• £25

2. Atomisation

What is the best way to prepare students to learn a new idea?

Course overview

What is the best way to prepare students to learn a new idea?

There is a danger that Atomisation is becoming the next buzzword in maths education. For many it represents the exact opposite what that maths should be taught. I disagree. In this course I explain why I think the breaking down of a complex method into sub-steps is crucial to help my students better understand a new idea. Indeed, Atomisation is now the first thing I think about when planning a sequence of lessons. In this course I show exactly what this looks like in the classroom, with examples of different types of Atoms across a wide variety of mathematical concepts.

Please see the bottom of the page for FAQs about suitability, cost, payment options, and more.

Contents

Introduction to the course

What is this course all about?
1. Introduction to the course.mp4
  • 4 mins
  • 132 MB
Preview
2. The benefits of online courses.mp4
  • 6 mins
  • 66.8 MB
Preview
3. Getting the most out of the course.mp4
  • 8 mins
  • 116 MB
Preview
4. Where are you at?
  • 1 min
  • 8.51 MB
Preview

The Introduction phase of a Learning Episode

What does the Introduction phase of a Learning Episode look like?
1. Three questions...
  • 1 min
  • 18.3 MB
2. What I used to do
  • 7 mins
  • 90.7 MB
3. Link to the big picture
  • 6 mins
  • 87.2 MB
Blog: You’ve never seen the GCSE Maths curriculum like this before…
    4. Tell a story
    • 6 mins
    • 92.1 MB
    Book: Why don't students like school?
      Website: The story of mathematics
        Website: Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics
          5. Provide a hook
          • 9 mins
          • 208 MB
          Website: Mathematical hooks
            Website: 101 questions
              Website: When math happens

                Challenge: Part 1

                It is time to make a start on a list that we will refer back to throughout the course

                Starting the list
                • 2 mins
                • 28.6 MB

                What I used to do

                What was my previous approach to planning, and why was it problematic? 
                1. What I used to do
                • 6 mins
                • 83.2 MB
                2. My students cannot take it all in
                • 5 mins
                • 85.5 MB
                3. I have to play detective
                • 5 mins
                • 78.5 MB

                What I do now

                What is Atomisation, and why is it important?
                1. What is Atomisation?
                • 2 mins
                • 25.2 MB
                2. This is the worst thing I have ever heard
                • 4 mins
                • 72 MB
                3. Three types of Atoms
                • 3 mins
                • 31.6 MB
                4. Where does Atomisation fit in?
                • 5 mins
                • 76.7 MB

                Address the Atoms

                What does the overall process for addressing each Atom look like?
                The Big Atomisation Diagram
                • 6 mins
                • 98.9 MB
                Image: The Big Atomisation Diagram
                • 98.6 KB

                Atom type 1: Prerequisite knowledge

                What is the first Atom type, and why is it important?
                Introduction
                • 3 mins
                • 43.4 MB

                Examples of prerequisite knowledge

                We look at examples of what assessing prerequisite knowledge might look like 
                1. Index notation - assess understanding
                • 9 mins
                • 124 MB
                Image: Diagnostic Question on index notation
                • 15.4 KB
                2. Index notation - practice
                • 4 mins
                • 57.5 MB
                Website: CIMT MEP resources
                  3. Estimate of mean - practice
                  • 9 mins
                  • 141 MB
                  Activity: Midpoint of two numbers (image)
                  • 21.1 KB
                  Activity: Midpoint of two numbers (website)
                    4. Estimate of mean - assess understanding
                    • 3 mins
                    • 36.7 MB
                    Image: Diagnostic Question on midpoint
                    • 19.7 KB
                    5. Any topic that requires a calculator
                    • 8 mins
                    • 150 MB
                    Image: Diagnostic Question on rounding
                    • 18.3 KB
                    Activity: Rounding to one decimal place (image)
                    • 23.8 KB
                    Activity: Rounding to one decimal place (website)
                      6. Prime factors - teach explicitly
                      • 13 mins
                      • 277 MB
                      Activity: Prime factors (image)
                      • 23.7 KB
                      Activity: Prime factors (website)
                        7. Prime factors - assess understanding
                        • 5 mins
                        • 78.6 MB
                        8. Adding and subtracting fractions
                        • 6 mins
                        • 92.7 MB
                        Activity: Multiply fractions so they have a specific denominator (image)
                        • 8.39 KB
                        Activity: Multiply fractions so they have a specific denominator (website)
                          Activity: Multiply fractions so they have the same denominator (image)
                          • 13.4 KB
                          Activity: Multiply fractions so they have the same denominator (website)
                            9. Statistical diagrams
                            • 6 mins
                            • 87 MB
                            Image: Diagnostic Question on reading scales
                            • 26.9 KB
                            Activity: Reading scales (image)
                            • 29.6 KB
                            Activity: Reading scales (website)

                              Challenge: Part 2

                              Armed with new knowledge, we return to our list
                              Prerequisite knowledge
                              • 2 mins
                              • 33.4 MB
                              Image: The Big Atomisation Diagram
                              • 98.6 KB

                              Atom type 2: technical language

                              What is the second type of Atom, and why is it important?
                              1. Introduction
                              • 1 min
                              • 11.9 MB
                              2. What I used to do
                              • 5 mins
                              • 90.3 MB

                              Etymology

                              What role does etymology play in this second type of Atom?
                              1. Why etymology in maths is important
                              • 7 mins
                              • 87.6 MB
                              Podcast: Alex Quigley - closing the vocabulary gap
                                Book: Closing the vocabulary gap
                                  2. Etymology sources
                                  • 4 mins
                                  • 80.8 MB
                                  Website: Etymonline
                                    Website: Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics
                                      Website: Boss Maths
                                        3. Interesting etymology examples
                                        • 5 mins
                                        • 75.3 MB
                                        4. Etymology alone is not enough
                                        • 5 mins
                                        • 39.4 MB

                                        Examples of technical language

                                        We look at examples of what addressing technical language as part of the Atomisaiton process might look like
                                        1. Factor
                                        • 13 mins
                                        • 216 MB
                                        Activity: Factors (image)
                                        • 21.8 KB
                                        Activity: Factors (website)
                                          2. Prism
                                          • 10 mins
                                          • 135 MB
                                          Activity: What is a prism? (image 1)
                                          • 46.6 KB
                                          Activity: What is a prism? (image 2)
                                          • 75.4 KB
                                          Activity: What is a prism? (website)
                                            Twitter: Is a cylinder a prism???
                                              3. Similar
                                              • 9 mins
                                              • 169 MB
                                              Activity: Similar shapes (image 1)
                                              • 61.1 KB
                                              Activity: Similar shapes (image 2)
                                              • 69.6 KB
                                              Activity: Similar shapes (website)
                                                4. Surd
                                                • 11 mins
                                                • 127 MB
                                                Activity: Is this a surd? (image 1)
                                                • 10.4 KB
                                                Activity: Is this a surd? (image 2)
                                                • 12.6 KB
                                                Activity: Is this a surd? (image 3)
                                                • 3.34 KB
                                                Activity: Is this a surd? (website)
                                                  5. Like terms
                                                  • 8 mins
                                                  • 104 MB
                                                  Activity: What are like terms? (image)
                                                  • 16.3 KB
                                                  Activity: What are like terms? (website)
                                                    6. Deciding when to do this
                                                    • 7 mins
                                                    • 85.6 MB
                                                    7. Product
                                                    • 5 mins
                                                    • 68.2 MB
                                                    Image: Diagnostic Question on product
                                                    • 17.5 KB
                                                    Blog post: Lesson Evaluation: Using a rule sequence for functions

                                                      Challenge: Part 3

                                                      Armed with new knowledge, we return to our list
                                                      Thinking about language
                                                      • 1 min
                                                      • 18.4 MB
                                                      Image: The Big Atomisation Diagram
                                                      • 98.6 KB

                                                      Atom type 3: Decisions

                                                      What is the third type of Atom we need to address, and why is it important?
                                                      1. Introduction
                                                      • 1 min
                                                      • 14.2 MB
                                                      2. What I used to do
                                                      • 7 mins
                                                      • 98.3 MB

                                                      Examples of decisions

                                                      We look at examples of what addressing a decision as part of the Atomisaiton process might look like
                                                      1. Product of prime factors
                                                      • 12 mins
                                                      • 180 MB
                                                      Activity: Product of prime factors (image)
                                                      • 17.3 KB
                                                      Activity: Product of prime factors (website)
                                                        2. Subject of a formula
                                                        • 8 mins
                                                        • 120 MB
                                                        Activity: Is a the subject of the formula? (image)
                                                        • 61.5 KB
                                                        Activity: Is a the subject of the formula? (website)
                                                          3. Significant figures
                                                          • 11 mins
                                                          • 175 MB
                                                          Activity: How many significant figures? (image 1)
                                                          • 24.3 KB
                                                          Activity: How many significant figures? (image 2)
                                                          • 28.1 KB
                                                          Activity: How many significant figures? (image 3)
                                                          • 28.4 KB
                                                          Activity: How many significant figures? (website)
                                                            Activity: Spot the significant figure (image)
                                                            • 11.7 KB
                                                            Activity: Spot the significant figure (website)
                                                              4. Factorising in a single bracket
                                                              • 7 mins
                                                              • 133 MB
                                                              Activity: Is it fully factorised? (image)
                                                              • 115 KB
                                                              Activity: Is it fully factorised? (website)
                                                                5. Order of operations
                                                                • 7 mins
                                                                • 144 MB
                                                                Activity: Order of operations (image)
                                                                • 76.7 KB
                                                                Activity: Order of operations (website)
                                                                  6. Quadratic formula
                                                                  • 10 mins
                                                                  • 164 MB
                                                                  Activity: Quadratic formula (website)
                                                                    Activity: Quadratic formula (image)
                                                                    • 14.7 KB

                                                                    Challenge: Part 4

                                                                    Armed with new knowledge, we return to our list!
                                                                    Dealing with decisions
                                                                    • 1 min
                                                                    • 12.9 MB
                                                                    Image: The Big Atomisation diagram
                                                                    • 98.6 KB

                                                                    List the Atoms

                                                                    How can we get better at listing the Atoms?
                                                                    1. Use resources
                                                                    • 4 mins
                                                                    • 88.8 MB
                                                                    Increasingly Difficult Questions
                                                                    • 50.4 KB
                                                                    2. Ask somebody else
                                                                    • 4 mins
                                                                    • 55.6 MB
                                                                    3. Write a line, leave a line
                                                                    • 4 mins
                                                                    • 48.8 MB
                                                                    4. How far do I need to break things down?
                                                                    • 5 mins
                                                                    • 52.6 MB

                                                                    Atomisation concerns

                                                                    What are some of the main concerns teachers have with Atomisation, and what can we do about them?
                                                                    1. Where am I supposed to find the time?
                                                                    • 3 mins
                                                                    • 28.4 MB
                                                                    2. It doesn't take long if Atoms are secure
                                                                    • 2 mins
                                                                    • 25.3 MB
                                                                    3. It doesn't take long if practice is needed
                                                                    • 3 mins
                                                                    • 38.4 MB
                                                                    4. If it does take longer we save time
                                                                    • 4 mins
                                                                    • 55.7 MB
                                                                    5. It saves time in future learning episodes
                                                                    • 4 mins
                                                                    • 58.7 MB
                                                                    6. Differentiation may not be a big issue
                                                                    • 5 mins
                                                                    • 66.9 MB
                                                                    7. Reflection
                                                                    • 3 mins
                                                                    • 41.4 MB

                                                                    Useful links - from others

                                                                    A selection of links that might prove useful
                                                                    Podcast: Kris Boulton - Part 1
                                                                      Podcast: Kris Boulton - Part 3
                                                                        Blog series: Kris Bouton - My best planning ever
                                                                          Blog: Naveen Rizvi - #mathsconf16/17: Atomising
                                                                            Blog: Naveen Rizvi - #Mathsconf18: Atomisation Pt 1
                                                                              Podcast: Naveen Rizvi – Part 1: Scripted lessons, examples and social media
                                                                                Blog: Joe Berwick - The Decide, Break, Repair and Simplify process for linear equations (DBRS)

                                                                                  Conclusion

                                                                                  A few thoughts before we say goodbye
                                                                                  1. Where to next.mp4
                                                                                  • 4 mins
                                                                                  • 140 MB
                                                                                  2. My online courses.mp4
                                                                                  • 4 mins
                                                                                  • 141 MB
                                                                                  My online courses
                                                                                    Course certificate
                                                                                    • 1.41 MB
                                                                                    Course feedback

                                                                                      Useful links - from me

                                                                                      A selection of links to other parts of my work

                                                                                      My research paper collection
                                                                                        Book: How I wish I'd taught maths
                                                                                          Book: Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain
                                                                                            Mr Barton Maths website
                                                                                              Mr Barton Maths Podcast
                                                                                                Diagnostic Questions
                                                                                                  Variation Theory
                                                                                                    SSDD Problems
                                                                                                      Maths Venns

                                                                                                        FAQs

                                                                                                        Is this course suitable for primary school teachers?

                                                                                                        I am a secondary school maths teacher by training, and I make no claim whatsoever to have any expertise in the domain on primary teaching. However, I have been lucky enough to run this Atomisation course lots of times with primary colleagues, and it seems to go down well. I try to use examples from across the different phases, and though some examples contain ideas beyond primary mathematics, I believe the key principles are transferable to the primary domain.

                                                                                                        Is this course suitable for non-maths teachers?

                                                                                                        I am not sure. Whilst the principle of Atomisation is certainly transferable across different subject domains,e very example is from the world of mathematics. A lot of work would need to be done on the part of the delegate to think exactly what this would look like in their subject.

                                                                                                        Is this course suitable for non-UK teachers?

                                                                                                        Yes! I have been lucky enough to work with teachers all around the world, and I ensure wherever possible that my courses are not tied to any specific curriculum or specification. I am confident that aside form my weird accent, teachers from other countries will find most of the ideas relevant and transferable.

                                                                                                        How long can I access the course content for?

                                                                                                        As long as this platform exists! That is one of the key advantages of an online course - you can go back over the content again and again.

                                                                                                        If, for whatever reason, the platform shuts down or I need to remove content, I will give you as much notice as possible (I will aim for at least 6 months) so you can complete the courses. 

                                                                                                        In addition, from time to time I will update the course content with new videos, resources and ideas. I will email you when this happens and you will have access to this as well for no extra cost.

                                                                                                        Can I pay with an invoice instead of online?

                                                                                                        The easiest way to pay is online. The service accepts all major cards as well as PayPal. Paying this way gives you immediate access to the course.

                                                                                                        But if you need to pay via invoice, then no problem!  Just send an email to mrbartonmaths@gmail.com with details of:
                                                                                                        1. The email addresses of the delegates taking the course
                                                                                                        2. Your school name and address
                                                                                                        3. Who to email to invoice to
                                                                                                        Then I will send you an invoice and register your colleagues on the course.

                                                                                                        Can I get a VAT receipt?

                                                                                                        Of course!

                                                                                                        If you have paid online, just login, click on the drop-down menu next to your picture on the top-right of the screen, select Billing and you can print off your VAT receipt(s) there.

                                                                                                        image.png 26.79 KB


                                                                                                        If you pay-offline (by emailing me as described above) then I will email you an invoice which will serve as your VAT receipt.

                                                                                                        Can I buy one pass and then share it with my colleagues?

                                                                                                        I am afraid not. The price of each course is per person.

                                                                                                        Each person who pays for the course has their own log-in details, so the platform can keep track of their individual progress. This allows you to log back on using any device and pick up where you left off.

                                                                                                        Are there discounts available?

                                                                                                        If you want to purchase a bundle of passes for the courses - perhaps you have a large department or you are part of an Academy chain - send me an email telling me what you have in mind, and hopefully we can reach a deal!

                                                                                                        My email is mrbartonmaths@gmail.com

                                                                                                        Can I show the videos as part of a meeting or training event?

                                                                                                        I am afraid not. The prices of the course are per person.

                                                                                                        If you wish to discuss using the materials as part of a meeting or training event, please email me at mrbartonmaths@gmail.com.

                                                                                                        About Craig Barton

                                                                                                        ​Craig Barton has been involved in teaching maths for 15 years. He was the the TES Maths Adviser for 10 years and is now the Head of Education at Eedi.  Craig is the author of the best-selling books “How I wish I’d taught maths” and "Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain", the host of the Mr Barton Maths Podcast, the creator of mrbartonmaths.com, diagnosticquestions.com, variationtheory.com, ssddproblems.com and mathsvenns.com, and Visiting Fellow at the Mathematics Education Centre at the University of Loughborough.