"Mathematics is found everywhere, from the shape of the branches of this tree, to the rainbow that I saw as we were driving in this morning, the geometry of the shape of a rainbow, to the statistics that help us fight a global pandemic. Mathematics is found everywhere and it's for everyone," says Eddie Woo.
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Eddie Woo, maths teacher, 2018 Australian of the Year's winner of Australia's Local Hero, and youTube sensation of a channel with more than one million subscribers, was at Wingham High School on Monday, March 24 inspiring teachers and students alike with his infectious passion and energy.
Eddie, who teachers mathematics at Cherrybrook Technology High School, is the NSW Leader of Mathematics Growth, leader of a small State-wide team of maths mentors for the Department of Education, visiting public schools around the state supporting teachers and engaging students. The program was created in response to a worrying decline in Australia's rating in international maths and science benchmarks over the past 15 years.
Eddie brought with him the program's coordinator, Craig Holden, and they, along with Wingham High School maths teacher, Matt Wight, held workshops for the school's maths teachers, and fun lessons for the students.
Matt, who has been teaching mathematics at Wingham High School for the past 18 months, is also one of the initiative's nine trainers around the State, a coup for Wingham High School as they have him on hand.
Matt was initially a teacher at Great Lakes College, then spent a year in another State-wide team with the Department.
"Then I was able to snaffle him up because somebody with his skills, I want to put in the classroom supporting teachers shoulder to shoulder," Eddie says.
The program itself is not offered to every school in the State.
"We very much wish we could do this for all schools, but there are too many schools," Eddie says. "We are trying to be across the state because the need is everywhere."
We want kids to have a great experience learning maths in the classroom. Thats not going to mainly come by heres a great whiz bang website', or technology or that sort of thing - that does help - but its really about what happens when a kid walks into a classroom and whats the experience they meet when they think of maths.
- Eddie Woo
Eddie points out that his visit is not just a fun road show for the kids with innovative ways of teaching maths to the students. He doesn't like to take the spotlight, and says it's very much a team effort, and that he is only there to support the teachers, along with Matt.
"Today is not about me. Today is about the great teachers who are working here, Matt who is on my team and me, I'm his leader, but I think a leader is someone who enables other people, who's not about taking the spotlight. I'm about strengthening his ability to work with these teachers," Eddie says.
"It's very much about the local work that's happening and the fact that teachers everywhere are doing outstanding work."
However, there is no doubting the effect Eddie has on those around him.
I spent a better part of an hour with the entirety of year eight in the hall having a positive playful experience of mathematics with them. It was the whole grade, it wasnt just the high achievers. Its really important to me that we engage every kid.
- Eddie Woo
"He's inspiring, it's engaging for the students to see. His passion is infectious, " Matt says.
"On the weekend I saw Eddie present to just teachers rather than students. These are teachers that teach maths every day, but just to see his enthusiasm and how he lifts all the teachers is amazing as well.
"And the students have been really engaged. Everyone knows some schools have some kids who aren't so engaged, but even those kids were right on board with all the little tasks and activities he was doing today.
"The important thing is trying to make maths creative. It's not 'walk in a room and do these exercises', it's trying to explore and build some understanding for yourself about the world. Which is what is missing, I think, for some kids. If they don't see maths as meaningful, why are they learning it. We're really trying to build that engagement with students, and a love of maths."
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