Our latest thoughts from the world of technology in education & the workplace

Texthelp Blog - Our latest thoughts from the world of technology in education & the workplace

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Following on from the podcast, we thought it would be helpful to explore this topic a little more. We wanted to pull together some practical suggestions for your classroom. During the podcast, Dr. John West quoted Professor Dylan William who said, "Teaching is a career that it's impossible to master in just one lifetime”. So we know that the ideal maths lesson doesn’t exist, but there are some tips and tricks you can try at your school. 

No maths lesson exists alone, each lesson will form part of a bigger topic, which forms part of a bigger topic, and so on. A good maths lesson will follow on from the last and lead into the next. That way students build layers of knowledge as they go. 

At the start of the lesson, you can reference what you looked at last time. You can check what students remember about the last topic, and talk about why the topic is important. If you can show what else it links to, or even better how it applies to real-life - then it will mean more to your class. 

It’s important to have a plan for each lesson, the time you get with the students might be short, so you need to hit the ground running. It’s helpful to ask yourself What do I want the students to get out of this lesson? What resources will I need? Is there a practical way of showing this lesson? Can the kids get hands-on with this topic? 

Lesson structure is important too, is there something you can show the class at the start that sparks their interest? Things like interesting images, video clips, or something from the news can all be useful starting points.

There are so many materials available to you, they could be digital or concrete tools for students to manipulate. But you have to make sure they are the right tools for the job and that they add value to your lesson. With so much choice it pays to be critical about what you use and don’t just use them because they’re available. 

Following on from the point above, sometimes less is more. It’s better to break topics into smaller chunks and make sure the students understand it before moving on. This is especially important when tackling more complex topics. It’s easy to overestimate what you can squeeze into a lesson. Allowing students time to think and explore a topic fully can help with deeper understanding. 

Once the class gets into a topic this is a great time for some teamwork. Can you let your class collaborate or investigate something together? This is an effective way to let students apply what they know, and make links across the curriculum. This is also time for differentiation, if the class is working on something together this gives you time to provide 1:2:1 support to anyone that needs it. To make sure everyone is getting something from the lesson, and that all needs are met. 

At Texthelp, we take the Universal Design for Learning practices to heart. Creating access for everyone is what we do. We’d be missing a very important point if we didn’t remind you of these principles now: 

Design solutions that identify and remove barriers to learning

Promote high expectations through carefully planned goals for every learner

Give learners choice & support to help them reach those goals

A final point here is that UDL opens the door to opportunities for our learners. The teacher should have the same learning goals and expectations for each of their students. But remember that the way students get to the solution isn't always the same.

We have heaps of resources on our website that can help you with this. You’ll find lots of links in the resources section below this blog, but let's get on with our tips for your maths class….

As a teacher, you are often expected to have all the answers, but there may be times when you don’t - and that’s ok too. We know that young people learn a lot from the adults around them, and if you are stumped by a question it’s ok to say you don’t know, but you’ll find out. Or even better, say you don’t know but that you’ll figure it out as a class. Modelling problem-solving behaviour is a great way to show your students that it’s ok to not have all the answers.  As Allan says in the podcast “Fail fast, fail often, and fix it”. 

Dr. Dylan Wiliam, mentioned in the podcast, talks in his book Embedded Formative Assessment about how the students can be learning resources for one another. If teachers allow students to support each other’s learning in a structured way it’s another way to engage with the content. This is where the “think, pair, share” idea comes into play. Pairs are a great way of doing this because it’s easy for them to switch and take turns. Is this something you could experiment with within your classroom? 

Many people are not big fans of maths, anxiety around the topic can start at an early age and create feelings of frustration, and even inadequacy.  There are some people who love figuring out how to solve a problem, these students perform well in maths and other related subjects compared to those who find it difficult.

Using fun games that kids can play with can really help break down a topic. Games are a fun and engaging way to reinforce the lessons, often students are having so much fun that they don’t even know they're learning. You can split students into teams and have spot prizes for the winners to add a little competition and get your students working as a team. 

We believe it’s important not to skip this step as it’s possibly the more important time in your lesson. It offers time to reflect as a class and allows students to think more deeply about what they have learned. It’s also a good time to pose questions and link topics together. For you, as a teacher, you can make sure everyone understands the topic, it gives you a quick snapshot of learning evidence. We recommend taking a little time for this at the end of every lesson. By planning out in advance and having all the tools to hand you can build reflection into your day. 

Maths classes vary hugely from class to class, so there are many variables to how teachers design great maths lessons. The key point is to provide the chance for all your students to achieve success, whatever that looks like to them, to be engaged. And most importantly, to enjoy maths. 

In this episode we are joined by 2 experts in maths education in Australia. The host for the podcast is Allan Dougan from AAMT, joined by Dr. John West.  So you can see that if anyone can answer the question, what makes a good maths lesson -it's John and Allan.

Texthelp Talks Podcast: What makes a good maths lesson?

Visit to our guide to the best tools and tips for teaching and creating engaging maths online. There's videos, blogs and downloadable guides to help you along.

Teaching maths online

This guide provides recommendations to ensure all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities across the curriculum.

Universal Design for Learning

Read on for 8 ways in which you can inspire your students to engage with maths.

8 Tips for a great maths lesson

In a recent podcast our friends Allan Dougan, from the Australian Association of Maths Teachers and Dr John West who is the WA Project Officer for the University of Adelaide Math in Schools Project, and is a fly-in/fly-out numeracy consultant for Coober Pedy Area Schools in South Australia, joined us for a Texthelp Talks Podcast. The topic of discussion was “What makes a good maths lesson?”. If you missed the podcast, you can catch it on demand - the link will be at the end of this blog. 

On this day, we’ll be bringing together industry experts and people with lived experiences of neurodiversity and disability. Together, we’ll uncover how we can work together to drive change, and make a lasting impact. Discover more.

What to expect at Texthelp's first ever Festival of Workplace Inclusion

On 26th May 2022, we’re hosting our first ever Festival of Workplace Inclusion. A free virtual conference where we’ll explore how to create a better working world for those of us who think, work and learn differently. 

On this day, we’ll be bringing together industry experts and people with lived experiences of neurodiversity and disability. Together, we’ll uncover how we can work together to drive change, and make a lasting impact.

This year, I had the opportunity to attend the South by Southwest Education Conference (SXSW EDU) in Austin, Texas. At the Education portion of the conference, you’re less likely to see movie stars or rock ’n’ rollers strolling the city streets (I know, bummer, right? Well…). 

Ceo & Founder Of Outlier.org, Co-Founder Of Masterclass

Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Eye to Eye and presenter of “Mentorship Matters: Empowering Those with Learning Differences'

United States Secretary of Education

Texthelp's round-up of key learnings from SXSW Edu 2022 conference. From topics on Assistive Technology (AT) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) you're sure to find some useful takeaways from this blog by Deena Kimmel, Social Media and Community Manager at Texthelp.

Barrier-Breaking Education: Lessons from SXSW EDU

Our round-up of key learnings from SXSW Edu 2022 conference. From topics on Assistive Technology (AT) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) you're sure to find some useful takeaways from this blog by Deena Kimmel, Social Media and Community Manager at Texthelp.

I’m one of the speakers for this session, not that I’m biased or anything, but this is a must see. This is how we plan for success. This session will look at what UDL is and what it does. A lot of the advice is based on good teaching practice, so we know you're on your way to becoming an expert already. Our speakers will share some practical examples of how technology can support UDL, so you can continue to apply the principles.

How can we make maths more inclusive? During the event we’ll be delivering sessions, resources and advice on how to support students with maths and science. So don’t miss out if you’re looking for new ways to make STEM subjects more accessible and engaging.

Levelling the Playing Field - creating equity in mathematics.

I have a literacy background, so this topic is always going to be close to my heart. Being able to read and write effectively is key to education and employment, and the ability to participate fully in society. In this session we'll take a look at how we can reach everyone. Encouraging all students to develop these essential life skills.

Literacy is the key to lifelong learning

What to expect from Future Building in Education

On 4 May, join us for our first ever virtual conference dedicated to education in Australia and New Zealand.  Head of Education for Texthelp Asia/Pac, Greg O’Connor, who is also our host for the day, explains why this event is so important to our team. He’ll also share his “must see” sessions and what you can expect on the day. 

Digital classrooms and instructional content have evolved a lot since Read&Write first launched back in 2013. Read&Write has also evolved since then. It's been there to support students wherever they are - from Google Docs and Word Docs, to Learning Management Systems. Today’s update marks a huge step forward in this evolution. 

The evolution of the 'digital classroom' has changed the way learners work - and where. Read&Write has evolved as well: from toolbar tweaks to full dictation in Google Slides, our recent Read&Write for Google Chrome update will support you and your learners even better, in more places.

A new Read&Write for Google Chrome update is live

A new milestone for Read&Write for Google Chrome

Today, we're excited to announce the release of the new and improved Read&Write for Google Chrome.

To help you personally make a change, we asked DE&I leaders and business owners for their best insights. We asked "What's one piece of advice you would give to others in your organization, to help them do their part to create a culture of belonging for their colleagues?"

From allowing others to take the lead to marking each culturally significant day, there are several tips that may help you to create a culture of belonging at work.

Diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), is everyone’s responsibility.  In this blog, 10 DEI Leaders share how you can personally make a change.

10 DE&I Leaders 'Pass The Torch': 10 Things You Can Do To Personally Make A Change

Diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), is everyone’s responsibility. Part of creating a culture that's welcoming for everyone is understanding that, beyond your diversity & inclusion team, everyone can play a part.

Blog

8 Tips for a great maths lesson

What to expect at Texthelp's first ever Festival of Workplace Inclusion

Barrier-Breaking Education: Lessons from SXSW EDU

What to expect from Future Building in Education

A new milestone for Read&Write for Google Chrome

10 DE&I Leaders 'Pass The Torch': 10 Things You Can Do To Personally Make A Change

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