DQME II: Developing Quality in Mathematics Education II
The central feature of DQME II (2007-2009) is the strong link between theory and practice in mathematics education.
The project is a continuation of the DQIME project, which aimed to improve the quality of mathematics education, particularly with regard to the development of authentic tasks.
The project activities were divided into four workgroups:
• development of materials
• research
• teacher training
• cooperation
The development group designed and tested authentic tasks for mathematics education, ready-to-use in the classroom. The research group focused on mathematical modelling and students' acquisition of mathematical modelling competences. The teacher training group developed a teacher training module. Finally, the cooperation group ensured exchange of information between various projects on maths education at the European level.
The main outcomes of DQME II are worksheets and teaching units for mathematics education enriched with theoretical background, videos, reports, publications, and teacher training modules and teacher workshops on how to implement the DQME teaching materials in their classroom.
Basic information
- Moll-Gymnasium, Germany
- Ricarda-Huch-Gymnasium, Germany
- Rivius Gymnasium, Germany
- Staatliches Seminar für Didaktik und Lehrerbildung (Gym.), Germany
- BG/BRG Tulln, Austria
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Mathematik, Austria
- Danish School of Education, University of Aarhus, Denmark
- Odsherreds Gymnasiusm, Denmark
- Roskilde Gymnasium, Denmark/
- Roskilde Universitetscenter, Denmark
- Berzsenyi Daniel Gimnazium, Hungary
- Csanádi Árpád Primary and Secondary Grammar School, Hungary
- Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
- Zrinyi Ilona Gimnazium, Hungary
- Istituto Comprensivo di Garda "F.Malfer", Italy
- Liceo Scientifico "Alvise Cornaro", Italy
- Università di Padova, Italy
- Oosterlicht College, Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Netherlands
- II Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. Marie Sklodowskiej-Curie, Poland
- Teacher Training Centre ALMA, Poland
- Babes-Bolyai University, Romania
- Bathory Istvan Theoretical Highschool
- Christian Refromed Elementary and Second School with Montessori Elements
- Comenius University Bratislava, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Slovakia
- Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia
- Czuczor Gergely Elementary School, Slovakia
- Gimnazium Sturovo, Slovakia
- Hans Selye Secondary Grammar School, Sweden
- Göteborg Universitet, Sweden
- International High School of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Kitas Ausbildung AG, Sweden
- Langley Park School for Boys, United Kingdom
The research group o the DQME II project had three objectives:
1. Clarifying learning objectives, necessary for the development of mathematical modelling competence;
2. Identifying which quality criteria need to be fulfilled for learning materials and teaching methods that support mathematical modelling competence;
3. Developing and running a pilot study for cross-cultural comparison of best practice learning materials.
The project researchers developed quality criteria for learning materials and teaching methods and a checklist to help teachers identify "good (modelling) tasks".
This list consists of a series of descriptors of important modelling aspects (for example "Interpretation and Validation" with the descriptors "Are the results good enough? Is another cycle needed?").
Following these criteria, the research group also evaluated the teaching materials and provided feedback to the development group.
The teaching materials developed by the project present a large collection of student and teacher worksheets (tasks for one lesson) and projects (tasks for a longer period) for teaching mathematics in secondary education (age 10 to 18).
These learning materials are available online on the project website: www.dqme2.eu in several language versions.
The materials are complemented by supporting materials to help teachers effectively implement the materials in their classroom and to help them adopt student-centred teaching methods (group learning, independent learning or jigsaw method).
The intended users of the resources are maths teachers in secondary schools; however, the materials allow for modifications to suit the needs of lower or higher levels of mathematics education.