Researching education: Five further readings on Mathematics

Welcome to this month's edition of Researching education: Five further readings. In this series, we take a look at some further readings available on a particular topic, including open access research papers from various online catalogues, and Teacher archive content you might not have come across yet.

How do you support students needing assistance in their Mathematics learning? What about the students who are adamant that they don't like maths? In this instalment of Researching education: Five further readings, we share some resources on Mathematics teaching and learning.

  1. In the Cunningham Library Catalogue, you'll find a range of links and references to education research. A recent acquisition is Improving mathematics in upper primary and lower secondary. This guidance report, produced by the UK's Education Endowment Foundation, presents eight recommendations which are especially relevant for students struggling with mathematics which were developed by reviewing the best available international research and consulting experts, teachers, and academics to arrive at key principles for effective teaching of mathematics. This particular document has been updated for an Australian audience by Evidence for Learning. Follow to find a list of other resources available relating to mathematics. The catalogue is continually being updated and includes research material from journals, government reports and books. Resources listed in this link will continue to be updated as new content becomes available.
  2. Thinking maths: Learning impact fund evaluation report. This report details an evaluation conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) of the Thinking Maths project developed by the South Australian Department of Education. Thinking Maths involved teachers of Year 6 to 9 students undertaking five professional development sessions. The individual progress of students of these teachers was evaluated, showing an improvement in performance.
  3. Opening Real Science: Authentic Mathematics and Science Education for Australia. This is the final report from the Opening Real Science project, a unique national collaboration between leading teacher educators, scientists, mathematicians and ICT experts to bring real, relevant science into Australia's classrooms. By engaging pre- and in-service teachers with scientists and mathematicians, the project enabled them to teach mathematics and science as they are practised: as dynamic, forward- looking and collaborative human endeavours.
  4. Changing the mental mantra to ‘I love maths'. How do you teach students who say, ‘I hate maths'? Through an intensive, self-motivating brain-based program – and with the help of some Lego – as Dr Ragnar Purje explains in this Teacher magazine article from the archives.
  5. Future of Education and Skills 2030: Curriculum analysis A Synthesis of Research on Learning Trajectories/Progressions in Mathematics. This paper explores the extent to which countries have incorporated 21st Century skills, such as creativity, digital literacy and critical thinking, into their mathematics curricula.

You'll also be able to find a fascinating range of resources related to mathematics at this special link for EdResearch Online. It's an open access resource which includes hundreds of articles from Australian education journals – some are available in full, and others display information on sourcing the article.

The Cunningham Library membership is open to individuals, schools and organisations. Membership includes access to a comprehensive collection of education research literature; weekday alerts to a selection of Australian education news; fast supply of articles and books from the collection; support in finding research; and an integrated online search tool that works across all our resources.

To become a library member, visit the website.