19/4/2014 Nuffield Primary Mathematics 1964 | Nuffield Foundation

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Nuffield Maths 5-11
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Nuffield Foundation Curriculum projects Nuffield Primary Mathematics 1964
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Nuffield Primary Mathematics in the 1960s.
Nuffield Primary Mathematics 1964
Director Geoffrey Matthews
From 1964, the Nuffield Mathematics project devised a contemporary
approach to mathematics for children aged 513. The course built on
childrens own experience and encouraged them to think for themselves.
The emphasis was on how children learn rather than what to teach, and
on understanding not rote learning. Hence the title of one of the
introductory guides: I do and I understand.
Resources
The resources consisted of teachers guides covering Computation and
structure, Shape and space, and Graphs leading to algebra, guides to
specific topics such as Probability and statistics and Environmental
geometry, and Check-up guides (prepared by the Institut des Sciences
de lEducation in Geneva) which gave guidance to teachers on how to
find out whether a child had grasped a particular concept.
There was a book for parents written by W H Cockroft to explain the
progressive approach and the aspects of modern maths.
In addition there were three handbooks to help in the training teachers in
countries other than the UK, prepared in conjunction with the Centre for
Educational Development Overseas.
The project produced no textbooks or publications for pupils. When the
course was completely revised over ten years later, the new course
Nuffield Maths 5-11 did produce pupil texts.
Outcomes
The resources were used in about half the primary schools in England.
Over a million copies of the English version of the first edition guides
were sold. The project publications were translated into many languages.
The resources were revised in the 1980s as Nuffield Maths 511, this
time with pupil material.
The teaching approaches were adopted overseas, with a Greek edition
of I do and I understand.
Teacher support and training
The Nuffield Mathematics project built a huge network of enthusiastic
teachers with advisers based in maths centres to provide support and
training for teachers. This was organised regionally in partnership with
local education authorities, and coordinated by a voluntary National
Committee which continued working until 2004.
19/4/2014 Nuffield Primary Mathematics 1964 | Nuffield Foundation
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