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Australian Catholic University (ACU) is offering one full-time PhD scholarship to undertake research into the role of talk in relation to mathematical thinking in small group work with early years (Grades 1 and 2) students.
One PhD scholarship package is being offered in 2024 that will support the work of Professor Tracey Muir and a cross-university team that will build on an ARC-funded project, Talking maths: Bridging the gap through talk in Early Years Mathematics. The project aims to investigate the role of talk in relation to mathematical thinking in small group work with Early Years (Grades 1 and 2) students. Whilst many teachers promote the use of talk and small group work in mathematics classrooms, the language needed for mathematical talk is not normally a focus.
The project will help us to further understand the role of language in learning mathematics and to determine how students can be encouraged to use talk more productively when working together. A deficit in the use of language for productive talk can act as a barrier for students' performance in mathematics, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds. We focus on the Early Years when students start to engage formally in mathematics and where intervention will have the most lasting impact.
The Talking Maths project will evaluate a school-based intervention in a Brisbane school that positions language through talk as a key resource in teaching mathematics in Grades 1 and 2 and will gather evidence of the effect on student achievement in mathematics and teachers' professional development. This Higher Degree Research project will involve an in-depth study of the intervention with a group of students to investigate the impact on the language used in group talk and its relationship with the students' mathematical thinking.
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Study mode |
Full-time, on-campus |
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Location |
ACU Brisbane (Banyo) Campus |
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Duration |
Up to 3.5 years |
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Commencing |
2025 |
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Supervisor |
Professor Tracey Muir |
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Host |
School of Education Our education researchers have built strong relationships with schools, dioceses and education policy makers across the country. Through these relationships, our researchers are able to direct their efforts into projects that are directly improving outcomes for students. Across all stages of learning our researchers are generating evidence-based knowledge to improve teaching techniques, assessment models, and learning outcomes. |
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Eligibility |
ACU PhD program
Scholarship criteria Essential requirements:
Desirable skills:
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Conditions |
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Applications close: Friday 20 December 2024, 11:59 AEDT
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at ACU, as detailed in the 'How to Apply' instructions, plus:
Interested candidates should contact Professor Tracey Muir before applying for the PhD program and this scholarship.
According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, ACU is ranked in the top 100 Young Universities worldwide. Research excellence at ACU is founded on the principles of social justice and the common good and attracts leading experts, students and collaborators from across the globe.
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