SOLO Taxonomy in Mathematics

In view of the research indicating that approaches to teaching mathematics vary in their effectiveness, choosing the appropriate pedagogy is critical to students’ mastery of essential skills and ability to apply them. SOLO Taxonomy in Mathematics makes the decision easy with SOLO Taxonomy, a simple but effective model of learning outcomes. Looking through the lens of SOLO, mathematics educators and students can focus firmly on the complexity of the learning outcome – differentiating surface, deep and conceptual levels of understanding. This knowledge then helps to identify explicit next steps and to prompt for understanding. Founded on the authors’ experience in secondary mathematics departments, this book describes and explains classroom-based SOLO strategies that provide a language for explicit feedback on mathematics performance. The plentiful SOLO maps, self assessment rubrics, and examples from teachers and students offer further support in translating this exceptional model into successful teaching practice.

Ages: 12-16 years

About the Authors

Picture of Pam Hook

Pam Hook

Pam Hook is an educational consultant who advises schools and institutions in New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and the Pacific Islands on developing curricula and pedagogies for learning to learn based on SOLO Taxonomy. She is a popular keynote speaker at conferences. Pam is author of more than 25 books on SOLO Taxonomy, including titles translated into Danish, and has developed a series of SOLO web-based apps, Apple iPad apps and YouTube videos. She hosts collaborative online communities for SOLO practitioners on Twitter @arti_choke @globalsolo and Pinterest www.pinterest.nz/solotaxonomy.
Picture of Courtney Gravett

Courtney Gravett

Courtney Gravett earned a degree in mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She has presented on her experiences of using SOLO in the mathematics classroom at the International Conference on Thinking and at the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers Conference. Courtney was on the mathematics faculty at Lincoln High School for six years before becoming Assistant Head of Department Mathematics at Riccarton High School in Christchurch, New Zealand. She serves as an executive member of the Canterbury Mathematical Association.
Picture of Mitchell Howard

Mitchell Howard

Mitchell Howard has taught mathematics in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand over the past 19 years. He completed an MEd (Mathematics) at the University of Canberra, Australia in 2005 and is currently the Head of the Mathematics Department at Lincoln High School and Vice President of the Canterbury Mathematics Association. He has also presented workshops at the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers Conference, Mathematical Association of Victoria Conference and International Conference on Thinking. Mitchell is the proud father of two boys and is grateful for the support of his wife.