Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/1-1-1-introduction-to-the-course-and-common-questions [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: A Compendium of Mathematical Methods - Seneca Certified](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified.md) › Introduction to the Course & Common Questions # Introduction to the Course & Common Questions CPD: A Compendium of Mathematical Methods (By Jo Morgan), topic 1.1.1 ## Deciding Which Methods to Use If you're deciding whether or not to use a method, ask yourself the following questions to help determine whether it's a good method for you or not. ### Do you understand why it works? [GIF: Do you understand why it works?](https://media.giphy.com/media/25QbQdrFvFAMcPKq24/giphy.mp4) ### Is the method easy to explain? [GIF: Is the method easy to explain?](https://media.giphy.com/media/Rl9Yqavfj2Ula/giphy.mp4) - Will pupils understand how it works? ### Is the procedure easy to remember? [GIF: Is the procedure easy to remember?](https://media.giphy.com/media/yifTRs3TidIju/giphy.mp4) - Multi-step algorithms will probably need a lot more practice than more intuitive methods. ### Are there misconceptions? [GIF: Are there misconceptions?](https://media.giphy.com/media/3oKIP8quIMUnLdfTAQ/giphy.mp4) - Does the method lead to common misconceptions? How will you deal with that? ### Efficient? Intuitive? [GIF: Efficient? Intuitive?](https://media.giphy.com/media/q4P7Nz6TyjfO0/giphy.mp4) - Is the method efficient? Is it elegant? Is it intuitive? Would you use it yourself? ### Does it have future application? [GIF: Does it have future application?](https://media.giphy.com/media/l0CRCmMBYQbL7dCmI/giphy.mp4) - Does your chosen method hold for maths you will teach in the future? Will it need to be replaced when the problems become more complex? ### Who chooses? [GIF: Who chooses?](https://media.giphy.com/media/pFQskqO4UBTEs/giphy.mp4) - Do you want to select methods for your pupils, or allow them to choose? If you intend to give them some choice, do you want this decision being taken at a whole-class level or an individual level? ### Consistency? [GIF: Consistency?](https://media.giphy.com/media/vtf0uP1bwXBg4/giphy.mp4) - Do you want consistency of methods within your school? Does it matter? Consider what happens if pupils change teachers. ### What methods do students use? [GIF: What methods do students use?](https://media.giphy.com/media/1WbJnEhCpZTThmzFTz/giphy.mp4) - Do your pupils use an online homework platform? Do they use textbooks? Are your chosen methods consistent with the methods pupils will see elsewhere? Does it matter? ## Test yourself on Introduction to the Course & Common Questions - Who or what should determine which teaching methods are best for you to use? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/d0e67498-99c8-47d2-ada7-cd629abed70c/section/c8794362-bb4a-48ce-8839-09f68b3b8b00/session) - Next topic: [2.1.1 Method A - Decomposition Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-1-method-a-decomposition-method.md) ## CPD: A Compendium of Mathematical Methods (By Jo Morgan) contents ### 1 Course Overview - 1.1 Course Structure & Commonly Asked Questions - [1.1.1 Introduction to the Course & Common Questions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/1-1-1-introduction-to-the-course-and-common-questions.md) ### 2 Subtraction: KS2/3 - 2.1 Subtraction Methods - [2.1.1 Method A - Decomposition Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-1-method-a-decomposition-method.md) - [2.1.2 Method B - Equal Addition Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-2-method-b-equal-addition-method.md) - [2.1.3 Method C - Expanded Form Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-3-method-c-expanded-form-method.md) - [2.1.4 Method D - Partitioning Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-4-method-d-partitioning-method.md) - [2.1.5 Method E - Counting-Up Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-5-method-e-counting-up-method.md) - [2.1.6 Method F - Constant Difference Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-6-method-f-constant-difference-method.md) - [2.1.7 Method G - Partial Differences Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-7-method-g-partial-differences-method.md) - [2.1.8 Method H - Complementary Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-8-method-h-complementary-method.md) - [2.1.9 Method I - Nines Complement Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/2-1-9-method-i-nines-complement-method.md) ### 3 Expanding Double Brackets: KS3/4 - 3.1 Expansion Methods - [3.1.1 Method A - Grid Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-1-method-a-grid-method.md) - [3.1.2 Method B - Each by Each](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-2-method-b-each-by-each.md) - [3.1.3 Method C - Distributive Law](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-3-method-c-distributive-law.md) - [3.1.4 Method D - Inspection](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-4-method-d-inspection.md) - [3.1.5 Method E - Column Method](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-5-method-e-column-method.md) - [3.1.6 Method F - Vertical & Crosswise](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-a-compendium-of-mathematical-methods-seneca-certified/3-1-6-method-f-vertical-and-crosswise.md)