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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
RMIT doubles emphasis on primary maths
The School of Education at RMIT University has acted on growing community
concerns about primary mathematics by revising all its primary teacher education
programs and doubling the time spent on numeracy.
“It is vital that our primary teacher education graduates are confident and
competent in teaching mathematics and numeracy, so we include relevant courses
in each year of our teacher education program,” Head of School, Professor Annette
Gough, said. “Without this, the engagement of primary school students with
mathematics will not occur.”
Students coming into primary teacher education programs have to have completed
at least Units 1 and 2 of VCE mathematics, and many have completed Units 3 and
4. They then study the following aspects of teaching and learning in mathematics
and numeracy in each year of their four-year program:
Introduction to School Mathematics and Numeracy
Developing a Sense of Measurement, Data, Chance and Space
Developing a Sense of Number
Current Issues and Challenges in School Mathematics Education
These courses have been designed to complement both VELS and the directions
of the Australian curriculum.
The mathematics education area at RMIT is led by the highly regarded
mathematics educator, Professor Di Siemon, who has worked on the development
of numerous mathematics curriculum statements, including VELS.
Professor Siemon’s research on scaffolding numeracy in the middle years
underpins the teaching of numeracy in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
This project built on her previous leadership of the Primary Numeracy Research
Project and the Middle Years Numeracy Research Project.
The School of Education has also introduced a double degree program with the
School of Applied Sciences to graduate mathematics and science teachers for
primary and secondary schools.
“Although only in its third year, with the first students graduating at the end of 2011,
this program is designed to meet the growing need for qualified mathematics and
science teachers,” Professor Gough said.
For more information or interviews: Professor Annette Gough, 0400 816 129,
or Professor Diane Siemon, 0419 329 880.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, David
Glanz, (03) 9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
15 March, 2010
NEWS 
