Junior Secondary Mathematics Program (JSMP)

In 2016, YDC successfully tendered for a Queensland Department of Education initiative targeting the high number of out-of-field teachers of mathematics. YDC designed and delivered the online Junior Secondary Mathematics Program (JSMP) to equip out-of-field junior secondary mathematics teachers in Queensland state schools with the knowledge and confidence to teach the content of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics for Years 7 to 9.

To meet the Queensland Government requirements, the training was designed as three modules (terms) of eight sessions (topics) that nominally required 1½ hours of study each (a total of 36 nominal hours). Content was delivered through a QUT Blackboard website using PowerPoint slides available in three formats: narrated videos, stand-alone PowerPoints and PDFs. Additional readings and resources were also available.

Weekly review questions provided regular opportunities for teachers to show that they had understood the content of each session. To fulfil the course requirements participants also needed to complete five assessment tasks. At the end of each session and the end of the course participants were asked for feedback for evaluation purposes. Participants who satisfactorily completed this course were offered the option of completing one or two additional extended tasks that would each give credit of one unit towards the QUT Master of Education course.

Two cohorts of out-of-field junior secondary mathematics teachers participated in the program during 2016 and 2017. Exit surveys showed that the program was highly regarded by the 201 teachers who satisfactorily completed the course.