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We investigated the relations between self-reported math anxiety, task difficulty, and pupil dilation in adults and very young children during math tasks of varying difficulty levels. While task difficulty significantly influenced pupillary responses in both groups, the association between self-reported math anxiety and pupil dilation differed across age cohorts. The children exhibited resilience to the effects of math anxiety, hinting at additional influential factors such as formal math education experiences shaping their relations to mathematics and their impact on cognitive processes over time. Contrary to expectations, no significant association between self-reported math anxiety and pupil dilation during task anticipation was found in either group. In adults, math anxiety influenced pupil dilation exclusively during the initial phase of task processing indicating heightened cognitive load, but this influence diminished during sustained task processing. Theoretical implications emphasize the need for exploring individual differences, cognitive strategies, and the developmental trajectory of math anxiety in very young children., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cognitive Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Cognitive Science Society (CSS).)

Introduction: The association between quality sleep and improved cognition is well reported in literature. However, very few studies have been undertaken to evaluate the impact of poor sleep on educational outcomes in Indigenous Australian children., Objectives: The objective of this review was to explore the association between sleep and educational outcomes of Indigenous children., Methods: For this systematic review, a literature search covering research articles in academic databases and grey literature sources was conducted to retrieve studies published until March 2022. Eight online e-databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, HealthinfoNet, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Google Scholar) were searched for data extraction and two appraisal tools (NIH and CREATE) were used for quality assessment. Studies that explored any aspect of sleep health in relation to educational/academic outcomes in school going Indigenous Australian children aged 5-18 were included in this study. All review articles and studies that focused on physical/ mental disabilities or parent perceptions of sleep and educational outcomes were excluded. A convergent integrated approach was used to collate and synthesize information., Results: Only three studies (two cross-sectional and one longitudinal) met the eligibility criteria out of 574 articles. The sample size ranged from 21-50 of 6 to 13 year old children. A strong relationship was indicated between sleep quantity and educational outcomes, in two of the three studies. One study related the sleep fragmentation/shorter sleep schedules of short sleep class and early risers with poorer reading (B = -30.81 to -37.28, p = 0.006 to 0.023), grammar (B = -39.79 to -47.89, p = 0.012-0.013) and numeracy (B = -37.93 to -50.15, p = 0.003 to 0.022) skills compared with long sleep and normative sleep class whereas another reported no significant relation between sleep and educational outcomes., Conclusion: The review highlights the need for more research to provide evidence of potentially modifiable factors such as sleep and the impact these may have on academic performance., (© 2024 The Author(s). Australian Journal of Rural Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.)

The study investigates the integration of problem-posing techniques within mathematics pedagogy. The aim is to examine the competencies in posing problems by prospective fourth-grade classroom teachers during lesson preparation and figure out what changes need to be made. We designed this research as a quasi-experimental design involving 50 teacher candidates enrolled at a public university during the academic year of 2021-2022 in Turkey. We delved into the effects of problem-posing instruction by giving it to 25 prospective teachers who volunteered to be in the experimental group. We used the Problem-Posing Test as the data collection tool. The Problem-Posing Test consists of 12 distinct scenarios for posing problems, ranging from highly structured to semi-structures, and extending to open-ended problem posing situations. We collected the quantitative data using a rubric developed to evaluate the Problem Posing-Test. We employed the T-test and the Mann-Whitney U test for the analysis of quantitative data. Based on the pre-test results of problem posing, the prospective teachers’ problem-posing skills in the measurement and learning areas were insufficient. However, both groups were able to use the daily life contexts to address the problems they posed. The experimental group demonstrated a notable advantage in problem-posing skills on the post-test administered after receiving problem-posing instruction. We also concluded that problem-posing instruction positively affected the problems posed by prospective classroom teachers in the measurement and learning area. In this regard, offering an elective course on problem posing for the classroom teacher training program in education faculties would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter investigates the experiences of doctoral students and supervisors in the doctoral process, focusing on the potential impact of imbalances in the distribution of power. In this respect, there are troublesome manifestations of excessive faculty entitlement that appear to be a source of inequality and injustice. These phenomena call into question the crucial relationship of support expected of doctoral students, as thesis supervisors have a fundamental role to play in guiding them towards the doctorate and ensuring their successful entry into the research community. Looking at the issue from the angle of the theory of social fields, I examine instances of dysfunction in supervisory experiences. Such problematic practices tend to conform to the relationships and traditions that sustain and (re)produce the practices of the academy, constraining the establishment of what Bakhtin describes as a dialogical relationship, between doctoral students and supervisors. I examine this problem from my own experience, both as a doctoral student and as a supervisor. I approach the question by combining self-study and narrative inquiry to make use of the data from my experience to analyse the issues raised during the supervision of doctoral programmes. I connect accounts drawn from literature, real-life testimonies and a corpus of discussions and notes to explore the manifestations of excessive faculty entitlement in the form of asymmetries and difficulties that can negatively impact the quality of supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of computational thinking (CT) into primary education is often facilitated using one or more CT tools, such as block-based programming environments and educational robotics. A major concern is that these CT tools often are used to design mathematics classroom activities that focus on CT at the expense of mathematics. Hence, there is a need to investigate more closely how CT tools can be used in primary mathematics classroom activities in ways that enable a stronger focus on the learning of mathematics. Using information ecology as a theoretical lens, this study aims to understand how and why CT tools are integrated into primary mathematics classrooms, and how teachers value the possible contributions of such tools. We draw on multiple interviews with two primary teachers, recordings of planning sessions where classroom activities that include CT were designed, the classroom implementations themselves, and reflective conversations with the teachers after the CT tools were integrated in their mathematics classrooms. A deductive analytical approach to our data revealed that (1) CT tools, to varying degrees, facilitate the learning of mathematics; (2) some CT tools were valued by teachers as a better 'fit' than others; and (3) CT tools are primarily used to support the learning of geometry, excluding other mathematical domains. Based on these findings, we suggest that there is a need for more research on the use of different CT tools and their role in the learning of primary mathematics. Moreover, more research is needed to understand how CT tools can be used in topics other than geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing students' (mis)conceptions is a challenging task for teachers as well as for researchers. While individual assessment, for example through interviews, can provide deep insights into students' thinking, this is very time-consuming and therefore not feasible for whole classes or even larger settings. For those settings, automatically evaluated multiple-choice (MC) items could be a solution. However, it is a challenge to design those items and to adapt them for other countries in a way that they adequately reveal students' (mis)conceptions. In this article, we investigate the question whether it is valid to use a German adaption of a multiple-choice test developed in Australia for formative assessment of the letter-as-object misconception in Germany. For this, first semi-structured interviews with five German Year 8 students were conducted, and second, 616 students were asked for short written explanations. These data were analysed with regards to the students' (mis)conceptions and compared with their automatic online diagnosis. In general, a high concordance between online SMART test results and students' explanations was observed, confirming that useful diagnoses of student misconceptions can be obtained from such a short well-designed MC test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning Analytics is concerned with the use of data collected in educational settings to support learning processes. We take a Learning Analytics approach to study the use of immediate feedback in digital classification tasks in mathematics. Feedback serves as an opportunity for learning, however its mere existence does not guarantee its use and effectiveness, as what matters is how learners interact with it. Therefore, our research questions are focused on that interaction. The data consisted of 266 object movements for classifying polygons, and 524 shape movements for classifying traffic signs, under the topic of symmetry. Participants included 29 elementary school students (9–12 years old) from Israel and Germany. Analyzing students' success, feedback use, and the associations between them, we demonstrate how not acting upon feedback is negatively associated with success, and how this undesired behavior slightly reduces along the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the development of a network learning system to enhance professional learning in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) through collaboration in a university–school partnership. The Chilean education system, characterised by market-oriented reforms and competition, serves as a unique context where to explore the development of an initiative designed to reframe relationships between ITE staff and school teachers with the purpose of reducing the distance between academic preparation and the day-to-day realities of teaching in schools. The findings of this exploratory study offer optimistic insights on how the initiative becomes a space for building trust and relationships among professionals and disrupts boundaries between institutions enhancing teacher professional learning, which are particularly promising given the policy context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of first year high-school students in South Australia focussed on the effectiveness of using an innovative project-based mathematics strategy to improve the classroom learning environment and the student outcomes of enjoyment, academic efficacy and achievement. As well, we investigated the differential effectiveness of project-based mathematics for male and female students. A sample of 284 students from a co-educational private secondary school provided quantitative data about classroom learning environment as assessed with seven scales from the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC), together with data about the three student outcomes assessed with one scale each. Our study also included a mixed-method design involving qualitative information collected through classroom observations and interviews with 20 students and 3 teachers to explain patterns emerging from the analysis of quantitative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, the landscape of research on mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) has grown considerably. One particular area of interest has focused on MTE knowledge and the ways in which it is developed and used in teaching practice. However, studies have conceptualized MTE knowledge in different ways and have employed considerably different methodologies and approaches to its study. In an effort to understand this varied landscape, we conducted an extensive review of research on the nature and development of MTE knowledge. This review provides a broad descriptive analysis of the existing theoretical and empirical research on MTEs' knowledge, explores the theoretical underpinnings of the existing frameworks for and studies on MTE knowledge, and considers implications for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical research on number sense to date has been conducted with preschoolers and elementary school students. Despite their contributions to the literature, these studies have used variable-centered analytic approaches that may prevent distinct number sense profiles for preschoolers and first graders from being identified. This study aimed to determine the number and proportions of distinct number sense profiles, the variables influencing these profiles, and the characteristics of the children with different profiles in the transition from preschool to elementary school. We conducted a quantitative study using a cross-sectional design for this purpose and used latent profile analysis to identify and describe distinct number sense profiles for preschoolers and first-grade students. A total of 1688 children, 848 from preschool and 840 from the first grade of elementary school, took part in the study. A Number Sense Screener was used to determine number sense profiles. The data collection tool used in the study was found to be reliable. Based on the findings of the study, we identified three profiles for both the preschoolers and first graders, namely, moderate very low, moderate low, and moderate high. We examined family and household income variables to help predict the profiles. We then took the characteristics and components of number sense that caused the differentiation in the profiles as revealed by the results of the study and discussed them in light of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding graphs in the dynamics of market (DM) is a challenge to learners; its teaching demands a specific kind of teacher’s knowledge. This study aims to examine the topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge (TSPCK) of experienced economics teachers in teaching graphs in DM to enhance learners’ understanding of the topic. It reports using a qualitative approach underpinned by the TSPCK framework for teaching specific topics developed by Mavhunga. Data were collected through classroom observations and analyzed thematically using a case study of two economics teachers. The study revealed that adopting a step-by-step approach and the use of worked graphical examples promote an understanding of graphs in DM. It also established that active learning is preferable to the predominant chalk-and-talk (lecture) method of teaching graphs in DM. The study proposed a Dynamics of Market Graphical Framework (DMG-Framework) to enable teachers, particularly pre-service teachers in lesson delivery, to enhance learners’ understanding of graphs in DM. The result of this study will broaden the international view in the teaching of graphs in DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a substantial body of research evidence that embodied learning modes can enhance children's mathematics learning, yet implementation of the research findings in classrooms has so far been limited. This paper argues the need for translational research to bridge the gap between psychological, neuroscientific, and narrow-focused educational research and teaching practice in schools. As a foundation for such research, and with a focus on early year mathematics education (4 to 8 years), we derive a set of 12 principles of embodied learning from the research literature by applying an integrative literature review method. Based on the findings from the literature, we offer some advice on how these principles might be put into practice with young students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundational thinking for later use of technology, particularly coding, is necessary for an inclusive and sustainable future. Inclusive practices beginning in early childhood recognize children's innate development of computational thinking—sequencing, repetition and looping, debugging, decomposing and composing, representation, and causality. This qualitative research describes processes of developing and evaluating hypothesized developmental progressions. Inclusive engagement of children with and without disabilities is described in examples for each level of each developmental progression. Implications for teaching and learning with inclusive practices are described for children with and without disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript explores the integration of spatial reasoning into K-12 education through the lens of Joyce VanTassel-Baska's Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) and a talent development approach. It emphasizes the significance of nurturing spatial reasoning components—visualization, rotation, orientation, and perception—for academic success, problem-solving, and career prospects, especially for academically talented students. Through collaboration with talent development strategies, including mentorship and differentiated instruction, this approach provides a dynamic, real-world-focused learning experience. Inclusive and designed to engage the educational community, it aims to prepare students for complex global challenges, highlighting the transformative power of tailored education in developing versatile societal contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical word problems are widely recognized as essential tools for assessing the practical application of mathematical knowledge among students. This study endeavors to ascertain the extent to which elementary school students' problem-solving skills have been investigated utilizing eye tracking technology and to elucidate the contribution of eye tracking technology in analyzing students' problem-solving capabilities. To identify the prevailing themes within empirical research concerning the application of eye tracking methodology in the context of problem solving and mathematics, a systematic literature review was undertaken, following the guidelines outlined in the revised 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The initial search yielded 167 studies; however, after excluding studies that did not meet the predetermined inclusion criteria, a final selection of seventeen studies was made. Given the mounting interest in the intersection of eye tracking technology and mathematics education, this research has proven to be a valuable avenue for exploring students' problem-solving processes, comprehension strategies, and metacognitive abilities. Moreover, it offers valuable insights into the distribution of students' attention, their utilization of strategies, and their cognitive workload while engaged in problem solving tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both international examination results and scientific evidence related to the teaching and learning of school algebra point to the necessity for analyzing mathematical practice in the classroom. In this context, we have formulated the research objective of characterizing the mathematical work that teachers favor based on the examples that they implement in the teaching of topics within the domain of secondary school algebra. To this end, this study is situated within the interpretive paradigm utilizing an instrumental collective case study approach. The study design entails the selection of two representative cases of mathematics teachers in Chilean schools, with the objective of understanding and describing their mathematical work in the secondary school classroom based on the examples they present. The results show that the first teacher utilizes varied examples that activate distinct forms of mathematical thinking, promoting the activation of both instrumental and discursive genesis. In contrast, the second teacher follows a more traditional approach, with the use of examples to illustrate and motivate, and a direct presentation of knowledge, activating primarily semiotic genesis, in which a transition between the numerical and the algebraic is lacking. Ultimately, the results highlight the importance of deeper consideration of the choice of examples in the teaching of algebra and how these examples can influence students' learning. Furthermore, additional ideas are put forward for future work in this line of research associated with the use of examples in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of JMD: Journal für Mathematik-Didaktik is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper derives from a large research project focusing on mathematics and science assessment of student learning in three high-need, rural, and urban secondary schools in Manitoba, Canada. The study employed qualitative methods of semi-structured interviews and classroom video recordings of teaching practice experiences of 12 mathematics and science teachers, with the purpose that explore how authentic assessment forms assist effective teaching to monitor and motivate student learning achievement and growth. The results indicate that about 67% (eight out of the twelve of the participants) of the research participants practice the traditional mode of standard assessment that consists of multiple forms of questioning. The participants' rationale relates to speedy evaluations of student work, preparing feedback reports to parents and students, and objectivity of the assessment process. The other 33% (four out of twelve of the participants) of participants practice authentic assessment that concentrates on: (1) Allowing students to apply what they have learned rather than testing their ability to memorize and regurgitate concepts, (2) Allowing students to personalize their knowledge and values, (3) Encouraging group project-based learning and with the use of rubric for evaluating and monitoring, (4) Promoting deep learning to become life-long learners, (5) Recognizing, acknowledging, and validating diversity in student learning styles, interests, and aspirations, and further, authentic assessment is an excellent opportunity to apply communicative technologies such as podcasts and webinars in learning and undertaking investigations in mathematics and science learning. Furthermore, some participants asserted that authentic assessments are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and resource-demanding, aside from the limited resources and lack of training, which are some of the challenges of implementing authentic assessment. Other participants stated that all teachers must be familiar with using all assessment tools. The paper concludes that the principal plays a critical instructional leadership role in a school-wide implementation of authentic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to investigate the relationship between metacognition and the mathematical modeling skills of high school students, as well as the mediating role of computational thinking. A cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate 661 high school students, using the metacognition scale, computational thinking scale, and mathematical modeling skill test questions. The results showed that metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive monitoring had a direct and positive correlation with high school students' mathematical modeling skills. Additionally, the critical thinking dimension of computational thinking mediated the relationship between metacognitive knowledge, experience, monitoring, and mathematical modeling skills. These findings indicated that sufficient metacognition could improve the critical thinking of high school students' computational thinking and enhance their mathematical modeling skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supporting student wellbeing in schools is increasingly becoming a global priority. However, research and initiatives primarily focus on general wellbeing rather than subject-specific experiences. Given the pervasive levels of mathematics anxiety, negative attitudes, and disengagement in mathematics education, we argue for a more contextualised wellbeing approach. We define 'mathematical wellbeing' (MWB) as the fulfilment of values whilst learning mathematics accompanied by positive feelings (e.g., enjoyment) and functioning (e.g., engagement) in the discipline. We report on 3073 New Zealand Year Three to Eight students' responses to a survey measuring their fulfilment of seven MWB values: accomplishments, cognitions, engagement, meaning, perseverance, positive emotions, and relationships. Students' MWB was highest for relationships and perseverance and lowest for engagement and positive emotions; MWB declined from Years Three to Eight; females often rated higher MWB than males; school sociodemographic status was mostly not significant, whilst engagement and positive emotions differed across ethnicities. Research implications include understanding target areas to improve diverse students' experiences and wellbeing in mathematics education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 176 Turkish seventh-grade students were asked to pose three problems for each of the swimming and purchasing tasks to examine how the solvability and complexity of the problems changed depending on the order of responses. The purchasing task required to pose a problem to derive a specific answer before posing new problems, whereas the swimming task required to pose problems based on existing data. The findings indicated that students performed poorly in terms of posing solvable problems in both tasks. The majority of solvable responses in the purchasing task were at the high complexity level, but most in the swimming task were at the low complexity level. No evidence of a relationship between the order of the responses and any of the analysis units (solvability and complexity) was found. Furthermore, when comparing the groups that posed and did not pose solvable problems for the specific answer in the purchasing task, the former group had a stronger tendency to maintain the complexity points in their other responses compared to their first response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an in-depth case study approach, this study explored the mathematics educational values held by two in-service teachers at the primary and secondary levels in Hong Kong through lesson observations and deep structured interviews. The findings revealed that the primary teacher emphasized fun, flexibility, critical thinking, and coherence, while the secondary teacher prioritized achievement, control, higher-order thinking, and progression. Using Seah and Bishop's five complementary pairs framework, the primary teacher aligned with an activist, relational, relevance, and accessibility perspective, contrasting sharply with the secondary teacher. This reflected a shift in values in response to students' educational stages, revealing the challenges of balancing social expectations and nurturing future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent. We discussed the implications for local education reforms, including modernizing assessment methods and curricula, reshaping the social climate, and updating professional development to address these tensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a major international focus on the education and care of toddlers. To date, empirical studies on adults' interactions in play with toddlers have focussed on the proximity of teachers, teachers' affective responses, and joint attention between adults and children in play. However, less attention has been given to the role of two teachers working together in supporting children's exploration of concepts in joint play. This paper takes a cultural-historical perspective and draws upon the concepts of play and subjective positioning to investigate how co-teaching promotes toddlers' joint play and exploration of mathematical concepts. Visual data of a group of toddlers playing with two teachers is analysed to explore how the teachers applied co-teaching pedagogy to support children's exploration of mathematical concept. The study argues that co-teaching provides potential to support collective play as two teachers can work collaboratively to address the toddlers' challenges and needs and support their exploration of the rules and mathematical concepts in play. Co-teaching by paired teachers enables toddlers' joint play to become more complex, helping the children to explore mathematical concepts and, in turn, further enhancing their play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Buca Faculty of Education Journal / Buca Egitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Buca Faculty of Education Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to examine pre-service teachers’(PTs’) understandings of graphs and how their understandings about graphs have transformed into instructional practices as they participated in a lesson study. It was employed case study and three PTs participated. They initially viewed graphs as instruments for organizing and representing data. As the lesson study progressed, they began to view graphs as instruments to answer statistical questions. This fundamental transformation in their understanding resulted in a change in how they designed and implemented their lesson plans. They designed tasks around a statistical question and made connections with this question while deciding the type of graph and interpreting the graph. In addition, they anticipated students’ possible conceptions. Hence, for these PTs, understanding the function graphs as instruments to answer statistical questions can be considered as a key development understanding (KDU), which was built on multiple experiences of designing, implementing and evaluating lessons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the role of tools in supporting students to reason about even and odd numbers. Participants included Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students (ages 5–8) at two schools in the USA. Students took part in a cross-sectional early algebra intervention in which they were asked to generalize, represent, justify, and reason with mathematical structure and relationships. Interviews were conducted with students before, during, and after the year-long intervention to explore the ways in which tools mediated their engagement in these practices in the context of questions about parity. In addition to cubes and "dot cards," which were introduced during the interviews, we found that students also used their fingers and hands as tools. We outline the affordances and constraints of these tools in supporting students' reasoning about the properties of even and odd numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Victoria, Australia, senior secondary mathematics students are expected to use technology and thus need to make decisions about using pen-and-paper (P&P) or technology when solving mathematics problems. The predominant technology is a Computer Algebra System (CAS). This study investigated the beliefs about CAS held by twelve Year 11 students as they learnt to use CAS and whether these beliefs were stable over time. These students held a range of beliefs related to the usefulness of CAS, speed of CAS compared to P&P, whether CAS is proper mathematics, choice of CAS or P&P, ease of use, the correctness of answers and solving problems in Mathematical Methods (i.e. the mathematics subject studied). Beliefs are often described as being stable (e.g. McLeod, 1992), but some researchers stress stability needs to be determined empirically rather than being seen as a characteristic of beliefs (e.g. Liljedahl et al., 2012). For this sample of students, stability (rather than instability) is a feature of students' beliefs about CAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of children's drawings as mathematical representations is a current focus in early years mathematics education research. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of 72 kindergarten to Grade 3 (5 to 8 years old) children's drawings produced during problem-solving tasks centred on multiplicative strategies. Existing frameworks for the developmental sequence of mathematical drawings and the progression of children's strategies for multiplicative situations were an interpretive lens through which to analyse the drawings. Children used pictographic and iconic drawing types to represent the "story" in the problem and the multiplicative strategies employed to solve the tasks. Exploration of the children's drawings suggested that as children's drawings become more structural, schematic in nature, it may be easier for children to show their understanding of the structural elements of multiplicative relationships. Results revealed that structural elements of multiplicative relationships were more easily seen in iconic representations; however, both pictographic and iconic drawings were useful to observe counting, additive, and multiplicative strategies when mathematical elements of the problem were visible. Additional representations attached to the drawings (e.g. numerical) were needed to confirm children's strategies when their drawings lacked structure. These findings have implications for how young children's drawings are interpreted by classroom teachers. The interpretation of these drawings suggested that some children may not yet realise how their drawings in mathematics need to shift from illustrations of the problem's story context to representing mathematical ideas and processes — which requires intentional teaching of the purpose of drawings for mathematical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on gender issues and mathematics education is often conducted in classroom settings and/or with teachers, students, and parents. However, perspectives about mathematics from adults beyond teachers and parents can have an impact on students. Thus, we conducted research in Australia and Canada about the general public's views of gender and mathematics. Participants (n = 405) were surveyed using a questionnaire in which all questions were worded in a non-binary manner. In this article, we focus on participants' views about gender and mathematics ability, and the importance of studying mathematics by gender. We report both overall trends and trends by demographic group (country, gender, age, and education level). The majority of participants indicated that there was no relationship between gender and mathematics ability or between gender and the importance of studying mathematics. Participants with gendered views typically felt that boys/men/males are better at mathematics and that it was more important for girls/women/females to study mathematics. Although the findings were generally encouraging, the existence of sexist, stereotyped views highlights the need for additional work to probe people's views of gender and mathematics. Our study is an example of mathematics education research conducted in a gender-inclusive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 7-month mathematics proficiency program was conducted in a primary Australian Indigenous community school. This paper focuses on outlining the specific methodologies employed to explore how students' mathematical proficiency changed throughout the implementation of the program in Years 2 to 4 (~ 7 to 9 years old). A mixed methods research design was utilised, and findings will be presented to evidence how the combination of standardised tests, diagnostic tests, and Newman interviews were useful in capturing and making visible young Indigenous student's mathematical proficiency. Whilst standardised tests provided a useful and comparable measure of student achievement, diagnostic tests and Newman interviews gave space for Indigenous student voice and demonstrated their strengths and areas for improvement in relation to their conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and strategic competence. From these findings, recommendations concerning the adjustment of data collection procedures for young students in this setting are presented. The findings question the accuracy of standardised tests in revealing young students' proficiency, and this has implications for the extent to which standardised tests are relied upon to inform educational reform particularly for Indigenous students. Striving for equitable educational outcomes is an important endeavour in Australia, and such undertakings must be driven by meaningful and accurate evidence of students' proficiency in mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates the use of curriculum mapping as a process that can support productive boundary encounters between lecturers in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme as part of curriculum review. Using mathematics as the context, lecturers in a 1-year primary graduate ITE programme developed a curriculum map to identify the mathematical thinking opportunities available to their pre-service teachers in their courses and across the programme. The coordinated approach to curriculum analysis/mapping expanded lecturers' definition of mathematical skills and reasoning and their awareness of opportunities their students had to engage with mathematical ideas. The mapping process included collaborative discussions, document analysis and iterative development of a curriculum map. In an overcrowded curriculum, which responds to government policies and university initiatives such as embedding critical literacy, mathematical foundations and cross-disciplinary study, the mapping process has potential to meet multiple demands and agendas. In our study, the mapping process and the map offered purposeful and productive grounds for learning and development. They were central to facilitating dialogic boundary encounters between programme lecturers resulting in the re-conceptualisation of course and programme curriculum boundaries. We expect study findings will be of interest to programme leaders, lecturers and researchers facing the challenge of identifying and supporting the development of competencies and multi-literacies that span courses and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting early in life, children, especially girls, experience obstacles when it comes to developing interest in STEM. Although teachers face an important task in promoting girls (and boys) in STEM, they often encounter hurdles in doing so. A three-month-long training for pre-and in-service teachers in elementary education was developed to counter this phenomenon. An important training feature was teaching ideas for STEM classrooms. Teachers' evaluation of the training and teaching ideas, changes in their self-concept, and elementary students' assessment of the teaching ideas were investigated. Students rated the teaching ideas favorably, with no gender differences. Even though each idea incorporated relevant didactic features for gender-sensitive STEM instruction, the teachers rated certain ideas and contents more critically than others. Nevertheless, their assessments speak in favor of the training intervention, while also indicating gaps in teachers' professional knowledge regarding gender-sensitive didactics. Implications for the design of STEM teacher education are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ninth grade on-track is predictive of high school graduation, more than race, socio-economic status, and prior achievement combined. Although initiatives characterized by an intense focus on the ninth-grade year are being increasingly implemented, research has not fully documented and tested mechanisms linked to improved outcomes. Using survey and transcript-level data and causal mediation analysis, this study tests the effects of students attending high teacher efficacy (self and collective—TSE and CTE) schools on ninth grade on-track in an urban school district in a northeast state in the United States. It further examines the extent to which ambitious instructional practices, defined as culturally relevant and transformative pedagogy, mediate the effects of TSE on ninth grade on-track and how levels of supportive school culture moderate these relationships. The findings indicate that urban ninth-graders attending schools with high TSE and CTE are more likely to be on track at the end of ninth grade. Additionally, the direct effect of students attending a school with high TSE was mediated by the level of ambitious instruction. We discuss implications for teacher education (TE) and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early mathematics education, the beliefs of the teacher are essential for facilitating the integration of technology into teaching mathematics. This study explores the influence of physical and digital interactive learning environments on the development of early childhood teachers' beliefs about integrating technology into early mathematics classrooms. To understand the development of teachers' beliefs, a half-year, content-based professional development program that incorporates interactive digital and physical environments was designed for this research on early childhood mathematics teachers (N = 58). We administered a questionnaire to measure teachers' beliefs regarding employing an interactive technological environment in mathematics classrooms before and after engaging in an intervention program. In addition, a reflective writing strategy was implemented with the participants (N = 10) to understand the development of their beliefs about technology via an evaluation of their levels of reflection. In general, the research findings indicate that an interactive learning environment supports an improvement in teachers' beliefs about technology. Furthermore, positive qualitative findings were drawn from the reflective writing essays of early childhood teachers. The qualitative findings indicate that an interactive environment enables teachers to be conscious of selecting effective math-specific technologies that facilitate children's exploration and discovery of mathematics concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is discussed regarding the meaning of "definition" in primary school, where children often memorize definitions. In geometry, students frequently confuse "definition" with the "description" of a geometric object. The aim of this study is to verify whether a new hybrid methodology between storytelling and game-based learning called Geometrikoland exercises skills that fall within what we understand as "definitory thinking", which the set of competencies and meta-competencies is associated with acquiring a true mastery of definitions in geometry. This goal can be achieved because the dynamics of Geometrikoland alter the approach to definitions. The methodology applied is a hybrid of storytelling and adventure game-based learning applied to a "engine" of quadrilateral theory. The experiment took place in a fifth-grade class in an Italian school. The analysis of some data based on the accuracy of geometry actions during workshops and qualitative analysis based on the analysis of oral arguments produced during the labs lead to the conclusion that, on average, children have gained a greater awareness of what it means to define a geometric object and a better understanding of the relationships between various subsets of the set of quadrilaterals, previously seen as separate sets. Further confirmation has been provided by comparing the results of two mini-tests (a placement test and an exit test), which are useful for assessing the skills associated with the criterion of arbitrariness, the criterion of uniqueness, and classificatory thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to contemporary research, there exists an imbalance within the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), wherein certain subjects are lacking representation due to the neglect or omission of mathematical elements. The purpose of this study is to address this issue through the analysis of an established learning sequence that has been well-tested to promote mathematical skills. We adapted the selected biology-based learning sequence to foster mathematical problem solving and conducted it with a school class. The qualitative analysis of the recorded video footage of this adapted learning sequence revealed that the modified task effectively stimulated mathematical problem-solving skills. This successful adaptation demonstrates one approach through which mathematics can be strengthened and effectively utilized in STEM subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate parental involvement in children's mathematics education, with a particular focus on the subject of circles, in the absence of tailored support programs for parents in this area. In this study, the action research method was used. The study sample consisted of voluntary participants among the parents of 6th-grade students. The data collection tools of the study consisted of achievement tests administered to students and their parents, semi-structured interviews with students and parents after the program, and observations of the participants. We found that parents could learn the subjects depending on their level of education, they could be helpful to their children through their existing knowledge, they understood their children better and their beliefs that they could help their children increased. Likewise, children's belief that their parents could help them strengthened, and their academic success in the subject of circles also increased. Consequently, children experience greater happiness in student-centered lessons and display increased proficiency. Moreover, when faced with parts of the subject that they did not understand, they could quickly seek assistance from their parents. Furthermore, the children and parents expressed satisfaction with this study and a desire to continue training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into the nature of numeracy and numeracy practice has typically been focused on the capabilities required to participate effectively within personal, civic, and work life. In this article, we document the development of numeracy theory and practice froma functional perspective through to a view that includes evaluative and decision-making capabilities now required for informed and responsible citizenship--a critical turn. We map this development through an audit of policy and curriculum documents in addition to published research, making connections to the ever-changing mathematical demands of society. These include new demands that require critical approaches to the deployment of numeracy capabilities. We argue that this turn to the critical is central to how citizens support their societies' responses to recent and intensifying disruptive phenomena such as COVID-19 and for ensuring equity, inclusiveness, and social justice remain a high priority in a rapidly changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the unique challenges and transformations in higher education instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on a strategic response from one chemistry department. The COVID-19 pandemic created many obstacles to providing quality instruction. To support chemistry instructors during the challenging transition to remote teaching, the leadership within one chemistry department created an initiative to ease feelings of isolation and support instructors in undergraduate teaching. Within this manuscript, we triangulate recordings of instructors' discussions about remote teaching, course syllabi, and open-ended surveys to understand the teaching experiences of the instructors within this department during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings expose various points of tension instructors faced and demonstrate how the pandemic and the departmental initiative changed instructors' teaching values. Despite the unfortunate context of the pandemic, these data reveal how this department-wide initiative has impacted the instructors and the department's climate around teaching, which underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in navigating unprecedented educational challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine to what extent the emotional factors such as attitude, fear of negative evaluation and stress level for academic expectations predict students' mathematics achievements. In this quantitative study a prediction research design, type of correlational design, was used to anticipate results by using particular variables as predictors. The study was conducted on 352 middle school students attending a middle school in Bursa. Students' mathematics scores, Mathematics Attitude Scale (MAS), Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale Short Form (FNES) and Academic Expectations Stress Inventory (AESI) were used for data collection. In order to determine participants' level of attitude toward mathematics, fear of negative evaluation and stress level for academic expectations descriptive statistics were used. Secondly to compare participants' score on three measurements according to their gender, class level, and mathematics scores, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was employed. According to results gender did not make a significant difference on mathematics attitude, fear of negative evaluation and stress level separately, as well. Class level increases, students' positive attitudes towards mathematics decreases. Students with high mathematics scores had significantly more positive feelings towards mathematics than students with low mathematics scores. The results of correlation analysis indicated that mathematics success was significantly and positively associated to mathematics attitude while it was significantly and negatively associated to fear of negative evaluation and stress for academic expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While enabling students to refer to and build on peer-produced work (termed 'citing' herein) during content creation appears pedagogically promising, its associated learning effects remain under-studied. This research aimed at examining the effects of online citing of peer-generated assessment items during student test-construction on promoting learning and task performance. Additionally, any negative effects this approach may have on inducing cognitive and emotional burdens were examined. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design was adopted, where two treatment groups were devised (i.e. the citing and no-citing groups). A group of fifth-graders from six classes participated in an 11-week study. Based on the results of the analysis of covariance, it was found that students in the citing group scored significantly higher than those in the no-citing group on academic achievement and question-generation performance. In addition, citing did not induce significantly higher cognitive load or learning anxiety as compared to the no-citing situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although children's literature is often viewed as a means to achieve educational goals and to strengthen children's identities, existing or ongoing literature projects devalue Indigenous identity – or, more tragically, systematically obliterate it – to the point that every narrative within postcolonial education systems is inherently harmful to children. This study was intended to decolonise children's literature to increase children's reading and mathematics learning. We designed and implemented a decolonised picture storybook as a complementary resource for the third graders with integrating Indigenous West Papuan culture. This collaborative work involved an Indigenous elder and teacher, a homeroom teacher, and an expert. The results of the study showed that students were immersed in the narratives of the books they were reading during reading time. Due to our emphasis on social justice-oriented approaches – familiarizing Indigenous students' experience in this book, students began sharing analytical, intertextual, personal, transparent, and performative responses. They expressed their genuine excitement by saying, 'I want to read this book again!' When brain-crossing pathways took place, students gained a more thorough understanding of the mathematical concept (i.e. multiplication). It occurred as they visualized, drew, estimated, and synthesized the narrative symbols in order to make sense of what they read. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical modelling involves a set of interconnected skills that allow students to translate real-world situations into mathematical representations and vice versa. This research aimed to develop the instrument consisting of sub-competency; simplifying, mathematising, computing, interpreting and validating. The study utilized a cross sectional survey research design. A total of 135 pre-service teachers of mathematics voluntarily selected using convenience sampling methods, participated in this study. The data was analysed by item-CVI (I-CVI), S-CVI and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). This tool's preliminary versions demonstrated good content validity for both the individual items and overall, for STEM-based material (S-CVI/UA = 0.88; S-CVI/Ave = 0.93). The Kappa value was K = 0.88, indicating an excellent value of validity. The development of STEM-Based modelling instrument revealed great item-content validity and scale-validity for assessing sub competency in pre-service teachers. At the same time, EFA revealed that STEM-based modelling instrument had five sub-components; simplifying, mathematising, computing, interpreting and validating. The results showed that the STEM-based modelling instrument's reliability was good. Creating and verifying the STEM-focused modelling tool designed for preservice teachers is essential in mathematics education and research. It offers a valuable means to evaluate and improve the essential skillset related to mathematical modelling, benefiting educators and STEM students alike. Moreover, the research's approach and discoveries have the potential to influence forthcoming investigations and educational methodologies across diverse fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of a learning design focussed on providing guided autonomy within a virtual makerspace on the spatial thinking, anxiety and learning creativity of participating students. The learning design deployed within the virtual makerspace was consistent with the learning principles espoused by Self-Determination Theory in that it allowed students to develop autonomy and make many important decisions in their own learning, created diverse opportunities for the relatedness through authentic opportunities to work with others, and ensured a sense of competence through the provision of 'just in time' training and support. Through a within-subjects pre-/post-test design, the study showed a significant improvement in spatial reasoning across the cohort (n = 340). The most notable gains were for students with low but not very low pre-test scores before the intervention. Improvements in creativity and anxiety were also reported by students following the program. Given the research showing the importance of spatial reasoning to future success in STEM educational and career trajectories, these results suggest that well designed makerspace learning may be particularly useful in addressing an important learning gap for disadvantaged students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National reform documents all around the world issue an urgent need for the development of integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curricula. With the emphasis on the development of STEM curricula, there is also a need for improving teachers' and future teachers' conceptions of the integrated STEM approach. This study responds to this call by providing a context to develop pre-service science teachers' understanding of STEM disciplines.Query In this study, we explored how the engineering design-based intervention developed the pre-service science teachers' understanding of integrated STEM education. For this purpose, four STEM activities that focus on a daily-life problem and an iterative engineering design process to solve the problem were adopted. The results revealed that participants' understanding of science was developed throughout the activities (i.e., from the first to the last activity). Similarly, there was an enrichment in their understanding of the engineering design process. On the other hand, there was no gradual development in participants' understanding of mathematics implying that participants had difficulties in making explicit connections with mathematics throughout the activities. Implications for effective STEM courses for developing pre-service science teachers' understanding of STEM disciplines and STEM courses in pre-service science teacher education programs were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]