Abstract
In presenting the final chapter for this Research into Mathematics Education in Australasia (RiMEA) book, I first give consideration to the official curriculum and the operational curriculum as a basis for exploring how we might advance mathematics education research within our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) environment. Next, I present an overview of some of the core features of the current national and international spotlight on STEM education. From this basis, I argue that the roles and positioning of mathematics are in danger of being overlooked or diminished within the increased STEM framework. As one approach to lifting the profile of mathematics, I explore problem-solving and modelling across STEM contexts. In utilising findings from the chapter reviews together with my own research, I offer suggestions forĀ (a) developing content and processes through idea-generating problems, (b) promoting in-depth content understanding, and (c) fostering general skills and processes . Next, I address the advancement of modelling across STEM contexts and illustrate this with a problem set within an environmental engineering context. I conclude by offering a few avenues for further research.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Atweh, B., & Alaāi, K. (2012). Socially response-able mathematics education: Lessons from three teachers. In J. Dindyal, L. P. Cheng, & S. F. Ng (Eds.), Proceedings of the 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 98ā105). Singapore: MERGA.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). (2015a, September 18). Australian Curriculum: Endorced and improved. ACARA News. Retreived from http://www.acara.edu.au/news_media/acara_news/acara_news_2015_09.html
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). (2015b). Review of the National Curriculum. Retrieved from https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/review_of_the_national_curriculum_final_report.pdf
Australian Industry Group. (2015). Progressing STEM skills in Australia. Sydney: AIG.
Birmingham, S. (Hon.). (2015, December 14). Getting Australian students and teachers ready for the future [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/Latest-News/ID/2903/Getting-Australian-students-and-teachers-ready-for-the-future
Bryan, L. A., Moore, T. J., Johnson, C. C., & Roehrig, G. H. (2015). Integrated STEM education. In C. C. Johnson, E. E. Peters-Burton, & T. J. Moore (Eds.), STEM roadmap: A framework for integration (pp. 23ā37). London: Taylor & Francis.
Caprile, M., Palmen, R., Sanz, & Dente, G. (2015). Encouraging STEM studies for the labour market (Directorate-General for Internal Policies: European Parliament). Brussels: European Union. Retrieved from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2015/542199/IPOL_STU%282015%29542199_EN.pdf
Charette, R. N. (2013, August 30). The STEM crisis is a myth. IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved from http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/education/the-stem-crisis-is-a-myth.
Charette, R. N. (2014, December/2015, January). Commentary: STEM sense and nonsense. Educational Leadership, 72, 79-83.
Doerr, H. M., & English, L. D. (2003). A modelling perspective on studentsā mathematical reasoning about data. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 34(2), 110ā136.
Education Council. (2015). National STEM school education strategy. Retrieved from http://www.educationcouncil.edu.au
English, L. D. (2010). Young childrenās early modelling with data. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 22(2), 24ā47.
English, L. D. (2015). STEM: Challenges and opportunities for mathematics education. In K. Beswick, T. Muir, & J. Wells (Eds.), Proceedings of the 39th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Vol. 1, pp. 3ā18). Hobart: PME.
English, L. D. (In press, 2016). Developing early foundations through modelling with data. In C. Hirsch (Ed.), Annual perspectives in mathematics education: Mathematical modeling and modeling mathematics. Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
English, L. D., & Gainsburg, J. (In press, 2016). Problem-solving in a 21st-century mathematics curriculum. In L. D. English & D. Kirshner (Eds.), Handbook of international research in mathematics education (3rd ed., pp. 313ā335). New York: Taylor & Francis.
English, L. D., & Kirshner, D. (In press, 2016). Changing agendas in international research in mathematics education. In L. D. English & D. Kirshner (Eds.), Handbook of international research in mathematics education (3rd ed., pp. 3ā18). New York: Taylor & Francis.
English, L. D., & Mousoulides, N. (2011). Engineering-based modelling experiences in the elementary classroom. In M. S. Khine & I. M. Saleh (Eds.), Models and modelling: Cognitive tools for scientific enquiry (pp. 173ā194).Ā Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
Fitzallen, N. (2015). STEM education: What does mathematics have to offer? In M. Marshman, V. Geiger, & A. Bennison (Ed.), Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 237ā244). Sydney: MERGA.
Gainsburg, J. (2006). The mathematical modeling of structural engineers. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 8(1), 3ā36.
Galbraith, P. (2013). From conference to community: An ICTMA journey. In G. A. Stillman, G., Kaiser, W., Blum, & J. P. Brown (Eds.), Mathematical modelling: Connecting to practice (pp. 27ā45). Dordrecht,Ā The Netherlands: Springer.
Galbraith, P. (2015). āNoticingā in the practice of modelling as real world problem-solving. In G. Kaiser & H.-W. Henn (Eds.), Werner Blum und seine BeitrƤge zum Modellieren im Mathematikunterricht: RealitƤtsbezĆ¼ge im Mathematikunterricht (pp. 151ā166). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer.
Gittins, R. (2016, March 7). Letās stand against misleading modelling [article]. Retrieved from http://www.rossgittins.com/2016/03/lets-stand-against-misleading-modelling.html
Goos, M., Galbraith, P., & Renshaw, P. (2002). Socially mediated metacognition: Creating collaborative zones of proximal development in small group problem-solving. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 49, 193ā223.
Grootenboer, P., & Sullivan, P. (2013). Remote Indigenous studentsā understanding of measurement. International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education, 11(1), 169ā189.
Hamilton, E., Lesh, R., Lester, F., & Brilleslyper, M. (2008). Model-eliciting activities (MEAs) as a bridge between engineering education research and mathematics education research. Advances in Engineering Education, 1(2), 1ā25.
Herbel-Eisenmann, B., Sinclair, N., Chval, K. B., Clements, D. H., Civil., M., Pape, S. J. ā¦ Wilkerson, T. L. (2016). Positioning mathematics education researchers to influence storylines. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 47(2), 102ā117.
Honey, M., Pearson, G., & Schweingruber, (Eds.). (2014). STEM integration in K-12 education: Status, prospects, and an agenda for research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Hopkins, S., Forgasz, H., Corrigan, D., & Panizzon, D. (2014). The STEM issue in Australia: What it is and where is the evidence? Paper presented at the 2014 STEM Conference, Vancouver, Canada.
Hoyles, C., Noss, R., Kent, P., & Bakker, A. (2010). Improving mathematics at work: The need for techno-mathematical literacies. London: Routledge.
Kapa, E. (2001). A metacognitive support during the process of problem-solving in a computerised environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 47, 317ā336.
Lesh, R. A., & Doerr, H. M. (2003). Foundations of a models & modelling perspective on mathematics teaching and learning. In R. A. Lesh & H. Doerr (Eds.), Beyond constructivism: A models and modelling perspective on mathematics teaching, learning, and problem-solving (pp. 3ā34). Mahwah, NJ:Ā Lawrence Erlbaum.
Lesh, R., & Fennewald, T. (2010). Introduction to Part I modelling: What is it? Why do it? In R. Lesh, P. L. Galbraith, C. R. Haines, & A. Hurford (Eds.), Modelling studentsā mathematical modeling competencies (ICTMA 13) (pp. 5ā10). New York: Springer.
Lesh, R. A., & Zawojewski, J. (2007). Problem-solving and modelling. In F. K. Lester Jr (Ed.), Second handbook of research on mathematics teaching and learning (pp. 763ā804). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.
Lesh, R. A., Zawojewski, J. S., & Carmona, G. (2003). What mathematical abilities are needed for success beyond school in a technology-based age of information? In R. Lesh & H. Doerr (Eds.), Beyond constructivism: Models and modelling perspectives on mathematic problem-solving, learning and teaching (pp. 205ā222). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Lester, F. K, Jr. (2013). Thoughts about research on mathematical problem-solving instruction. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 10(1&2), 245ā278.
Lester, F. K, Jr, & Kehle, P. (2003). From problem-solving to modelling: The evolution of thinking on research about complex activity. In R. Lesh & H. Doerr (Eds.), Beyond constructivism: Models and modelling perspectives on mathematics problem-solving, learning, and teaching (pp. 501ā518). Mahwah, NJ:Ā Lawrence Erlbaum.
Liukas, L. (2015). Hello Ruby: Adventures in coding. New York: Feiwel and Friends.
Lumley, T., & Mendelovits, J. (2012). How well do young people deal with contradictory and unreliable information on line? What the PISA digital reading assessment tells us. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.
Marginson, S., Tytler, R., Freeman, B., & Roberts, K. (2013). STEM: Country comparisons. Melbourne: Australian Council of Learned Academies.
National Innovation and Science Agenda. (2015). Retrieved from http://innovation.gov.au/page/national-innovation-and-science-agenda-report
Science, National, & Council, Technology. (2013). A report from the committee on STEM education. Washington, DC: National Science and Technology Council.
Niss, M. (2010). Modelling a crucial aspect of studentsā mathematical modeling. In R. Lesh, P. Galbraith, C. R. Haines, & A. Hurford (Eds.), Modelling studentsā mathematical competencies (pp. 43ā59). New York: Springer.
OECD. (2013a). Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 assessment and analytical framework: Mathematics, reading, science, problem-solving and financial literacy. Paris: OECD Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ content/book/ 9789264190511-en
OECD. (2013b). Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 draft collaborative problem-solving framework. Retrieved from http://ww.oecd.org/pisa/pisaproducts/DraftPISA2015CollaborativeProblem-solvingFramework.pdf
Office of the Chief Scientist. (2013). Science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the national interest: A strategic approach. Canberra: Australian Government.
Office of the Chief Scientist. (2014). Benchmarking Australian science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Canberra: Australian Government.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2015). Framework for 21st century learning. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/our-work/p21-framework
Pellegrino, J. W., & Hilton, M. L. (Eds.). (2012). Education for life and work: Developing transferable knowledge and skills in the 21st century. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Remillard, J. T., & Heck, D. (2014). Conceptualising the curriculum enactment process in mathematics education. ZDM, 46(5), 705ā718.
Schneider, W., & Artelt, C. (2010). Metacognition and mathematics education. ZDM, 42, 149ā161.
Silver, E. A., Mesa, V. M., Morris, K. A., Star, J. R., & Benken, B. M. (2009). Teaching mathematics for understanding: An analysis of lessons submitted by teachers seeking NBPTS certification. American Educational Research Journal, 46(2), 501ā531.
STEM Task Force Report. (2014). Innovate: A blueprint for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in California public education. Dublin, CA: Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation.
Stillman, G., & Brown, J. (2014). Evidence of implemented anticipation in mathematising by beginning modellers. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 26(4), 763ā789.
Stillman, G., & Galbraith, P. (1998). Applying mathematics with real world connections: Metacognitive characteristics of secondary students. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 36(2), 157ā195.
Sullivan, P., & Davidson, A. (2014). The role of challenging mathematical tasks in creating opportunities for student reasoning. In J. Anderson, M. Cavanagh, & A. Prescott (Eds.), Proceedings of the 37th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 605ā612). Sydney: MERGA.
Sullivan, P., Clarke, D., Cheeseman, J., Mornane, A., Roche, A., Swatzki, C., & Walker, N. (2014). Studentsā willingness to engage with mathematical challenges: Implications for classroom pedagogies. In J. Anderson, M. Cavanagh, & A. Prescott (Eds.), Proceedings of the 37th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (pp. 597ā604). Sydney: MERGA.
The Royal Society Science Policy Centre. (2014). Vision for science and mathematics education. London: The Royal Society.
Vasquez, J., Sneider, C., & Comer, M. (2013). STEM lesson essentials, grades 3-8: Integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Walshaw, M., & Openshaw, R. (2011). Mathematics curriculum change: Parliamentary discussion over the past two decades. Curriculum Matters, 7, 8ā25.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
Ā© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
English, L.D. (2016). Advancing Mathematics Education Research Within a STEM Environment. In: Makar, K., Dole, S., Visnovska, J., Goos, M., Bennison, A., Fry, K. (eds) Research in Mathematics Education in Australasia 2012-2015. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1419-2_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1419-2_17
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1417-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1419-2
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)