In this article, Merrilyn Goos looks at beliefs about the nature of mathematics and perceptions of mathematics teachers in examining "why teachers matter." It is difficult for researchers to specify exactly how different types of teaching and teacher qualities affect student achievement because this would require untangling the…

The pre-service teacher followed in this paper aimed to act as an agent of change during a time of reform in Irish secondary mathematics education. A teacher-researcher led action research project was conducted to depict the reality of the situation regarding the implementation of mathematical problem solving from a variety of perspectives-namely…

In times of rapid technological innovation and global challenges, the development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competencies becomes important. They improve the personal scientific literacy of citizens, enhance international economic competitiveness and are an essential foundation for responsible citizenship, including…

While measures of research quality are widely accepted in the education research community, there may be less agreement on what constitutes evidence of impact and on where to look for it. The aims of this symposium are to consider some key issues in undertaking the Australian government's national assessment of research engagement and impact, and…

In this paper, we offer a comparative review of research on understanding and promoting students' mathematical thinking. The sources for the review are papers that were published in "Educational Studies in Mathematics" ("ESM") during two windows of time: 1994-1998 and 2014-2018. Selection of these two time periods enables us to…

This paper reports on the knowledge for teaching mathematics of 294 pre-service primary teachers from seven Australian universities participating in a project aimed at establishing a culture of evidence-based improvement of teacher education. The project was funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council. Rasch measurement techniques were…

The release of the "Australian curriculum: Mathematics" has generated considerable debate in the education community. Some educators warn that this debate has centred on mathematical content and skills, setting the conditions for a "back to basics" movement in line with the political rhetoric that accompanied the national…

In Australia, concerns about the quality of mathematics education that students experience are particularly salient in rural schools. These schools typically report great difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified teachers of mathematics. Teachers in non-metropolitan locations may also experience professional isolation if they have limited…

This article describes a teacher's Maths lesson that focuses on numeracy in health and physical education learning area. In the lesson, the students were learning about Directed Numbers, something they often struggle with and a topic where the teacher finds it hard to explain using real life situations when using addition and subtraction. The…

This article describes a project that focuses on how a Society and Environment unit could develop required numeracy. This is more of an integrated unit organised around a theme rather than a Society and Environment unit that required specific aspects of numeracy. Suggested data sources for examining students numeracy development included (1) a…

Wondering whether they are really making a difference to young people's mathematics learning is a question that most teachers have probably wrestled with at some stage of their careers. However, evidence from a multitude of research studies shows that students' mathematics learning and their dispositions towards mathematics are indeed…

The introduction of technology resources into mathematics classrooms promises to create opportunities for enhancing students' learning through active engagement with mathematical ideas; however, little consideration has been given to the potential for technology to promote a more collaborative approach to learning. This paper draws on data from a…

This paper describes the actions of one secondary school mathematics teacher in establishing a community of mathematical practice within which students acquire not only knowledge and skills, but also the epistemological values of mathematics. Classroom observations over a period of 18 months, together with interview and questionnaire data, are…

Argues that research efforts need to be invested in preservice teacher education if genuine and lasting reform of mathematics teaching is to be achieved. Draws parallels between two separate studies, which applied sociocultural theories of learning to explore the nature of expert scaffolding in structuring learners' thinking. (Contains 30…

Draws on data from a three-year longitudinal study of secondary school classrooms to examine pedagogical issues in using technology resources in mathematics teaching, graphing calculators and overhead projection panels in particular. Theorizes four roles for technology in relation to teaching and learning interactions. Illustrates how technology…