Abstract
In this article, we describe the generation of a Design and Implementation Framework for Mathematical Modelling Tasks (DIFMT) through a researcher-teacher collaboration. The purpose of the framework is to support holistic approaches to instructional modelling competency. This framework is underpinned by principles drawn from theory and praxis which are informed by the anticipatory capabilities that teachers require for the design and effective implementation of quality modelling tasks in secondary classrooms. A draft DIFMT was developed from a synthesis of research literature and was refined through an iterative process of task development, implementation and observation, reflection through teacher/student interviews, and revision of the framework. Each iteration made use of the most recent refinement of the co-constructed DIFMT, building theory while simultaneously addressing a problem in educational practice, consistent with a design-based methodology. Thus, the DIMFT developed organically throughout the project. While initial modelling exemplars were researcher-designed, the locus of responsibility moved to teachers as the project progressed. The DIFMT consists of two major components—principles for modelling task design and pedagogical architecture—each of which is structured around dimensions that include elaborations which detail the knowledge required for modelling as well as teacher and student capabilities.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data is only available to project researchers according to the terms of ethics approval
Code availability
N/A.
References
Blömeke, S., Gustafsson, J.-E., & Shavelson, R. J. (2015). Beyond dichotomies: Competence viewed as a continuum. Journal of Psychology, 223(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000194
Blömeke, S., Hsieh, F.-J., Kaiser, G., & Schmidt, W. H. (Eds.). (2014). International perspectives on teacher knowledge, beliefs and opportunities to learn. TEDSM results. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.
Blomhøj, M., & Jensen, T. H. (2003). Developing mathematical modelling competence: Conceptual clarification and educational planning. Teaching Mathematics and its Applications, 22(3), 123–139. https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/22.3.123
Blomhøj, M., & Jensen, T. H. (2007). What’s all the fuss about competencies? In W. Blum, P. L. Galbraith, H. W. Henn, & M. Niss (Eds.), Modelling and applications in mathematics education (pp. 45–56). Boston, MA: Springer.
Blum, W. (2011). Can modelling be taught and learnt? Some answers from empirical research. In G. Kaiser, W. Blum, R. Borromeo Ferri, & G. Stillman (Eds.), Trends in teaching and learning of mathematical modelling (pp. 15–30). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.
Blum, W., & Leiß, D. (2005). “Filling up” - The problem of independence-preserving teacher interventions in lessons with demanding modelling tasks. In M. Bosch (Ed.), Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME 4) (pp. 1623–1633). Barcelona, Spain: Universitat Ramon Llull Editions.
Borromeo Ferri, R. (2018). Learning how to teach mathematical modeling in school and teacher education. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
Borromeo Ferri, R., & Blum, W. (2010). Mathematical modelling in teacher education – Experiences from a modelling seminar. In V. Durand-Guerrier, S. Soury-Lavergne, & F. Arzarello (Eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME 6) (pp. 2046–2055). Lyon, France: Institut National de Recherche Pédagogique.
Brousseau, G. (1984). The crucial role of the didactical contract in the analysis and construction of situations in teaching and learning mathematics. Theory of Mathematics Education, 54, 110–119.
Burns, R. B. (2000). Introduction to research methods (4th ed.). French’s Forest, NSW: Longman.
Cobb, P., Confrey, J., diSessa, A., Lehrer, R., & Schauble, L. (2003). Design experiments in educational research. Educational Researcher, 32(1), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X032001009
Czocher, J. A. (2017). Mathematical modeling cycles as a task design heuristic. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 14(1-3), 129–140.
Czocher, J. A. (2018). How does validating activity contribute to the modelling process? Educational Studies in Mathematics, 99(2), 137–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-018-9833-4
de Oliveira, A. M. P., & Barbosa, J. C. (2010). Mathematical modeling and the teachers’ tensions. In R. Lesh, P. L. Galbraith, C. Haines, & A. Hurford (Eds.), Modeling students’ mathematical modeling competencies. ICTMA 13 (pp. 511–517). Boston, MA: Springer.
Galbraith, P. (2006). Real world problems: Developing principles of design. Identities, Cultures and Learning Spaces, 1, 228–236.
Galbraith, P. (2015). ‘Noticing’ in the practice of modelling as real world problem solving. In G. Kaiser & H.-W. Henn (Eds.), Werner Blum und seine beitrage zum modellieren im mathematikunterricht (pp. 151–166). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer Spektrum.
Galbraith, P., & Stillman, G. (2006). A framework for identifying student blockages during transitions in the modelling process. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 38(2), 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02655886
Geiger, V. (2011). Factors affecting teachers’ adoption of innovative practices with technology and mathematical modelling. In G. Kaiser, W. Blum, R. Borromeo Ferri, & G. Stillman (Eds.), Trends in the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling (pp. 305–314). New York, NY: Springer.
Geiger, V. (2019). Using mathematics as evidence supporting critical reasoning and enquiry in primary science classrooms. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 51(7), 929–940. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-019-01068-2
Geiger, V., Galbraith, P., & Niss, M. (accepted for publication). Generating a design and implementation framework for mathematical modelling tasks through researcher-teacher collaboration. In F. Leung, G. A. Stillman, G. Kaiser, & K. L. Wong (Eds.), Mathematical modelling education in East and West. Boston, MA: Springer.
Geiger, V., Stillman, G., Brown, J., Galbraith, P., & Niss, M. (2018). Using mathematics to solve real world problems: The role of enablers. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 30(1), 7–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-017-0217-3
Goos, M., Geiger, V., Dole, S., Forgasz, H., & Bennison, A. (2019). Numeracy across the curriculum: Research-based strategies for enhancing teaching and learning. Allen & Unwin.
Haines, C., Crouch, R., & Davies, J. (2001). Understanding students’ modelling skills. In J. F. Matos, W. Blum, K. Houston, & S. P. Carreira (Eds.), Modelling and mathematics education. ICTMA 9 (pp. 366–380). Chichester, UK: Ellis Horwood.
Hernandez-Martinez, P., & Vos, P. (2018). “Why do I have to learn this?” - A study from mathematical modelling education about the relevance of mathematics. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 50(1-2), 245–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-017-0904-2
Jankvist, U. T., & Niss, M. (2019). Upper secondary students’ difficulties with mathematical modelling. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 51(4), 467–496. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2019.1587530
Johnson, H. L., Coles, A., & Clarke, D. (2017). Mathematical tasks and the student: Navigating “tensions of intentions” between designers, teachers, and students. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 49(6), 813–822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-017-0894-0
Jones, K., & Pepin, B. (2016). Research on mathematics teachers as partners in task design. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 19(2–3), 105–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-016-9345-z
Jung, H., & Brady, C. (2016). Roles of a teacher and researcher during in situ professional development around the implementation of mathematical modeling tasks. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 19(2-3), 277–295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-015-9335-6
Kaiser, G., Blömeke, S., Koenig, J., Busse, A., Doehrmann, M., & Hoth, J. (2017). Professional competencies of (prospective) mathematics teachers—Cognitive versus situated approaches. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 94(2), 161–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-016-9713-8
Kaiser, G., & Brand, S. (2015). Modelling competencies: Past development and further perspectives. In G. A. Stillman, W. Blum, & M. S. Biembengut (Eds.), Mathematical modelling in education research and practice (pp. 129–149). Cham: Springer.
Maaß, K. (2006). What are modelling competencies. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 38(2), 113–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02655885
Maaß, K. (2010). Classification scheme for modelling tasks. Journal für Mathematik-Didaktik, 31(2), 285–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13138-010-0010-2
Maaß, K., Geiger, V., Ariza, M. R., & Goos, M. (2019). The role of mathematics in interdisciplinary STEM education. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 51(7), 869–884. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-019-01100-5
Niss, M. (2010). Modeling a crucial aspect of students’ mathematical modeling. In R. Lesh, P. L. Galbraith, C. Haines, & A. Hurford (Eds.), Modeling students’ mathematical competencies. ICTMA 13 (pp. 43–59). Boston, MA: Springer.
Niss, M., & Blum, W. (2020). The learning and teaching of mathematical modelling. London & New York: Routledge.
Niss, M., Blum, W., & Galbraith, P. (2007). Introduction to modelling and applications in mathematics education. In W. Blum, P. Galbraith, H.-W. Henn, & M. Niss (Eds.), Modelling and applications in mathematics education. The 14th ICMI Study (pp. 3–32). New York, NY: Springer.
Santagata, R., & Yeh, C. (2016). The role of perception, interpretation, and decision making in the development of beginnings teachers’ competence. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 48(1–2), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-015-0737-9
Schoenfeld, A. H. (2011). How we think: A theory of goal-oriented decision making and its educational applications. New York: Routledge.
Schukajlow, S., & Krug, A. (2014). Do multiple solutions matter? Prompting multiple solutions, interest, competence, and autonomy. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 45(4), 497–533.
Schukajlow, S., Krug, A., & Rakoczy, K. (2015). Effects of prompting multiple solutions for modelling problems on students’ performance. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 89(3), 393–417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-015-9608-0
Shulman, L. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review, 57, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.57.1.j463w79r56455411
Stillman, G. (1998). The emperor’s new clothes? Teaching and assessment of mathematical applications at the senior secondary level. In P. Galbraith, W. Blum, G. Booker, & I. D. Huntley (Eds.), Mathematical modelling: Teaching and assessment in a technology-rich world (pp. 243–253). Chichester, NY: Ellis Horwood.
Stillman, G., & Brown, J. (2014). Evidence of implemented anticipation in mathematisation by beginning modellers. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 26, 763–789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-014-0119-6
Stillman, G., Galbraith, P., Brown, J., & Edwards, I. (2007). A framework for success in implementing mathematical modelling in the secondary classroom. In J. Watson & K. Beswick (Eds.), Mathematics: Essential research, essential practice (Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Hobart, Vol. 2, pp. 688–707). Adelaide, Australia: MERGA.
Tan, L. S., & Ang, K. C. (2016). A school-based professional development programme for teachers of mathematical modelling in Singapore. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 19(5), 399–432.
Treilibs, V. (1979). Formulation processes in mathematical modelling (Unpublished master’s thesis). United Kingdom: University of Nottingham.
Yackel, E., & Cobb, P. (1996). Sociomathematical norms, argumentation, and autonomy in mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 27(4), 458–477.
Acknowledgements
This publication is an outcome of the project DP170101555 (Geiger, V., Stillman, G., Brown, J., Galbraith, P., and Niss, M.).
Funding
This study was funded by the Australian Research Council - DP170101555.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geiger, V., Galbraith, P., Niss, M. et al. Developing a task design and implementation framework for fostering mathematical modelling competencies. Educ Stud Math 109, 313–336 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-021-10039-y
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-021-10039-y