There has been a lot of media attention about 'out-of-field' teaching, but much of it does not capture the complexities of the term or account for the range of knowledge, experience, and attitudes relevant for teaching mathematics in the middle years. In this paper we report on a survey conducted to better understand the diversity of the…

Mathematics anxiety and examination anxiety affect student well-being, engagement, and performance in the mathematics classroom. An increase in confidence in the mathematics classroom leads to a decrease in anxiety. This paper reports on the Five Question Approach (FQA) to teaching mathematics which provides teachers with a method of reducing…

For students to engage in mathematical thinking, a greater emphasis is needed on the expectations of students, by themselves and others, as active listeners and explainers. As student responsibility for mathematical thinking and participation increases, the roles of the teacher and learner change. A qualitative study of changing classroom…

Mathematics self-efficacy is considered an important variable in mathematics education because of its links to mathematics achievement. This paper reports on the development of the "Self-efficacy-effort in Mathematics Scale" (SEEMS), an instrument that has strong theoretical and psychometric properties. Based on a sample of n = 224…

The use of manipulatives to develop conceptual understanding appears to be a prevalent practice in many mathematical learning experiences, particularly in the early years of schooling. This study evaluates the impact of mathematical manipulatives on young children's attitudes towards mathematics (YCATM). The modified three-dimensional model of…

It is well accepted and understood amongst the mathematics education community that numeracy is the responsibility of all teachers, across all levels of schooling. However, the way numeracy is understood and actioned across the Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary contexts is different. This paper reports on a case study of secondary school…

This paper reports results from an investigation of the impact of an intervention program which was designed to help underperforming students reengage in mathematics learning. The paper outlines teacher and tutor perceptions of the program's impact on students who participated in the intervention which intends to "get students ready" for…

An alternate reality game was designed to facilitate transition and engagement amongst students commencing a tertiary preparation program at a regional university in Australia. The design of the game was informed by a student engagement framework which proposes four psychosocial constructs which mediate engagement at the intersection between…

This study evaluated pre-service teachers' (PSMTs) perceptions of their own readiness to teach secondary mathematics. The study was conducted at an Australian university across two campuses, in different states. Specifically, PSMTs' perceptions of their preparedness were explored in terms of mathematical content knowledge, pedagogical content…

Studies, such as Programme for International Student Assessment 2012, indicate that there are gender based differences in measures of mathematics anxiety, self-concept and self-efficacy among students. In this study we explore self-efficacy, self-concept and mathematics anxiety in a sample of Year 7 and 8 South Australian students to examine if…

The notion of work self-efficacy is significant as the self-efficacy beliefs of an individual have considerable influence on his/her level of motivation and performance in the workplace. This paper aims to determine the effects of the learning activities of a work-integrated learning course in Exercise Science in relation to students' perceived…

This paper presents initial data from a study being undertaken into the potential effects of a mentoring program for teacher education students who have self-identified as suffering from mathematics anxiety. The first phase of the study saw 8 primary teacher education students opt into a program matching them in pairs with 4 mentor teachers who…

In 2015, a new MTeach coursework unit, "Numeracy for Learners and Teachers," was introduced at Monash University. The impetuses for this unit were the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership numeracy standards for graduate teachers, and the inclusion of numeracy as a general capability in the Australian Curriculum. In…

Supporting secondary school leaders to improve staff wellbeing is important because staff (both teaching and administrative) are key stakeholders in students' educational outcomes. This project is promoting a collaborative approach between a university and leadership staff at three Perth secondary schools to co-create, implement and evaluate…

Photosensitivity is a medically recognized and documented spectrum disorder, but little known by Australian educators. Australian educators use digital media as part of contemporary classroom practice, but for students who are visually photosensitive, this learning experience can adversely affect their cognitive ability, behaviour and even…