of mathematics educators for over fifty years. The Easter Conference is the annual highlight of ATM’s programme of professional development events.
Tue 02 — Fri 05 Apr 2013
The 2013 ATM Easter conference: ‘Maths for Real’ will take place in Sheffield. As always there will be a wide range of sessions available, evening activities and, of course the ATM Workshop — all set within the hotel, which is a Grade-II listed building.
If you’ve never been to the conference before, come and join us to explore what maths means to us and how it fits into the real world. Try out lots of practical mathematical activities, work through some problems together in the workshop and remember why you love mathematics. If you have been before, then we look forward to seeing you again. So come along and enjoy the experience.
Everyone is welcome.
At the Royal Victoria Sheffield
The Holiday Inn Royal Victoria comprises 107 bedrooms including 33 family rooms, 32 executive rooms and the sumptuous 1862 suite. All our bedrooms have Hi Speed Internet Access. This 4 Star hotel offers fine dining in the RAC award winning Cunningham’s Restaurant or relaxed drinks and snacks in the Grand Lounge Bar. The Esperanto Health Suite is open 24 hours and features a fully equipped multi gym, dance studio and saunas. These facilities are free for resident guests.
“It was a great atmosphere and everyone was so friendly. I think it has been an invaluable experience and a wonderful source of ideas and information on resources. I aim to attend in the future.”
“As a first timer I was made to feel really welcome, thanks I have learned loads and had a great time.”
“This was a hugely stimulating and motivating experience; I will attend the next conference.”
Conference Flyer
The Conference 2013 flyer as a PDF
Draft Conference Timetable
| From To | 09:00 10:30 | 10:30 11:00 | 11:00 12:30 | 12:30 14:00 | 14:00 15:30 | 15:30 16:00 | 16:00 17:30 | 18:00 19:30 | 19:30 later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 02 | Coffee | Registration | Lunch | Opening Plenary by Geoff Faux | Tea | Sessions AB / A | Evening Meal | Special Event |
|
| Wed 03 | Sessions AB / B | Coffee | Sessions CD / C | Lunch | AGM & Extra Session | Tea | Sessions CD / D | Evening Meal | Conference Plenary 19:30 Quiz 20:30 |
| Thu 04 | Sessions EF / E | Coffee | Sessions EF / F | Lunch | Extra Session | Tea | Session G | Evening Meal | Musical Evening 19:30 Ceilidh 21:00 |
| Fri 05 | Session H | Coffee | Closing Plenary by Hilary Povey | Lunch |
The Workshops and Sessions • The CPD Heart of an ATM Conference
From Tuesday to Friday there are over 70 workshop sessions from which you can choose a personal professional development programme tailored to your needs and interests.
In addition there are ad hoc sessions in the Main Conference Workshop. Alternatively, you can take a break and explore, investigate and discuss in the Workshop itself.
The full list of sessions and notes from the organisers
Once you have booked your place, you will get an email asking you to select the sessions you wish to attend — some get booked up very quickly. You can change your mind, within reason, until the organisers get to the point where they fix the lists.
Book your place for the best professional development of the year here
Shirts and Mugs
During January 2013 we shall be accepting order for T-shirts, polo shirts and mugs with the 2013 conference logo.
Watch your email box for news.
Plenary Sessions
Geoff Faux
Pythagoras is reported to have said that the gods used the whole numbers to design the universe.
If we take this as a starting point what possible evidence could he have had to make this claim?
Hilary Povey
‘real’ maths = real maths: sometimes, always, never true?
What do we mean by ‘real’ maths? Is it ever real maths? What claims are made about 'real' maths and why? What are the pedagogical problems that ‘real’ maths is intended to solve? I shall touch on these questions alongside similar ones which I imagine will have been much debated during the conference.
In the context of these discussions, I shall invite you to engage in some maths for real as a closing contribution to the conference.
Hilary Povey works at Sheffield Hallam University where she is Professor of Mathematics Education. She is engaged in teaching, curriculum development and research. She has recently designed resources for two secondary mathematics curriculum projects which have taken the world of employment as a starting point for mathematical thinking: cre8ate maths and Maths in Context.
Jocelyn D'Arcy and Alison Clark Wilson
Miss, when will I use this in real life?
Real life contexts have the potential to make mathematics more accessible, appropriate and relevant to learners, but what are the complexities surrounding their use? In this session, we will work on some new activities produced by Bowland Maths while exploring the symbiosis of mathematics and the real world.
Rich professional development and networking
Some conference snapshots: why they were there and what they gained.
ATM Bookstall
The ATM bookstall will be open throughout the conference, giving an opportunity to view and buy ATM materials at special conference prices.
All our new publications will be available as well as the tried and tested favourites.
Workshop sessions
Over 50 workshops, lectures and sessions provided by people with ideas, enthusiasm and expertise covering primary, secondary and tertiary topics.
It is the sessions and workshops that make the ATM Conference the best value professional development you could possibly get. For the cost of a half-day of a consultant you can choose from over fifty different topics and themes. Fill your week with new discoveries, new ways of thinking, new ideas for the classroom whether you are teaching early years or in higher education.
A huge range of workshop sessions will provide the best professional development anyone could wish for. They cover every age range of mathematics teaching and learning from the early years to higher education and more.
Opportunities
The ATM Easter Conference provides opportunities for delegates involved with mathematics education related to any age to:
- Share in successful practices
- Develop their own mathematics
- Tap into recent pedagogical and curriculum research
- Learn about international developments and practice
- Evaluate recently produced resources
- Find out about and experience the most recent ICT developments
- Join new research networks and projects
- Learn about the most recent developments in mathematics education
- Make new and renew contacts with mathematics educators
- Have fun
- Leave the conference re-energised and full of ideas
Is it a Conference or a Course?
In the sense that everyone meets to confer on the subject of mathematics education in a very wide sense - it is a conference. In the sense that the participants can choose from a wide selection of workshops and extend their knowledge and outlook - it is a course.
What is it Really Like, Though?
A teacher in their second year sent us this:
“I have personal experience of conference and offer the following anecdotes:
“Quiz Night • Don't need to know anyone - just sit with a group and start...
“Music Night • Seeing people like Anne Watson on stage and thinking - why are some people born with so much talent. How dare she be able to teach and sing!
“Sessions • FULL of ideas, ideas and more ideas. Sitting with people for an hour and a half before you realise they wrote the last book you read.
“Lunchtime • People coming to sit next to you just to chat, finding out they wrote the last book you read! No top table...
“In other words, despite the fact that these people are at the top of their profession there are no airs or graces, no big ‘I am’ — these are people willing to offer help and advice to anyone who asks for it. I recently posted on the ATM mailing list for a copy of Starting Points and received 5 replies. Including one from one of the authors! And then I was given a second copy at conference!”
Evening Events
Ceilidh with Roger the Badger
Roger the Badger are a joyful Ceilidh band whose dance music will lift you on to your feet. This four piece band have distilled the best, the most driving and irresistible traditional Irish, Scottish and English dance tunes into their set. When the music starts you'll find it difficult to stay in your seat.
This is real old school dance music, led by a driving fiddle and backed with a powerful rhythm section of guitar, bass and mandolin. Every dance is explained thoroughly by the caller, so it doesn't matter if you've never done this sort of dancing before. The dances are easy to pick up and great fun. Roger the Badger have provided the dancing for many hundreds of parties, events and gatherings of all types. The band pride themselves on the energy and joy they put into the music. Their aim is to get you moving and put a smile on your face.
Special Event
Details to come
Quiz
Details to come
Musical Evening
Details to come
