Differential Equations
  Find The Unknown Function!

Presented by Gavin Sinclair
Facilitated by Stuart Palmer

Differential Equations

The purpose of this professional learning workshop is to equip and empower teachers to teach Differential Equations, the newish-to-NSW topic in Year 12 Extension 1. 

Format:
Online anytime

Presenter: 
Gavin Sinclair

Facilitator:
Stuart Palmer

Differential Equations


When it comes to the Differential Equations section of Year 12 Extension 1 is this you?

I have already taught it to Year 12, but:
  • I have some lingering doubts
  • I want to do a better job next time
  • I want to see other ways of doing things
  • I wasn’t sure how to incorporate technology
  • I want to converse with other people in the same boat
  • I wish I knew more about some real-life applications
  • I was the only person teaching it this year and I am seeking clarification
I am doing it at the moment, but:
  • I would appreciate some guidance and support
  • I am somewhat lacking in confidence
  • I have looked at all the textbooks and they seem quite different to each other
I will be doing it soon, for the first time ever:
  • I have Year 11 or 12 now, so I want to be sure my students and I are ready for it
  • I want to do a great job when I teach it for the first time
  • I did it at university but it was a bit of a mystery at the time and that was a while ago
This workshop will save you hours of lesson planning. Our presenter, Gavin Sinclair, faced the challenge of delivering this topic to his students remotely during the Covid-19 crisis in the year 2020. He has put together some fantastic teaching-and-learning resources for this interesting ‘new(ish)-to-NSW’ topic in Year 12 Extension 1.

In this workshop Gavin will:
  • Unpack the differential equations inherent in the legacy 1982 syllabuses.
  • Demonstrate the concepts and procedures of solving differential equations, including slope fields.
  • Give a thorough treatment of relevant applications, like the logistic equation and mixture of solutions.
  • Share his experience of teaching this topic to his students.
  • Discuss appropriate ways to sequence the topic to aid student confidence.
  • Outline the website and videos he used to teach this topic while students were learning from home.
    • These are available for you to use with your students and/or for further consolidation yourself.
  • Assess the textbooks’ treatments of the topic.
  • Explore a range of examination questions from NSW (sample HSC) and elsewhere.

Workshop participants will have access to ready-to-use electronic resources for every section of the topic, including:
  • Videos and other files which teachers can use in class and share with their students
  • Examples with carefully worked solutions
  • The videos which Gavin made and found for his students
  • Some ‘real-life’ applications of differential equations
  • A ‘one-concept-at-a-time’ teaching program containing all the information from the syllabus and NESA’s Topic Guide as well as links to useful resources.
 Gavin has prepared videos free to use in a classroom (see here and here). He says: “It is completely feasible for you to direct your students to my website and videos, then sit back with a cup of tea and wait for them to ask questions.”

This workshop will give you the opportunity to learn the content of the topic inside out and be confident about teaching it really well.

​To contact Stuart directly email [email protected].au or call 0407 838 828.

Differential Equations

Registration:
$250 plus GST per person per workshop

Format:
Online anytime.
​Work at your own pace. 
​Unlimited ongoing access.

Online start date:
Whenever you are ready. 

Six-pack group discount:
Buy 6 tickets (in the one order, for any combination of workshops) for the price of five!

Accreditation:
This workshop is not NESA-accredited but can be used for teacher-identified hours.

Testimonials

Gavin really knows his content. Really good examples were chosen and worked through. Explanations were great and varying - meaning high-level explanations for what the maths is doing, as well as how it would be best explained to a student.
Kate Nolan, Mater Dei Catholic College Wagga Wagga

Absolutely awesome way to engage in PD. Nice to be at home, nice to gain executive approval easily as your involvement does not affect the running of the school.
​Megan Shipard, St Patrick’s College Sutherland