Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented pr ....Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented problems. New theoretical and empirical frameworks are expected to transform our outmoded problem experiences to ones that challenge all children to reach their mathematical potential. Professional learning, informed by international collaboration, is expected to transcend existing teacher development modes.Read moreRead less
Using mathematics to solve real world problems. This project aims to identify, apply and refine teaching approaches that help secondary students learn mathematical modelling, using mathematics to solve real world problems. The study will investigate the mathematical, cognitive, social and environmental factors that "enable" Year 10/11 students to develop mathematical representations of a real world problem. This project expects to generate theoretical and practical insights into how these enable ....Using mathematics to solve real world problems. This project aims to identify, apply and refine teaching approaches that help secondary students learn mathematical modelling, using mathematics to solve real world problems. The study will investigate the mathematical, cognitive, social and environmental factors that "enable" Year 10/11 students to develop mathematical representations of a real world problem. This project expects to generate theoretical and practical insights into how these enablers promote successful modelling, tasks that support students' development as modellers, and effective teaching approaches that promote student capability and interest in mathematics.Read moreRead less
Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the imp ....Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the important mathematical and statistical literacies needed for lifting student achievements. In advancing both theory and practice, the project aims to contribute to knowledge of primary students' capabilities for STEM problem solving and ways of enhancing implementation of the Australian Curriculum.Read moreRead less
Investigating the relationship between teacher expectations, student persistence and the learning of mathematics. There is a culture in many classrooms in which teachers are encouraged by students to pose easy tasks. The project will explore what is needed to encourage students to embrace challenges and to persist even when tasks are difficult. The outcome will be enhanced mathematics learning and improved student confidence.
Modelling with design: learning innovation across primary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This project aims to introduce a new approach to advancing mathematics learning and problem solving across grades four to six. This project expects to generate new knowledge by building on primary school students’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competencies across several years. The project will establish critical foundations for advancing core mathematics ....Modelling with design: learning innovation across primary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This project aims to introduce a new approach to advancing mathematics learning and problem solving across grades four to six. This project expects to generate new knowledge by building on primary school students’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competencies across several years. The project will establish critical foundations for advancing core mathematics content and multidisciplinary problem-solving knowledge. Expected outcomes include evidencebased findings and resources to inform ways to stimulate, sustain, and improve achievement across the STEM disciplines.Read moreRead less
Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on ....Talking Maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years mathematics . The study aims to address the gap in mathematical performance in Australia in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) by focusing on language and learning in mathematics. The study will design and evaluate a school-based intervention that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2. Outcomes of the study will be empirical evidence of the effect of a language-based pedagogy on young students' achievement in mathematics and further understanding of the relationship between talk and learning. These outcomes will inform policy and teacher education and have a long lasting impact on low SES students' educational and work opportunities with ultimate impact on economic and cultural prosperity.
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The online future of Science and Engineering education: The essential elements of laboratory-based learning for remote-access implementation. Laboratory classes are a critical part of science and engineering degree programs, but there has been little research into what actually takes place within them. Remote laboratories, in which students control equipment via the internet, are one potential solution for accommodating rising numbers of students, but the interfaces must be developed to effectiv ....The online future of Science and Engineering education: The essential elements of laboratory-based learning for remote-access implementation. Laboratory classes are a critical part of science and engineering degree programs, but there has been little research into what actually takes place within them. Remote laboratories, in which students control equipment via the internet, are one potential solution for accommodating rising numbers of students, but the interfaces must be developed to effectively support student learning. This project will investigate how students interact with equipment, each other, and with laboratory demonstrators in order to determine the crucial components of effective laboratory learning experiences. It will identify and characterise the interactions of students in laboratory classes, and develop mechanisms to support these interactions remotely.Read moreRead less
What makes for successful numeracy education in remote Indigenous contexts: an ethnographic case study approach. There are many successful teachers and schools who have enabled remote Indigenous learners to engage with, and learn, school mathematics. But what do they do? How do they do it? This project investigates and documents successful practices in 32 schools located in remote communities. The project includes the many aspects of teaching practice.
Out-of-field Teaching: Sustaining Quality Practices Across Subjects. Teaching out-of-field (teaching a subject without qualifications) is a rising concern internationally, and is linked to attrition, stress, and reduced student learning outcomes. With a comparatively high percentage of out-of-field teachers, Australia is exposed to significant social, economic and educational costs. Through the development of longitudinal case studies, this project investigates the changing landscape of teacher ....Out-of-field Teaching: Sustaining Quality Practices Across Subjects. Teaching out-of-field (teaching a subject without qualifications) is a rising concern internationally, and is linked to attrition, stress, and reduced student learning outcomes. With a comparatively high percentage of out-of-field teachers, Australia is exposed to significant social, economic and educational costs. Through the development of longitudinal case studies, this project investigates the changing landscape of teacher perceptions and practices over three years, within school institutional cultures relating to teacher assignment, support, and out-of-field mathematics and science teaching. Outcomes of the project will aim to inform the development of system and school policy and practice, in dealing with this internationally pervasive issue.Read moreRead less
Enabling students' critical mathematical thinking. The capacity to use mathematics critically is essential for making prudent decisions and forming balanced judgements about economic, health, environmental and other challenges facing society. Developing Critical Mathematical Thinking (CMT) in the classroom provides students with the necessary skills to address complex real-world problems. Fostering CMT, however, is difficult and teaching practices around its development are under-researched and ....Enabling students' critical mathematical thinking. The capacity to use mathematics critically is essential for making prudent decisions and forming balanced judgements about economic, health, environmental and other challenges facing society. Developing Critical Mathematical Thinking (CMT) in the classroom provides students with the necessary skills to address complex real-world problems. Fostering CMT, however, is difficult and teaching practices around its development are under-researched and under-theorised. This study aims to generate new insight into teaching practices that can promote or inhibit students' CMT development. To address this aim, we use an innovative video-based methodology that integrates researcher and teacher perspectives on students' CMT development.Read moreRead less