Empowering Algebra Teaching: strategies for motivation, engagement and success
A micro-credential course to support successful algebra teaching and learning for anyone working with students in Years 4 to 10.
Course overview
Do you want to enrich your teaching of algebra in Years 4 to 10? Do you want to increase ākonga motivation to learn mathematics? Do you want to broaden your strategies for teaching groups with diverse mathematics learning starting points? This online course highlights all of these.
This 8-week (fully online) micro-credential supports teachers working with students from Years 4 to 10 who want to learn powerful ways to motivate and promote algebra learning in mixed-ability classes and enhance their confidence to teach algebra effectively. Participants will explore, discuss, and design evidence-based ways of helping ākonga understand, use, and enjoy algebraic thinking, tools, and concepts.
We will be sharing engaging strategies that empower students to develop a conceptual understanding of algebra. Materials, representations, and real-life contexts will be used to illustrate how to promote confidence using algebraic concepts, tools, and strategies.
Videos of expert teachers sharing the ways they teach algebra curriculum content are included throughout.
In partnership with
What you'll learn
- Evidence-based teaching practices to support conceptual understanding and fluency in algebra
- Evidence-based strategies to motivate mathematics learners in non-streamed classes
- Effective ways of teaching algebraic ideas, tools, thinking, and generalization to build students’ capabilities.
- Common errors and misunderstandings in algebra and ways to avoid and address these to ensure effective algebra strategies and knowledge
Course Modules
This micro-credential will be delivered online in 5 modules over 8 weeks:
Module 1: Motivating mathematics learners
Module 2: Teaching for diverse starting points
Module 3: Empowering teaching of algebraic patterns, relationships, and generalisations
Module 4: Empowering teaching of equality and solving equations
Module 5: Empowering teaching of symbols, letters, expressions, and generalising number
Further Information
Format and Workload
This course will be a total of 50-hours of online learning made up of 3 x 1.5 hour webinars and 5 x self-paced modules within an online learning portal.
Assessment
Course assessment includes:
- 200 word description of effective teaching: Motivating ākonga to learn mathematics
- 200 word description of effective teaching: Teaching that develops conceptual understanding of one algebra concept
- 350 word evaluation and adaptation of a teaching and learning resource
- 500 word description and justification of planning for successful and motivating teaching of algebra
Study towards a Masters degree using micro-credentials
This course has been developed to support classroom teachers to become more confident to teach mathematics concepts. By successfully completing this course and any two of the micro-credentials below, participants achievement can be recognised towards the Master of Secondary School Leadership (MSSL) and Master of Education (MEd) programmes at Victoria University of Wellington, opening up potential further learning and career pathway opportunities.
- Supporting Student Success in Mathematics Learning
- Effective mentoring practices for secondary teachers in Aotearoa NZ
- Working collaboratively and building leadership capability
- Contemporary Secondary Teaching Approaches for Aotearoa New Zealand
Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options
18 Jul 2025 | Online
Duration: 8 weeks
$NZD 595
excl. GST
Can’t make these dates or want a private course?
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