Integrating
maths and
work
experience in
16-19 study
programmes
Janice Richards, MEI
MEI Conference, 27 June 2015
Introducing ourselves
•
•
•
•
Name
School/college
What post-16 maths taught?
What work experience provided?
What are we going to cover?
• What are 16-19 Study Programmes?
• Why integrate maths learning and work
experience?
• Some ideas for how to integrate them
• Engaging employers
• Engaging learners
• Some resources to help you
16-19 Study Programmes
16-19 Study Programmes
Main
qualification(s)
Work
experience
GCSE
Maths (and
English)
16-19 Study Programmes
Main
qualification(s)
Work
experience
GCSE
Maths (and
English)
It’s all about
developing
employability
skills
What are
employability
skills?
What are
employability
skills?
Who needs them?
Who needs employability skills?
Who needs employability skills?
How can we develop
employability skills?
Main
qualification(s)
Work
experience
GCSE
Maths (and
English)
Main
qualification(s)
Work
experience
GCSE
Maths
….….
Why integrate?
• Practise maths skills in different environments
• May help learners to achieve better outcomes in
other courses as well as in maths.
• Enriches the contribution that work experience
makes to the learners’ overall development.
• Improves the fit between the Study Programme
elements
• Can help learners to the relevance of maths
futures, increasing engagement and motivation.
Why integrate?
These factors can help learners to enhance their
employability skills, improving their chances of
securing employment and having a rewarding
future.
Some ideas for how to integrate
Engage employers and
learners to strengthen
learners’ mathematical
skills during work
experience
Use examples of how
maths is applied in the
workplace to enrich
lessons and motivate
learners
Integrating
maths
learning
Employer
Provider
Learner
Integrating
maths
learning
Employer
Provider
Learner
Integrating
maths
learning
Support and
encouragement
Employer
Provider
Support and
encouragement
Learner
Integrating
maths
learning
Provider
Ideas
Support and
encouragement
Employer
Support and
encouragement
Learner
Engaging employers
Explain what it’s all about
•
•
•
•
What are Study Programmes?
What kind of maths is the
learner learning?
How can they help a learner?
Engaging employers
Explain what it’s all about
•
•
•
•
What are Study Programmes?
What kind of maths is the
learner learning?
How can they help a learner?
What’s in it for them?
• Fewer mistakes?
• Less supervision?
• Better customer service?
Engaging employers
Be clear about what you are asking for
• When arranging the placement
• Ask them to think about opportunities to reinforce
maths on the job
• Set objectives
• Review meetings
• No pressure
What support and guidance can you offer them?
An activity for you
Look at the sheets
Add some example of how maths might be used
in each workplace
Encouraging learners
In the classroom or training room
• Discuss how the maths they are learning
relates to the workplace generally
• Introduce learners to specific applications of
maths they might meet
• Include some maths-related career advice –
what qualifications will they need for the jobs
they want to do?
Encouraging learners
Planning the placement
• Discuss the maths they are likely to use
• Encourage them to take responsibility
• Set expectations that they will take every
opportunity to use maths in their work
• Use maths skills to prepare e.g. travel plans
Encouraging learners
During the placement
• Placement diary
• Review meetings - talk about ways in which they
have used maths, or seen it used
• Do they understand the maths behind the tools
they are using?
• Encourage them to take the lead
• Signpost resources to broaden their understanding
Encouraging learners
After the placement
• Encourage learners to reflect on improvements
in their mathematical confidence/competence
• Provide opportunities for learners to share their
experience of using maths in the workplace
(e.g. discussion, presentation, making a poster)
The providers’ guide
Key content
• Getting employers on board and
supporting them.
• Encouraging your learners
• Contextualised teaching and
learning
• Putting it into practice
The employers’ guide
• Getting employers on board
• What are Study Programmes
and Traineeships?
• What sort of maths?
• How to go about it
• Useful questions
• Where can they get support?
Where
can you
access
them?
Where
can you
access
them?
Can we develop employability
skills in the way we teach maths?
Can we develop employability
skills in the way we teach maths?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Discussion activities
Group/paired work
Problem solving
Contextualisation
Coaching/mentoring
Using IT
…
Discussion
What ideas do you have for further
integration?
Any questions?
?
?
Contact details
Janice Richards
Programme Leader (Business
Development and Communication)
e: janice.richards@mei.org.uk
t: 07445 345094