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APPLIED ACADEMICS
NEWSWIRE
Volume # II No. 10
February 11, 2000
Helping educators to bring the real world into the classroom
In this issue...
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THE TIMES
THEY ARE A CHANGIN’
A new home for Applied Academics
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UK
GOVERNMENT FIGHTS ‘ILNUMERACY’
Maths Year 2000 aims to improve a nation’s math skills
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ARR…HAVE
YOU EVER BEEN TO SEA?
Cardboard boat races make a splash with Applications of Physics
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CFAA NEWS
Takin’ Care of Business: BCBEA Conference
Decision time
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CONTACT
INFORMATION
1) THE TIMES THEY
ARE A CHANGIN’
Beginning April 2000, Applied
Academics will find a new home with the Ministry of Education's Curriculum
Branch. The Career and Applied Programs Unit will assume the role
previously held by the Center for Applied Academics, and will continue to
support all Applied Academics initiatives. The CFAA was given a four year
mandate to champion the implementation of Applications of Mathematics,
Technical and Professional Communications 12, Applications of Physics and
Information Technology. As their mandate draws to a close, the CFAA leaves
a strong legacy of student successes and applied learning initiatives.
Scott MacDonald will be the Ministry contact for all Applied courses and
can be reached at (250) 356-2339 or www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers
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2) UK GOVERNMENT
FIGHTS ‘ILNUMERACY’
Government initiatives to
combat illiteracy are nothing new, but Tony Blair’s government has
launched an ambitious battle against national ‘ilnumeracy’. Maths Year
2000 is a year long effort to make math more accessible for all ages.
"Maths underpins so many
things and, with ever increasing advances in technology, it has a vital
role to play," explains David Blunkett, the Secretary of State For
Education and Employment. "A feel for numbers is an essential
everyday skill—from shopping in the supermarket to working out
mortgages, pensions or bills."
Maths Year 2000 attempts to
increase numeracy skills and works alongside Britain’s National Numeracy
Strategy by promoting a "can do" attitude towards math. It
involves resource packages for parents and teachers, television
advertisements, celebrity support to promote high school math courses, a
flashy website with loads of links, a series of local Mathfests and math
puzzles posters in public transport. In other words, it is a full scale
attack on poor numeracy skills.
The program uses national
interests to provoke enthusiasm for math. Already, 270 schools have
enrolled in the Schools Fantasy Football League. This interactive
management game lets students and staff manage figures, budgets and
special maths projects for a soccer team that they select. Each week the
participants are sent league tables showing how each manager in your
school is doing in the league. Local interests are also used to promote
math. The Mathfest in Nottingham focuses on the local passion for lace.
Check http://www.mathsyear2000.org
to see how Britain is taking aim at ‘ilnumeracy’. The site includes
details of the program, math games, more links than you can possibly surf,
a comprehensive math dictionary and access to some helpful teacher
resources.
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3) ARR…HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN TO SEA?
Why not beat the dreary winter
rains with a little yachting? Many of the Applications of Physics classes
have made cardboard boat building a central part of their units on
Pressure in a Fluid System.
Armed with half a litre of
contact cement, two 4’X8’ sheets of cardboard, 25’ of string, a
paper clip and a roll of duct tape, the students construct a boat that
will carry one of their classmates across a swimming pool.
Are you wanting to try this
with your class? All of the details are available at www.bced.bc.ca/cfaa/boatrace.htm
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4) CFAA NEWS
Takin’ Care of Business:
BCBEA Conference
Teachers of TPC 12 and IT
11/12 will be making a presentation to the BC Business Educators
Association at their annual conference. Speaking on the 19th of
February, the presenters will expound on the benefits of Applied
Academics.
Decision Time
With course selection time
just around the corner, it is time to assemble the info. Student brochures
are available on-line at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/cfaa/student.htm
and course descriptions are there for the viewing at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/careers/aa/courses.htm.
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5) CONTACT INFORMATION
APPLIED ACADEMICS NEWSWIRE is a service
of the Center for Applied Academics.
Center for Applied Academics
Suite 702 - 555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 3H2 CANADA
Phone: 604/412.7634 Fax: 604/688.5924
Toll Free: 1 877 293-CFAA
Internet: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/cfaa
E-mail at cfaa0010@bcitvm.bcit.ca.
****NOTE EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGE****
Should you have questions about the CFAA
list, please contact:
Bruce Deacon at cfaanews@islandnet.com
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