Today we launch a new feature to be added to Complete Mathematics: our Dynamic Worksheet Generation tool. This initial launch is focused on the creation of worksheets for the factorisation of quadratics. We have created a tool which captures some of the ‘teacher logic’ inherent in worksheet design and have incorporated intelligent variation and sequencing in the questions generated.

The worksheet generator can produce worksheets with questions which come in a sensible teaching order for this topic. Intelligent variation sequences, are periodically included at appropriate places in the worksheets. These sequences of questions help pupils to attend to the key variants and invariants. One such example is shown:

x² + 14x + 24 = (x + 12)(x + 2)

x² + 11x + 24 = (x + 8)(x + 3)

x² – 11x + 24 = (x – 8)(x – 3)

x² – 14x + 24 = (x – 2)(x – 12)

x² + 10x – 24 = (x – 2)(x + 12)

x² – 10x – 24 = (x + 2)(x – 12)

x² + 5x – 24 = (x – 3)(x + 8)

x² – 5x – 24 = (x + 3)(x – 8)

Teachers have the freedom to toggle on and off which variations of quadratics to include on the worksheet. This is particularly useful for the implementation of the mastery cycle. Based upon formative assessment a teacher can identify where individual pupils need to focus their attention. The teacher can then create a worksheet specifically for this pupil in moments for them to remediate and practise on these sub-skills.

At La Salle we talk about a learning episode as opposed to lessons. Learning and teaching can’t be neatly contained in sixty-minute slots, instead a learning episode spans a series of lessons and may include a number of related learning objectives. We consider a learning episode in the context of the following phases: