Overview

This unit familiarises pre-service teachers with mathematics in an educational context and beyond. They will understand the difference between mathematics and numeracy, and the implications of this on teaching and learning. Pre-service teachers will be enticed by the wonder mathematics presents in our everyday lives, and how this can be utilised in educational contexts. This unit will also briefly look at how children develop mathematical thinking

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Investigate the connection between mathematics and numeracy, and explain how they are evident in the world around us
  • Describe the impact and role of contemporary theories on the development of children’s mathematical thinking and numeracy processes
  • Recognise authentic learning opportunities for numeracy and mathematics in play and everyday experiences
  • Utilise ICT to support children’s engagement with numeracy and mathematics
  • Explore mathematics and numeracy in relevant National and/or State or Territory curriculum documents
  • Reflect and apply on personal competency in mathematics.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		6.00 8 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Various		5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Portfolio Individual  60%  1,2,3,4,5 
Presentation and Report Individual  40%  2,3,6

Content

  • Mathematics vs numeracy
  • Mathematics vs numeracy in learning environments (are we preparing children with adequate numeracy skills)
  • The Golden Ratio, Tessellations, Spirographs, Origami
  • Thinking mathematically
  • Theory of children's development related to maths
  • Maths as a real world subject
  • Overcoming maths anxiety
  • Becoming engaged and enthusiastic about mathematics and numeracy
  • Problem solving skills related to numeracy
  • The Origins of number and base 10 counting system
  • Counting, Number sense, one to one correspondence, subitizing, conservation
  • Numeracy, Mathematics and ICTs
  • Contemporary research into teaching and learning mathematics
  • Government policy and curriculum on literacy - links to EYLF and/or the VEYLDF and relevant National and/or State or Territory Curriculum
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.