A University of Queensland (UQ) first-year student is equipping year 11 and 12 ATAR students with interactive peer-to-peer learning ahead of this year's preliminary and Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) exams. Oliver Barr-David, founder of Queensland Study Hub, has turned ...
More »Analysing the new maths curriculum and thoughts on increasing student engagement – podcast
In the past few weeks, mathematics has made the headlines of the education sector news. Amongst the issues are a new curriculum, the lowest enrolment rate ever in Australia in for Year 12 students, and peak bodies advocating for better ...
More »Lessons from Ukraine on the importance of planning – opinion
Whatever happens, and however the war will end in Ukraine, the world has learnt a lot. It is not only the military, politicians and economists who can draw lessons from this war but also educationists. Education researchers, especially mathematics education ...
More »New report argues initial teacher programs are ‘failing’ prospective maths teachers
A new Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) paper highlights that beginning teachers are not being trained in evidence-based teaching practices for mathematics, despite policymakers’ efforts to improve Australia’s initial teacher education (ITE) and reverse declining international results, particularly in numeracy. ...
More »Experts say F-6 part of revised Australian mathematics curriculum is mostly on the ‘right track’
A team of mathematics experts have given their support to ACARA’s proposed revised mathematics curriculum, saying primary school teachers and parents can be confident that the F-6 part of the curriculum is largely “on track”. Executive chairman and founder of ...
More »Aussie kids’ financial knowledge is on the decline. The proposed national curriculum has downgraded it even further
Financial literacy means having an understanding of financial concepts and risks, and the skills, motivation and confidence to make effective decisions across a range of financial contexts. In Australia, many young people have trouble with financial literacy, especially young people ...
More »Scrap the textbooks: Why making maths fun is a nationwide priority – opinion
My kids were born mathematicians. My eldest developed an interest in fluid mechanics when he was three, studiously observing the ripples that spread every time he dropped a pebble in a puddle. Meanwhile, his younger brother set about testing geometric ...
More »Using multiple fraction representations to build a foundation for success in mathematics: opinion
The teaching of fractions is often identified as the point in primary school instruction when the 'wheels tend to fall off’. While there could be many reasons for this, the overuse of one preferred resource (e.g. circular discs) at the ...
More »Mathematics minus numeracy – a first step toward decluttering: Opinion
The process has begun – finally! We hope that the work to review the mathematics (and digital technologies) curriculum over the next 12 months does indeed result in clarity about what is to be taught. The seemingly poor performance by ...
More »Podcast: News just in – maths teacher shortage hits crisis point in Vic
A major story that emerged today appeared in The Age and is related to an earlier story we wrote on a maths teacher shortage in Australia. According to the article, far too many secondary school teachers who are unqualified to ...
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