MathsMinds: Inspiring STEM Futures
Year Awarded
2024
Amount
€59,867.56
- Organisation:University of Galway
- Co-funded with Dept of Education:Yes
Project Summary
MathsMinds: Inspiring STEM Futures fosters a Research Practice Partnership (RPP) involving primary school teachers, mathematics education researchers, STEM professionals and eLearning designers to address gender-related issues in mathematics education. The RPP work together to co-create a toolkit for upper primary school teachers which supports inclusive teaching and learning in mathematics, increases awareness of STEM careers and provides equitable access to role models in STEM professions.
The toolkit comprises four digital, interactive, animated mathematics modules underpinned by three design principles: the facilitation of equity in the study of mathematics; the provision of access for girls to female role models in STEM professions; and the development of engaging, animated and interactive mathematical tasks aligned with the Primary School Mathematics Curriculum. Each module focuses on a STEM profession and a mathematical concept on the primary curriculum. An implementation pack accompanies each module, documenting evidence-based pedagogical approaches to be employed by the teacher, a self-assessment tool for the teacher to heighten their awareness of the ways in which gender stereotyping can occur in the classroom, and the resources the learners require for engaging with the module content.
The modules are piloted by the RPP teachers to acquire the evidence-based recommendations for future implementation and to evaluate and refine the modules before they are disseminated nationally on the project website. Each module culminates with the STEM professional visiting the primary school children to discuss their profession and the children’s learnings from engaging in the mathematics tasks.