The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) has published a new eBook “Enjoying Mathematics 2” compiled by Mr Hendrik de Kock. The eBook is a compilation of questions and model answers of all three junior (grades 8 and 9) rounds of the South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) from 2002 to 2012. The questions have been categorised into curriculum topics.
The SAMO is a popular event on the school calendar with more than 80 000 learners participating on an annual basis. Learners can prepare for the different SAMO rounds and improve their performance in mathematics by using “Enjoying Mathematics 2”. This new eBook is a subsequent book to ‘Enjoying Mathematics’ published in 2005. The new publication kept up with technological advances – learners and teachers can easily navigate from a question to the model answer and back again.
Hendrik de Kock, a senior member of the SAMO Committee and convenor of the Junior Third Round paper, has compiled the eBook. “The eBook will not only assist learners and teachers to prepare for the different rounds of the junior Olympiad, but also to incorporate problem solving in the classroom and to improve learners’ higher order thinking skills and techniques on solving non-routine problems,” explained Mr de Kock.
Teaching and assessment are inclined to treat many fundamental ideas superficially, so much so that non-routine problems are largely downplayed. The major function of mathematics is to make deductions and conclusions from pieces of information that are provided. How best to use the information in order to make conclusions requires a plan, a strategy and an approach. This is what problem solving is all about and this is also where the new eBook can play an important role.
The new publication is available at R160 (VAT included) and can be ordered at the SAMF office – (012) 392 9372 or info@samf.ac.za. You can also go to www.samf.ac.za to download the order form.
