Hoekom die vak? / Why the subject?
Die ontstaan van Alpha Wiskunde is genoodsaak deur die breë kurrikulum verandering waartydens die ou Senior Sertifikaat (met hoër- en standaardgraad vakke) vervang is deur die huidige Nasionale Senior Sertifikaat. Die eerste matrieks het die nuwe matriekeksamen in 2008 geskryf.
The emergence of Alpha Mathematics was necessitated by the broad curriculum change during which the old Senior Certificate (with higher and standard grade subjects) was replaced by the current National Senior Certificate. The first matrics wrote the new matric exam in 2008.
Geskiedenis/ History
Reeds in die tagtigerjare het die GMR (Gemeenskaplike matrikulasieraad) die vak Addisionele Wiskunde geëksamineer. Hierdie was ʼn erkende matriek sewende vak en het ook op kandidate se matrieksertifikaat verskyn. Sedert 1990 het die provinsies die vak begin eksamineer en is Addisionele Wiskunde deur beide die staat en die IEB (Independant Examination Board) geëksamineer tot 2007. Sedert 2008 het die vak soos menige ander nie meer senior sertifikaat status nie en verskyn nie meer op ʼn leerder se matrieksertifikaat nie.
Already in the eighties the JMB (Joint Matriculation Board) examined the subject Additional Mathematics. This was a recognized matric seventh subject and also appeared on candidates' matric certificate. Since 1990, the provinces have begun examining the subject and Additional Mathematics has been examined by both the state and the IEB (Independent Examination Board) until 2007. Since 2008, as many others, the subject no longer has a senior certificate status and no longer appears on a learner matric certificate.
Kurrikulum/ Curriculum
Wiskunde onderwysers van beide die staat en privaat skole het aanvanklik saamgewerk om amptelike status terug te kry. Ek was by die skryf van die kurrikulum betrokke en ondanks die IEB se pogings was dit vinnig duidelik dat die departement van onderwys nie aan een van die vakke amptelike status gaan verleen nie, vandaar het twee kurrikulums ontstaan. Eerstens Alpha Wiskunde wat grotendeels die ou Addisionele wiskunde kurrikulum verfyn het en Gevorderde Program Wiskunde (APM – Advanced Programme Mathematics). Die groot koste verbonde aan die skryf van die APM eindeksamen was een van die redes waarom Alpha Wiskunde ontstaan het as alternatief vir staatskole.
Beide kurrikulums het vanuit Addisionele wiskunde ontstaan met die groot verskil dat Alpha geen keuse modules het en al die onderwerpe verpligtend is. Beide kurrikulums het Calculus as basis en met enkele ander oorvleuelings kom hul omtrent 80% ooreen. Die een is verseker nie ondergeskik aan die ander nie. Alpha, net soos APM, word sterk deur tersiêre instansies soos onder andere UP en die Pukke aanbeveel.
Mathematics teachers from both state and private schools initially worked together to regain official status. I was involved in the writing of the curriculum and, despite the IEB's efforts, it was quickly clear that the Department of Education was not going to grant one of the subjects official status, hence two curricula have arisen. First, Alpha Mathematics that largely refined the old Additional Mathematics curriculum and Advanced Program Mathematics (APM). The great cost of writing the APM final exam was one of the reasons why Alpha Mathematics came up as an alternative to state schools.
Both curricula originated from Additional Mathematics with the great difference that Alpha has no choice modules and all topics are compulsory. Both curricula have Calculus as a basis and with some other overlaps they correspond to about 80%. The one is certainly not subordinate to the other. Alpha, just like APM, is strongly recommended by tertiary institutions such as UP and Potch, among others.
Verskille en ooreenkomste tussen Alpha Wiskunde en AP Mathematics/
Differences and similarities between Alpha Mathematics and AP Mathematics
In Alpha Wiskunde doen alle kandidate ʼn breedvoerige calculus- en algebra-komponent (meer intensief as in APM) en verder word matrikse, vektore, komplekse getalle en magsreekse onder andere gedek. In APM word benewens Calculus en algebra drie keuse-module aangebied waarvan leerders een kies. Kandidate doen óf matrikse en grafiek-teorie óf finansies en modellering óf statistiek. Gedeeltes van die statistiek en finansies word ook in die skoolkurrikulum gedek.
As iemand wat betrokke was by die skryf van beide kurrikula en iemand met ʼn PhD in wiskunde kurrikulering in hoërskole kan ek onomwonde stel dat die een kurrikulum nie ondergeskik is aan die ander nie. Ek is ook reeds vir baie jare (sedert 2000) betrokke by die moderering van al drie hierdie vraestelle (Addisionele wiskunde en later Alpha en APM). Die kurrikulum vir Alpha en APM strek van gr 10 tot 12.
Daar is nou ook boeke vir gr 8 en 9, maar dit is nie noodsaaklik vir gr 10 nie. Hierdie boeke dek wiskunde wat nie in die skool gedoen word nie (soos lineêre programmering, ander getallestelsels), logika en probleemoplossings tegnieke.
In Alpha Mathematics, all candidates do a comprehensive calculus and algebra component (more intensive than in APM) and further cover matrices, vectors, complex numbers and power sequences among others. In APM, in addition to Calculus and algebra, three choice modules are offered, of which learners choose one. Candidates do either matrices and graph theory or finance and modeling or statistics. Portions of the statistics and finances are also covered in the school curriculum.
As someone involved in writing both curricula and someone with a PhD in maths curriculum in high schools, I can state that one curriculum is not subordinate to the other. I have also been involved in moderating all three of these papers (Additional Mathematics and later Alpha and APM) for many years (since 2000). The curriculum for Alpha and APM ranges from Grade 10 to 12.
There is now also text books for gr 8 and 9, but these are not necessary for gr 10. These books include mathematics that is not done in school (like linear programming and other number systems) , logic and problem solving techniques.
Wie onderrig Alpha Wiskunde en AP Maths/ Who teaches Alpha Mathematics and AP Maths
Alpha Wiskunde en APM word by meeste skole deur die senior wiskunde onderwysers onderrig en bedryf. Die sentrum by Affies het bv. onder leiding van prof Anton Ströh (tans vise-rektor by Tuks) en myself reeds in 1988 ontstaan. Die doel is primêr om leerders toegang tot gevorderde wiskunde te gee en hul beter voor te berei vir universiteit. Daar is tans kandidate van 7 van die 9 provinsies wat Alpha wiskunde aan die einde van graad 12 skryf. Kandidate wat Alpha of APM skryf ontvang ʼn afsonderlike sertifikaat daarvoor. Alpha en APM is ook tans die enigste instansies wat ʼn matriek eindeksamen aanbied. Beide vakke word in Afrikaans en Engels geëksamineer.
Alpha Mathematics and APM are taught and operated by the senior mathematics teachers at most schools. The center at Affies led by Prof Anton Ströh (currently vice-rector at Tuks) and myself already originated in 1988. The goal is primarily to give learners access to advanced mathematics and to prepare them better for university. There are currently candidates from 7 of the 9 provinces who write Alpha maths at the end of Grade 12. Candidates writing Alpha or APM receive a separate certificate for this. Alpha and APM are currently the only institutions that offer a matric final examination. Both subjects are examined in English and Afrikaans.
Ten slotte/ In closing
Top akademiese skole soos AHS, AHMP, Menlopark, Zwartkop, Garsfontein,Waterkloof, Eldoraigne, Potchefstroom Volkskool en Gimnasium, Kemptonpark, Secunda, Birchleigh High en Nelspruit bied Alpha Wiskunde aan. Indien u meer inligting benodig kontak my (dr Carel Kriek, skoolhoof Midstream College en moderator Wiskunde) of me Rika Grobler (eksaminator van eers Addisionele Wiskunde en nou Alpha Wiskunde) gerus.
Top academic schools such as AHS, AHMP, Menlopark, Zwartkop, Garsfontein, Waterkloof, Eldoraigne, Potchefstroom Volkskool and Gimnasium, Kemptonpark, Secunda, Birchleigh High and Nelspruit offer Alpha Mathematics. If you need more information please feel free to contact me (Dr Carel Kriek, principal of Midstream College and moderator Mathematics) or Ms Rika Grobler (examiner of first Additional Mathematics and now Alpha Mathematics).