NIHERST: Making Math Easy, Phase 2

The difficulty being experienced by almost fifty percent of the students in the national school system in understanding mathematics prompted the National Institute of Higher Education (Research, Science & Technology) [NIHERST] to inspire and stimulate both teachers and students, through the award of grants to support and improve the teaching and learning of the subject at the school level.

The rationale for tackling the problem at the earliest stages is based on the fact that the students must have a solid foundation from as early as the infant level to be successful at the subject at higher levels. Current pedagogical thinking supports the view that students with a deeper understanding of the relevance of mathematical principles to real world situations are better able to grasp the more abstract nature of mathematics, which would consequently improve their performance in formal examinations.

Low performance in mathematics is viewed as one of the factors inhibiting greater national progress in scientific and technological areas. This Grants Scheme, Making Maths Easy, is fully in line with NIHERST’s mandate to promote science and technology in Trinidad and Tobago, which includes providing support for science and mathematics education.

Goal

The overarching goal of Making Maths Easy is to enable teachers to awaken in their students a greater and more concrete appreciation of mathematical concepts, through methodologies and teaching/learning resources which develop the thinking skills of students in ways that the more examination-driven modes of instruction do not.

Objectives

The general objectives of the Scheme are:

Project Proposals and Grants

Under the Making Maths Easy Scheme, grants are awarded to successful applicants to enable them to produce a sample teaching Resource Package based on their own ideas, which includes teaching/learning resources, and which can easily be reproduced on a large scale for use in all schools. The size of the grant awarded to a proposal is determined by NIHERST upon assessment of the scale and complexity of the project and taking into account the budget submitted with the proposal. The grant funding that is finally awarded may or may not match the amount requested by the applicants.

The first phase of Making Maths Easy was launched in 2004 and proposals were invited for projects relating to the first three levels in the primary schools. This phase was completed in June 2005.

Submission of Entries for Phase 2

Phase 2, which commences August 31st, 2005, will focus on Standards 2, 3, 4 and 5. Proposals must present ideas, methodologies and resources, which in some way(s), promote novel and effective approaches to the teaching and learning of mathematics at these levels. The methods, approaches and resources should already have been tried and tested in the field by the applicants, and must be easy to pass on for adoption by teachers throughout the primary system. Proposals may address one or several levels, and cover any strand or topic(s) from the primary mathematics curriculum.

Application Guidelines

NIHERST is inviting persons from any sector of the education system, (including persons pursuing educational programmes/research and retirees), who are interested in participating in Phase 2, to submit applications in the format given in the “Pre-qualifying Application Information’ section of this web page. This application will be the basis of a preliminary assessment of the project proposal, to determine whether or not the applicant(s) will be invited to submit a detailed proposal for receipt of grant funding. It is highly recommended that applicants work in teams. Applicants who pre-qualify will be offered technical support, through a one-day workshop conducted by NIHERST, to help with the preparation of their detailed proposals.

Pre-qualifying Application Information

Please submit your application using the format provided below and submit to: Making Maths Easy Phase 2, Office of the President, NIHERST, 4 Serpentine Place, St Clair, on or before October 15th 2005. email: president@niherst.gov.tt. All applicants are expected to have read the Licensing and Copyright Provision section of this web page before applying.

Submission dates

Licensing and Copyright Provision

All proposals submitted, including any methodology for the teaching of mathematics, must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any person.

An entrant who breaches any copyright or other right of any third party shall be liable for and shall indemnify NIHERST, its directors, officers, employees and agents against any expense, costs, damages, liability, loss, claim or proceedings whatsoever arising in connection therewith.

All awardees shall be required to grant to NIHERST a royalty-free exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt and publish their proposal, including any methodology and/or output for teaching mathematics, in any medium and in any territory throughout the world for non commercial educational purposes or public information. In the event that NIHERST proposes to reproduce, adapt or publish for commercial purposes any methodology or output emerging from a proposal, NIHERST shall negotiate with such entrant acceptable terms and conditions for an appropriate licence to be granted. Awardees will be required to sign a Standard Form Agreement prior to submitting their detailed proposals.

About NIHERST

NIHERST was established as a statutory body by Act No. 20 of 1984, now Chapter 39:58. Its mission is to support national development in Science, Technology and Innovation, and it does so through a range of programmes and activities, all aimed at increasing public understanding and appreciation of the principles and applications of science and technology, strengthening the creative and innovative capacity of the citizenry, and supporting Science and Technology policy development.

The Institute’s Science Popularisation Programme provides an important non-formal science education avenue for both students and the general adult population. In addition to the interactive exhibits housed at the NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre, other science popularisation activities include Community Science Weeks in rural areas, the biennial Sci-TechKnoFest, the annual Caribbean Youth Science Forum and the Science Whizz Competition in science and mathematics.

The activities of the Innovations Unit are specifically geared to developing creativity, as well as innovative and ‘technopreneurial’ thinking and skills. Through the Unit, the Institute is playing a pioneering role in the development of a National Innovation System. In addition to coordinating the biennial Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation and Invention, the Unit conducts Cre8tivity Camps for children and creativity workshops for teachers.

NIHERST’s S&T Statistics Unit compiles data to inform S&T policy formulation and planning. The International Projects Unit serves as the national and/or regional liaison for many international agencies such as the Organisation of American States (OAS), Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST), International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB), Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology (COMCYT), and Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C).

Office of the President,
NIHERST,
4 Serpentine Place,
St Clair,
Trinidad and Tobago.

Introduction