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Maths matters

Maths is about equity, so it is vital that young children learn key concepts early, according to Australian Catholic University's (ACU National) Associate Dean of Education Professor Elizabeth Warren.

Children who are good at maths, particularly algebra, have access to a greater range of highly paid careers than those who are not, said Professor Warren, whose research expertise encompasses  early mathematics education and Indigenous education.

“Research shows that the successful teaching of mathematical concepts in the early years is vital,” Professor Warren said.

“Students who miss out key concepts early on continue to experience difficulties throughout their schooling. Without proficiency in mathematics and in particular algebra, students cannot access a full range of educational and career opportunities. As a consequence, they are locked out of many high status opportunities.”

Mathematical understanding also allows disadvantaged people to discover, describe and fight inequity in funding and resources.

Professor Warren’s research expertise in improving early mathematics education includes Indigenous education. Working with Independent Schools Queensland, Cairns Catholic Education and Education Queensland, Professor Warren has developed a maths program for Indigenous children aged three and four which includes kits for parents, to help foster key concepts during play.
  
“Indigenous parents want their kids to learn and engage in western understandings, because they can see that it will give them wider opportunities. Education systems have failed these parents at some stage, so their feelings about school are likely to be negative.”

Western ways of teaching maths tend to favour the use of text books, pen and paper worksheets and practising many examples, but there are other options, she argues.

“Hands on and whole body engagement with ‘big ideas’ can also give a good grounding for later learning, with parents reinforcing ideas introduced in the classroom at home.”

Professor Warren’s longitudinal research project, Young Australian Indigenous students’ Literacy and Numeracy (YAILN), with ACU National senior lecturer in education Dr Janelle Young and Eva deVries from Independent Schools Queensland, was featured in a recent issue of the Australian Journal of Early Childhood, December 2008.

It concluded that “the role of oral language in developing mathematical understanding especially for students whose first language is not English cannot be underestimated”.

Their work is also featured in a recent issue of the Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, concluding that “the research recognises the considerable capabilities of young Indigenous Australian students as they commence school and aims to assist them to engage in meaningful dialogue concerning numeracy in order to meet the challenge of improving long-term educational outcomes”.

Professor Warren’s three-year $140,000 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project, which began this year, is on Young students’ generalisation in arithmetic and algebra; patterns and mathematical structure.

“The shortfall of scientists and mathematicians is a national concern,” her funding submission points out. “This research promotes in-depth understanding of how young students generalise mathematics in the early years, thus allowing them access to the powerful ideas of algebra, leading to improved outcomes in mathematics.”