Up Skills Math.pdf (2.6 MB)
Building teacher knowledge for quality mathematics education in Ireland
report
posted on 2022-12-08, 14:59 authored by Merrilyn GoosMerrilyn Goos, AILISH HANNIGANAILISH HANNIGAN, JOHN O'DONOGHUEJOHN O'DONOGHUE, Máire Ní RíordáinImproving mathematics proficiency
among Irish school children has long
been a topic of national debate.123The
research team at EPI*STEM, the national
centre for STEM Education based at the
University of Limerick (UL), play a key role
in highlighting the subject’s challenges
and providing solutions. EPI*STEM’s
research uncovered a fundamental
barrier to mathematical attainment.
Their 2009 study (Ref 3), reported that
almost half (48%) of those teaching
mathematics at post-primary level were
not adequately qualified to do so: in other
words, they were teaching out-of-field
(OOF). These results led to EPI*STEM
launching a dedicated upskilling
programme, the Professional Diploma in
Mathematics Teaching (PDMT), in 2012.
The programme is government funded,
recognised by the Teaching Council, and
delivered through a national network
of 14 teacher education partners. To
date, 1100 teachers have graduated the
programme.
Through their focus on STEM research
and education, EPI*STEM have: impacted
mathematical proficiency among
post-primary students; addressed the
imbalance in the numbers and age-profile
of qualified mathematics teachers within
the education system; and contributed
to improving the knowledge, confidence,
and classroom practice of mathematics
teachers throughout Ireland. A 2018 study
by EPI*STEM (Ref 9) found the rate of OOF
teaching has since reduced to 25%.
History
Publisher
University of LimerickNote
non-peer-reviewedLanguage
EnglishDepartment or School
- Mathematics & Statistics
- School of Education
- School of Medicine
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