Research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) education suggests development of STEM competency requires effective learning environments, including the use of varied representations (e.g., visual, symbolic) and opportunities for students to make connections among them. Although such practices have been advocated in the teaching…

Games are an everyday part of most students' lives. Games engage students and provide opportunities to foster perseverance in problem solving. When implemented in the mathematics classroom, game-based learning can have similar positive benefits. Students can enjoy mathematics and develop important life skills that will help them in their current…

This article details a high school classroom activity in which algebra tiles are used to help students gain a conceptual understanding of completing the square. The activity utilises the eight elements of effective mathematics education suggested in the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics' (NCTM's) "Principles to action: Ensuring…

The concept of correlation arises in Unit 3 of General Mathematics in the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2010-present). University students will meet the topic in applied statistics subjects in courses on business, psychology, research methods as well as in mathematical subjects on probability and statistics. When students are introduced to the…

In this article, the authors discuss two ways of improving the rigour and integrity of mathematics in STEM programs drawing on examples from their research. The authors examine how mathematics can be made a stronger part of a STEM unit using examples from two pairs of teachers engaged in a STEM teacher professional development program, conducted…

This is the second of two articles on the life and mathematical legacy of the Indian mathematician Ramanujan, who died one hundred years ago. The first article, "The Life and Times of the Indian Mathematician Ramanujan (1887-1920)" (EJ1269466), which appeared in the previous issue of "Australian Mathematics Education Journal,"…

A test method is described for determining the divisibility of non-negative integers by a prime number. The test uses an integer multiplying factor that is defined for each prime, designated as [beta], to reduce the non-negative integer that is being tested by an order of magnitude in each of a sequence of steps to obtain a series of new numbers.…

This is the first of two articles on the life and mathematical legacy of the Indian mathematician Ramanujan, who died one hundred years ago. Here, the story of Ramanujan's life is related. His cultural and social background are briefly described and his educational experiences are outlined. Attention is then drawn to the deep nature of his…

Understanding is one of the four key proficiencies in the "Australian Curriculum: Mathematics" and arguably the pivot on which mathematics depends. This case study investigated preservice teachers' understanding and ability to articulate some measurement concepts. Data were gathered from 23 preservice teachers who voluntarily…

Why do honeycomb cells have hexagonal openings? This is a problem of antiquity. More than 2000 years ago, Greek scholars referred to "the geometrical forethought" of bees in constructing the most efficient structure to hold honey. In this article, the author determines the exact size of the trihedral angle, and provides insight as to why…

This article outlines a Teacher of Mathematics Identity (ToMI) framework as an innovative theoretical foundation for supporting teachers of mathematics in regional, rural and remote (RRR) Australia. The framework is based on the identification of systemic challenges and provision of adaptive solutions, beginning with localised challenges faced in…

The authors start from the premise that mathematical understanding and skills are fundamentally important in STEM education as they underpin the three other discplines of STEM. They describe how contextualised integrated STEM projects can bring mathematics into the foreground with digital technologies--such as Kitsi blocks. They outine a project…

In this article, the author describes a task given to pre-service secondary school mathematics teachers. By exposing them to a relatively simple mathematics process, it was hoped that their ability to plan and implement lessons for their own students would be enhanced.

Nat Banting, argues that the "invert and multiply" algorithm for division of fractions is, in fact, not an algorithm. He suggests that Liping Ma's (1999) algorithm, which involves writing the fractions with a common denominator and then dividing the numerator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second fraction, is better as it…

The visual method in this paper solves linear inequalities in one variable by considering them initially as two competing linear expressions, each of which is then expressed as a linear equation. When the solution of these two linear equations exist, it is viewed as a highlighted area or a line. These linear equations convey the intended visual…