GAIM: Teacher's Guide

This resource from GAIM is a teacher assessment scheme, designed for use alongside any existing secondary mathematics programme of study, using open-ended tasks to encourage teaching and learning through practical problem solving and investigations.

One of the original aims of GAIM was to introduce continuous assessment into normal classroom practice, by providing the materials and framework for teacher assessment throughout the secondary school.

Investigations - involve students in exploring the pure aspects of mathematics. They provide the opportunity for students to develop their own systems for generating results and to identify, express and justify any patterns they obtain.

Practical problems] (including statistical surveys) - are adaptations of real-life situations, manageable in the classroom or local environment, that require students to apply their mathematics. There is no specific answer to each practical problem and students produce solutions at a level of sophistication appropriate to their mathematical attainment.

Each activity can be used with students across a range of attainment levels and, by completing a balanced mix of activities, students develop and apply their skills and understanding in all topic areas.

Teacher's notes accompany each activity, giving all the necessary information about its use and detailed guidance on assessment, while the recording system allows students to share the administration of the scheme.

Part two of the guide deals, in greater depth, with the practicalities of teacher assessment in school. It gives further details of the components of GAIM and how they can be used to develop more flexible methods of assessment.