Author: Tom Briggs
Training: Maths, maths everywhere!
Maths is everywhere, but you might not know it. You might also not think of a museum, gallery or heritage site as someplace to learn and explore mathematics. But every museum, gallery, or heritage site is abundant with opportunities to explore aspects of mathematics, though in most they can be a little hard to spot.
Tags: mathematics, museums, online, talk, training, workshop
Resource: Climate Ready Gardens
“While I love creating activities that are inspired by a mathematical idea in their entirety from scratch, it is this sort of resource – ostensibly “not-maths”, but tweaked to allow the mathematical links that inevitably exist within it to come to the surface – that arguably has the greatest impact in terms of improving attitudes to (and relationships with) mathematics in participating students.”
Tags: consultancy, mathematics, MathsInMuseums, museums, resources
Training: Maths in Museums for Maths Week Scotland
Something which people in learning and education roles in the heritage sector cite as a barrier to development of maths-focused activities and resources is a lack of confidence in being able to spot the mathematics that’s all around them, but they do recognise that it involves far more than just counting and calculating.
Tags: education, mathematics, MathsComm, museums, online, talk, training, workshop
Resource: Exam papers for Da Vinci Decathlon competition
In 2024 I wrote one paper each for the national and regional levels of the competition in the codebreaking category.
Tags: mathematics, ResourceDevelopment
Training Course: Numeracy in heritage learning: GEM Cymru Curriculum for Wales training
Maths Mindset Family Learning Conference
“…captivated the audience and sparked meaningful discussions…”
– Stacy Mann, Senior Advisor for Families, Early Years and Childcare at Campaign for Learning.
Tags: conference, mathematics, MathsComm, online, STEM, talk, training, workshop
The Future of Money: Maths Resources for Schools
The Bank of England opened a new exhibition all about The Future of Money on 29th February 2024, but from its very inception they recognised that wherever there’s money, there’s maths…
Tags: mathematics, museums, ResourceDevelopment, resources, teaching
Training: Maths in Museums at the Campaign for Learning’s Maths Mindsets conference
Drawing on his work in museums and schools and his academic work, Tom will focus on the ‘infectiousness’ of mindsets with regards to mathematics, exploring the idea that positivity towards mathematics is essential for success in mathematics, and that attitudes towards the subject are not just based on 3-4 hours per week in the maths classroom but also on maths-related experiences for the rest of the waking week. To succeed, children need to experience positivity and growth mindsets towards maths in all areas of their lives, and parents have an essential role in shaping these experiences.
Tags: conference, education, mathematics, MathsComm, museums, online, talk, training, workshop
Book Review: Gravity, by Nicholas Mee
“You might be forgiven for wondering whether anything worthwhile could have happened over the following nine years that prompted Nicholas Mee to consider updating a book that did such a good job of covering the previous thirteen-point-seven billion, but here I am reviewing Gravity’s Second Edition.”
– Excerpt from my review