Teaching and Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology in Integrated Middle School Contexts. Integration is proposed as a significant curriculum reform strategy for Australian schools at the beginning of the century, particularly for early adolescents. Despite the claimed advantages for integrating school subjects, there is an absence of substantive empirical research to show if and/or how students learn in integrated settings. The proposed study addresses this research gap directly, by exami ....Teaching and Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology in Integrated Middle School Contexts. Integration is proposed as a significant curriculum reform strategy for Australian schools at the beginning of the century, particularly for early adolescents. Despite the claimed advantages for integrating school subjects, there is an absence of substantive empirical research to show if and/or how students learn in integrated settings. The proposed study addresses this research gap directly, by examining the teaching context and the characteristics of student learning in integrated science, mathematics and technology classrooms. This project employs detailed and elaborated case studies of six middle school classrooms to develop sophisticated understandings about the connection between integrated pedagogy and student learning and motivation.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354538
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Enabling Sciences Education (EnSE) Research Network. The Network aims to ensure the long-term ability of Australians to excel in scientific and technological innovation at all levels of community activity. This will be achieved by establishing significant and ambitious research agendas for improving the teaching and learning of Mathematics, Science and Technology in primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors. Of significance will be the productive synergies flowing from uniting, across ....Enabling Sciences Education (EnSE) Research Network. The Network aims to ensure the long-term ability of Australians to excel in scientific and technological innovation at all levels of community activity. This will be achieved by establishing significant and ambitious research agendas for improving the teaching and learning of Mathematics, Science and Technology in primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors. Of significance will be the productive synergies flowing from uniting, across the three disciplines, Australia's most outstanding, experienced and dedicated researchers with new and mid-career colleagues. Expected outcomes include a diverse but cohesive and collaborative research community that provides international leadership in helping students achieve their full potential. Read moreRead less
HOW PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS BECOME CODE-BREAKERS OF INFORMATION GRAPHICS IN MATHEMATICS. A numerate individual can interpret mathematical information that is organised and presented in graphics, such as diagrams, charts, tables, graphs, and maps. Despite the proliferation of these information graphics and the recognition that the primary years provide the foundations for numeracy, there is negligible research on how the ability to decode graphics develops. This project investigates how primary ....HOW PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS BECOME CODE-BREAKERS OF INFORMATION GRAPHICS IN MATHEMATICS. A numerate individual can interpret mathematical information that is organised and presented in graphics, such as diagrams, charts, tables, graphs, and maps. Despite the proliferation of these information graphics and the recognition that the primary years provide the foundations for numeracy, there is negligible research on how the ability to decode graphics develops. This project investigates how primary students become ?code-breakers? of the information graphics that underpin mathematics by monitoring the development of their knowledge of information graphics. The visual focus of this project will contribute fundamental knowledge necessary to achieve the national and international goals of a numerate populace.Read moreRead less
A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Primary Students' Knowledge About the Properties of Spatially-Oriented Diagrams in Mathematics. Diagrams are important tools for the solution of novel (non-routine) problems and the organization of data because they integrate information in ways that facilitate reasoning. Diagrams also underpin many technological applications (E.g., hyperlinks on web-pages from a "network"). Ground-breaking research in the US with adults has identified the properties ....A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Primary Students' Knowledge About the Properties of Spatially-Oriented Diagrams in Mathematics. Diagrams are important tools for the solution of novel (non-routine) problems and the organization of data because they integrate information in ways that facilitate reasoning. Diagrams also underpin many technological applications (E.g., hyperlinks on web-pages from a "network"). Ground-breaking research in the US with adults has identified the properties of general-purpose diagrams (networks, matrices, hierarchies). These properties constitute the "building blocks" of diagrammatic knowledge - like grammar in language. This study investigates children's knowledge of the properties of diagrams and the formation of this fundamental knowledge. The outcomes will enhance 21st century mathematical literacy, guide curriculum development, and inform teacher education.Read moreRead less
Mathematics in the digital age: Reframing learning opportunities for disadvantaged Indigenous and rural students. This project offers considerable scope for revisioning mathematics curriculum for our most disadvantaged students, as they come to terms with learning in a digital age. Moreover, it will provide opportunities for Indigenous students, and other disadvantaged cohorts, to have improved access to digital technologies that have the potential to enhance their mathematical understandings. T ....Mathematics in the digital age: Reframing learning opportunities for disadvantaged Indigenous and rural students. This project offers considerable scope for revisioning mathematics curriculum for our most disadvantaged students, as they come to terms with learning in a digital age. Moreover, it will provide opportunities for Indigenous students, and other disadvantaged cohorts, to have improved access to digital technologies that have the potential to enhance their mathematical understandings. The project will inform policy makers about the economic viability of investing in digital resources that have the potential to enhance mathematics outcomes, and thus contribute to the national endeavour of reducing the gap between these disadvantaged cohorts and other children across Australia.Read moreRead less
Improving Numeracy Outcomes and Mathematics Capability: Understanding Young Students' Interpretation of Graphics. Informed participation in society and economic prosperity depends on a mathematically proficient populace ALL of whom are able to interpret common mathematical graphics and SOME of whom are able to interpret advanced graphics. The project benefits include (1) an INSTRUMENT to measure graphic knowledge, (2) THEORIES that explain how knowledge of graphics develops in young students and ....Improving Numeracy Outcomes and Mathematics Capability: Understanding Young Students' Interpretation of Graphics. Informed participation in society and economic prosperity depends on a mathematically proficient populace ALL of whom are able to interpret common mathematical graphics and SOME of whom are able to interpret advanced graphics. The project benefits include (1) an INSTRUMENT to measure graphic knowledge, (2) THEORIES that explain how knowledge of graphics develops in young students and difficulties that they experience in interpreting graphics, (3) improved GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS leadership by the CIs in cutting edge graphics research and publications, and (4) a HIGH QUALITY TRAINING ENVIRONMENT environment for two PhD students as part of the CIs' research team.
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Learning essential knowledge by design: Promoting and connecting mathematics and science in the middle years of schooling. In the international setting, Australia's scientific and technical competitiveness is under threat. In the US this similar threat has elicited responses that focus on new mathematics and science teachers and teacher professional learning. This project aligns with major national and state initiatives to develop curricula that promote essential learnings and standards without ....Learning essential knowledge by design: Promoting and connecting mathematics and science in the middle years of schooling. In the international setting, Australia's scientific and technical competitiveness is under threat. In the US this similar threat has elicited responses that focus on new mathematics and science teachers and teacher professional learning. This project aligns with major national and state initiatives to develop curricula that promote essential learnings and standards without losing sight of current educational approaches such as middle years of schooling. The project will explore research-based, integrated pedagogies, content and assessment to provide Australian teachers with new ways of engaging students with the mathematics and science curricula.Read moreRead less
Storythread pedagogy: transforming teachers' and students' knowledge and values regarding environmental sustainability. In this project an innovative teaching method, Storythread, is investigated as an effective way of developing in primary school-aged students a commitment to the values and practices of sustainability. Acquiring knowledge about the environment is important but not sufficent to transform everyday practices and values. Storythread not only assists students to develop relevant kno ....Storythread pedagogy: transforming teachers' and students' knowledge and values regarding environmental sustainability. In this project an innovative teaching method, Storythread, is investigated as an effective way of developing in primary school-aged students a commitment to the values and practices of sustainability. Acquiring knowledge about the environment is important but not sufficent to transform everyday practices and values. Storythread not only assists students to develop relevant knowledge, but links that knowledge to specific actions and consequential decisions that people make with regard to the environment. By assisting teachers to use Storythread effectively with diverse groups of students, this project will provide a way of developing future citizens with clear environmental values and practices so necessary in contemporary society. Read moreRead less
Restructuring Statistical Reasoning in the Early School Years: A Longitudinal Study of Data Modelling. Research Priority 2 (the goal, Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric) is targeted. By providing young learners with the foundations of data modelling, which has been ignored in early curricula, the study will sow the seeds for productive participation in a data-driven society and effective use of its increasingly complex economic and social systems. The foundational statistical i ....Restructuring Statistical Reasoning in the Early School Years: A Longitudinal Study of Data Modelling. Research Priority 2 (the goal, Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric) is targeted. By providing young learners with the foundations of data modelling, which has been ignored in early curricula, the study will sow the seeds for productive participation in a data-driven society and effective use of its increasingly complex economic and social systems. The foundational statistical ideas and processes to be developed will lay the groundwork for further studies in the key curriculum areas, 'chance and data,' 'probability and statistics,' 'science and society,' and 'life and living.' Professional gains include knowledge of ways to implement mathematical and scientific experiences that capitalise on young children's potential.Read moreRead less
Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and be ....Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and belief structures with respect to mathematics within an environment of curricular change, will be evaluated in evidence-based terms related to teacher change and student outcomes. Significance includes the context, the middle school years in rural district schools, and the influence of technology on pedagogy.Read moreRead less