The proficiencies of Understanding, Fluency, Problem Solving and Reasoning are fundamental to learning mathematics and working mathematically, and are applied across all three strands Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.
Understanding refers to students building a robust knowledge of adaptable and transferable mathematical concepts and structures. Students make connections between related concepts and progressively apply the familiar to develop new ideas. They develop an understanding of the relationship between the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of mathematics.
Fluency describes students developing skills in choosing appropriate procedures, carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently and appropriately and recalling factual knowledge and concepts readily.
Problem solving is the ability of students to make choices, interpret, formulate, model and investigate problem situations, select and use technological functions and communicate solutions effectively.
Reasoning refers to students developing an increasingly sophisticated capacity for logical, statistical and probabilistic thinking and actions, such as conjecturing, hypothesising, analysing, proving, evaluating, explaining, inferring, justifying, refuting, abstracting and generalising.
Supporting Documents
On the bottom of the CEOB documents found on the previous page within the standards paragraph the proficiencies have been highlighted. Within the following documents you will also find the highlighted proficiencies and the key verbs related to them. In 2015 Matt Sexton from ACU worked with the EMU ongoing teachers. His days included the unpacking of the proficiencies which you will also find below.