Fostering careers awareness, Thursday’s event aimed to showcase the importance of mathematics across local industry sectors such as agriculture and mining, as well as in everyday life, defying the age old question of maths pupils, “when will we ever use this?”

The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and BHP Billiton Foundation are collaborating through Choose Maths to improve the health of Australian mathematics across four key components, including teacher training, teacher and student awards, national careers awareness and women in maths campaigns.

The five-year national project aims to empower students, particularly youngsters to join in mathematics.

One of a number of Hunter Valley schools participating, the Merriwa Central School Thursday’s Choose Maths event was the first full day for pupils to get immersed in problem solving and mathematical thinking.

In between high-paced, challenging competition rounds, the students listened to guest speakers who shared the importance of mathematics in their work.

Jacqueline Star, a graduate mining engineer from BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur Mine, spoke about how important maths was for her each day, and how laying the foundational maths skills at school cemented it as second nature, giving her the ability to build on those skills through university to take into her current role.

Farm owner and manager of Cassilis Park Merino Stud, James Armstrong, also spoke to the students, highlighting the importance of mathematical knowledge in every day operations on the land, from feed rations, through to putting in a strainer post.

Later the pupils heard from Dr Malcolm Roberts, a lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Newcastle, via videoconference. 

Dr Roberts examined the scaling system for the Higher School Certificate with the different mathematics subjects on offer, and how they can impact overall ATAR outcomes. 

Merriwa Central School has been working with AMSI, in the program funded by the BHP Billiton Foundation, since March this year with two teacher training days each term to further their professional development, prior to the students learning day.

Principal Darren Noonan said the continual support and training the staff were accessing, had been vital in their professional development.

“It’s a great program to support professional development for maths teachers, particularly those in country schools, like ours, where we only have one maths teacher,” he said.

“The key strength of the program is that collegial support; that ability to network with colleagues, reflect on programs, look at new resources, and new ways to engage students is a struggle, but this program allows them to do that.”

Head teacher of maths and science Gwen Meyer said she had already seen an improvement in teaching, and the response from students was very positive.

“One of the big things with our pupils is their confidence, and you can see especially on days like this, that the confidence grows once they realise they can actually do it,” she said.

“But the relevance is the biggest thing, if you can justify it and make it real for them, that’s when they really give it a go. 

“So, days like the Choose Maths day is really great in showing them that maths is practical.

“We look forward to the next three years in the program to further their engagement, which has already increased this year.”

Year 9 student Victoria McNaught said the questions were very challenging.

“I didn’t think I could do half of them, but we stuck it out as a team and all helped each other to solve them all,” she said.

Other pupils said they had a wake-up call on how important maths may be in their futures.

“The day was really fun and a great opportunity to learn what you can do with maths; I learnt a lot today,” Year 7 student Hasan Papp said.

Merriwa Central School will continue the program through until the end of 2019.