Mathematics education for indigenous students in preparation for engineering and information technologies

Abstract

The development, implementation and assessment of a Mathematics Workshop for Indigenous school students is described and analysed. The Workshop formed part of an intensive week-long programme conducted by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies at the University of Sydney in September 2017 called the STEM Spring Workshop. The curriculum and teaching schedule development incorporated an assessment of the students’ backgrounds and a presurvey, and includes an extended description of the development of two extracurricular topics on Cryptography and the Rubik’s cube. The interactions during the classes are then described, with an emphasis on the ongoing evolution and adaptation of the teaching modes in response to real-time student feedback. The assessments of the classes were highly positive with many students indicating a desire for more time on the mathematical activities. The principle of cultural plasticity (being receptive to, learning from and adapting to the cultural perspectives of others) as used in the Mathematics Workshop is described.