New maths facility aims to promote collaborative learning

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-1679" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;08&sol;SND18-wk2-Pakuranga&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND18-wk2-Pakuranga" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"200" &sol;>Pakuranga College&comma; Auckland&comma; has opened a brand-new facility designed to encourage mathematics students to learn collaboratively&period; <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The college has transformed a previously underused part of its mathematics building into a dynamic new learning space&comma; in which students will be able to engage in differentiated learning&period; The exciting &&num;8216&semi;break-out&&num;8217&semi; area in the Seagar Building features walls and tables that function as giant whiteboards so students can make notes and calculations as they work together&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Vaughan Mitchell&comma; head of mathematics is excited by the new facility&colon; &&num;8220&semi;Modern learning is about acquiring information from a range of channels&comma; not just the teacher&period; Students also learn from each other and via their devices&period; Our focus is on the importance of active learning and exploration&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>This great new space will provide additional <a class&equals;"wpil&lowbar;keyword&lowbar;link" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;2015&sol;10&sol;developing-opportunities-at-school-with-a-view&sol;" title&equals;"opportunities" data-wpil-keyword-link&equals;"linked" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank">opportunities<&sol;a> for our students to work collaboratively and adds a dynamic dimension to the learning experience&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The creation of the break-out area forms part of a larger renovation programme to the college&&num;8217&semi;s mathematics facilities costing over &dollar;50&comma;000&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;This renovation of Seagar Building is a small step in a major development of the college&&num;8217&semi;s infrastructure that has been planned after extensive consultation with the students&comma; staff and the local community&comma;&&num;8221&semi; college principal Michael Williams said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;By the end of the month the Ministry of Education will have approved the new ten year property plan&comma; which will then be shared with the community&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;