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Research study at Michigan State University shows how developing spatial reasoning in young children (6-8) improves calculation

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Great math case study ideas. I think this would help teachers thinking about their own ideas for great math lessons.

Researchers from Notre Dame and Harvard, in a paper to be published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, discuss Soviet mathematicians' movement to U.S. institutions following the breakup of the Soviet Union, how Soviet mathematical study engaged in different areas of specialization from that of the west, and subsequently "a flood of new mathematicians, theorems and ideas."

Abstract only online, full text requires subscription or purchase. Results of one study of 10-12 year old children in eight classrooms in three Australian primary schools leads researchers to suggest "educators should carefully consider the application and appropriateness of games before employing them as a vehicle for introducing mathematical concepts. "

Description of a University of Queensland study involving 36 infants, half 15 months and half 18 months. Tests with counting videos suggests that the 18 month old children have a grasp of counting rules before they can count (for example, understanding that objects can be counted only once." Further research using brain imaging is suggested.

Thanks - this will be useful for my "Math-rich baby" online class!

A five-year NSF backed study suggests early interventions in teaching and learning

Sending this on to the UMIGO group - we are involving parents of low-income kids with tech&math...

I love this site. Every maths and business studies teacher should be using it. Children can buy and manage virtual shares at the London stock Exchange and the site is linked to real prices. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Maths

Survey questions from a study on why undergraduates don't persist with STEM majors

Originally posted in 2010 and reconsidered from the perspective of recent international study on science aptitude of boys and girls, makes the point that, minus exceptional aptitude, girls and boys have equal potential and demonstrate equivalent success in math

Abstract: "n this study we explored the impact of performing mathematical tasks presented in the context of an "adventure challenge" or a "mathematical challenge" in a videogame. This videogame - "Matemáquina do Tempo" - is being developed to facilitate learning of mathematical skills like counting, grouping, and relating numbers. The videogame consists in various movement control tasks with dynamic (e.g., running) and static (e.g., pointing) interactions. Our goal was to test the impact of the integration of a direct mathematical task versus an indirect mathematical task. A group of 18 five year-old children performed the game in two conditions: a) adventure challenge , which implied movements such as running or climbing trees to perform mathematical tasks of counting and grouping; and b) mathematical challenge , which included swimming after selecting the correct path through counting, followed by a direct mathematical task of pointing to organize numbers in a line. Our assumptions were evaluated according to questionnaires and video analysis of the children playing the game. Results confirmed our hypothesis, showing that players performing the mathematical challenge generally considered that they were learning with the game, and most agreeing that the game was fun. Participants in the adventure challenge condition on the other hand, showed a tendency to evaluate the game as very amusing and were more distributed in the learning evaluation. In conclusion, we suggest that the inclusion of direct mathematical tasks in the videogame might lead to increased perception of learning, although they also seem to result in lower amusement ratings."

"The number of unfilled positions has been halved since the study's authors last explored the topic in 2006, but institutions surveyed during the 2011-12 academic year still reported they were unable to fill about one-quarter of their job openings. The study will appear in the April 2013 edition of the American Mathematical Society publication Notices."

Abstract:"This paper discusses the results of a pilot st udy that explored how prospective secondary school teachers are shaped by learni ng experiences during their undergraduate mathematics education. The collabora tive study, which was conducted by a mathematician and a mathematics educator, dr ew from the experiences of prospective teachers in a non-traditional undergraduate ma thematics program that makes extensive use of technology. Analysis of data collect ed from detailed questionnaires, journals, and focus group discussions strongly suggests that designing, implementing, and testing Learning Objects promotes prospective teache rs' learning of the mathematics needed for teaching. Furthermore, the analysis shows t hat prospective teachers' experiences of ownership, engagement, and pride are key to positive learning experiences. "

Abstract: "This study examined the benefits and challenges associated with implementing RtI [Response to Intervention] in the area of math ematics in an elementary and a middle school in a rural district in the northeastern United States. We sought to document the ways in which two schools approached implementation of RtI and to explore the issues they encountered with respect to instruction , intervention, and assessment. Five themes were identified that described implementation of the RtI framework: Shifting roles and changing structures, increasing opportunities for collaboration and communication, inc reasing instruction al an d assessment su pport for students who struggle in math, increasing knowledge of support strategies for learners who struggle with math, and "spreading the word" and enhancing the use of the model. The results of this study suggest that the RtI model has potential to impr ove how math instruction is approached in elementary and middle schools. "

From the abstract: "this study investigated how the perspectives of the non-computer science educators changed after learning game-programming and how it could be fitted into the K-12 curriculum. Fourteen non-computer science educators and/or administrators in the K - 16 educational systems who made up a cohort at Sam Houston State University, Master of Education/Instructional Technology Program participated in this study. The participants were required to learn two free Web 2.0 game-programming applications and reflect on an article related to reviving interest in math and science as part of their program. Qualitative data consisted of online reflections, and peer-review processes through Facebook. A quantitative component was added to the analysis. The findings indicated that: (a) the perspectives of the participants changed from negative to positive as they reflected on their own game-programming learning experiences; (b) participants came to understand how game programming could build up students' logical concepts and critical thinking skills improving performances in math, science, and other subjects; and (c) due to the benefits of logical concepts and critical thinking skills game programming could have immense benefits if built into the K-12 curriculum."

Abstract: "Students' attitudes toward mathematics and its learning have been subject to numerous studies in the past six decades. These studies treat such attitudes as both desirable learning outcomes and correlates of mathematics achievement. Many Likert-type attitude scales have been devised to measure significant constructs underlying mathematics-related attitudes, such as confidence, anxiety, and utility of mathematics. The psychometric properties of these attitude scales may be culture and age dependent. As part of a research project called Singapore Mathematics Assessment and Pedagogy Project (SMAPP), an effort was made to devise and validate an attitude toward learning mathematics scale that can be used with lower secondary school students in Singapore. This paper explains the use of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to reduce an initial 57-item questionnaire to one with 24 items that cover these six dimensions: Checking solutions, Confidence, Enjoyment, Use of IT in mathematics learning, Multiple solutions, and Usefulness of mathematics. The data comprise responses from about 890 Secondary 1 (Grade 7) students in 2010, who took the 57-item questionnaire, and another 850 students who took the 24-item questionnaire in 2011. The nature of the final questionnaire is discussed. This effort contributes to the continual effort to devise validated attitude scales that are suitable for different cultures and student groups."

From the abstract: "Studies on creative mathematics conducted in the past decades revealed that the importance of creation of learning and teaching environment favourable to the identification and nurturing creativity in mathematics. Based on psychological, methodological and didactical models created by Krutetskii (2006), Shchedrovtiskii (2008), Brousseau (2007) and Sierpinska (2004), we have developed our challenging situation approach. During 5 years of field study in the elementary grade VII classroom, we collected sufficient amount of data that demonstrate how these challenging situations help to discover and to boost mathematical creativity in very young children, keeping and increasing their interest towards more advanced mathematics curriculum. This article is an humble attempt to present our model and illustrate how it works in the mixedability classroom. We will also discuss different roles that teachers and students might play in this kind of environment and how each side could benefit from it."

"Mastery - an approach to teaching maths commonly used in East Asian countries - can significantly benefit children in UK schools, a University of Exeter academic has found. The independent research, conducted by the Oxford University Department of Education, is the first academic study to show this teaching method, now supported by the UK Government, can be effective."

"Italian psychologist Geatano Kanizsa first described this optical illusion in 1955 as a subjective or illusory contour illusion. The study of such optical illusions has led to an understanding of how the brain and eyes perceive optical information and has been used considerably by artists and designers alike. They show the power of human imagination in filling in the gaps to make implied constructions in our own minds. Kanizsa figures and similar illusions are a really useful way to encourage learners to 'say what they see' and to explain how they see it. It offers a chance for others to become aware of the different views available in a diagram and share their own thoughts without the 'danger' of being wrong; many people see different things."

Discusses theory of motivational learning in educational games and presents a research study involving 115 elementary school students in math class using digital game-based learning

"SRI International, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and the University of Maine have received a $3.5 million award from the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate the effectiveness of an online tutoring system for mathematics homework. The research team will study seventh-grade mathematics students and teachers in more than 50 schools throughout Maine using WPI's ASSISTments system. ASSISTments aims to transform homework by giving students instant feedback and tutoring adapted to their individual needs. It also provides teachers with customized reports each morning on their students' nightly progress. Teachers in the study will receive training in how to use these reports to adapt their lesson plans to better suit students' needs."