Researching mathematics learning
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This course is designed for the professional development of anyone working with learners of mathematics – whether as a teacher, classroom assistant, lecturer, adviser or parent. You’ll develop ways of exploring mathematics teaching and learning; interpret current thinking on the subject; and investigate aspects of the social and political context. You will consider tasks to generate pupils’ activity and explore the impact of different tasks on learners. You’ll also reflect and work on you own mathematics, develop your mathematical autobiography and explore further the readings and ideas that influence you most.
See Entry section for bursary information
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Education.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | ME825 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown.
What you will study
This course develops ways of exploring and examining mathematics learning at all levels, in a general context of research writing and reflection on mathematics education. It is a course in mathematics education, not in mathematics. It deals with identifying and exploring styles of task and their role in learning and teaching mathematics; aspects of apparatus and technology; working on transitions from sensitive teaching to professional development to research into your own or others' classroom situations and practices.
The aims of the course are to:
- increase your awareness and knowledge of research work in mathematics education as a discipline, and how it might impinge on teaching and learning mathematics
- enable you to reflect in depth on aspects of mathematics learning, including your own
- enable you to examine critically established views about existing practice, and to engage with, interpret and assess research evidence on mathematics teaching and learning
- enable you to carry out some exploratory personal research related to mathematics learning.
The course is in four sections plus a project. You are guided through each section by the study guide, which includes structured tasks with comments. Each section draws on the other study materials: one book on task and activity, two readers, a set book, audio material on CD and articles on the internet.
Introduction You begin by working on your mathematical autobiography. There is guidance to help you in reading and interpreting published writings in mathematics education. You begin to develop skills in noticing details and formulating questions about teaching and learning in mathematics classrooms.
Two central parts of teaching mathematics are providing mathematical tasks to generate pupils' activity, and asking questions both to find out what pupils have done and to explore and focus their activity. The middle sections of the course examine these aspects in detail.
Finally, Probing and Being Sceptical reviews the course, so that you can explore further the readings and ideas that have influenced you most. It also looks outwards at aspects of the social and political context of school mathematics education.
The course includes material about exploring the range of researchable possibilities; making records, including transcribing and analysing audio cassettes of classrooms and interviews; ‘commonplaces’ in mathematics teaching; the language of mathematics education writing; finding out in mathematics education.
Successful study of this course should enhance your skills in communicating mathematical ideas clearly and succinctly, explaining mathematical ideas to others, understanding complex mathematics education texts and analysing and interpreting critically research data and findings.
Entry
You must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at equivalent level.
You need not be a practising teacher, but you should have experience of teaching, and you will need access to learners of mathematics. If you have taken any of the University's undergraduate level courses in mathematics education, you will be especially well prepared. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) bursaries
We may be able to offer bursaries for eligible students. For further details please visit our website.
Qualifications
ME825 is an optional module in our:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education (C27)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education (D52)
- Graduate Diploma in Mathematics Education (E07)
- Masters degree in Education (F01)
If you leave the programme before gaining the 180 credits required for a masters degree, this course will qualify you for a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education or, with another 60 credits from the programme, for a Postgraduate Diploma.
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Some of the study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, computer CD-ROMs, online forums and other activities. Two specially prepared readers:
Mason, J. and Johnston-Wilder, S. (eds) 2004 Fundamental constructs in mathematics education, Routledge Falmer and
Allen, B.M. and Johnston-Wilder, S. (eds) 2004 Mathematics Education: Exploring the Culture of Learning, Routledge Falmer.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Mason, J Researching Your Own Practice: The Discipline of Noticing, Routledge Falmer £27.99 - ISBN 9780415248624
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking ME825. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You must submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper.
The small-scale investigative project that takes the place of an examination.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Education.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | ME825 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
This was a fascinating course and very relevant to my teaching. The books provided were excellent and recommended reading very ...
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IT WAS EXCELLENT AND GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY. The tutor was very helpful. I was able to transfer knowledge gained ...
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