It all STEMs from Maths

EPISTEM, the National Centre for STEM Education based in the University of Limerick, today announced a new “Numeracy Across the Curriculum” (NAC) initiative. A year-long research and development project with the goal of developing strategies for teaching numeracy across the curriculum, the initiative will be piloted in primary and secondary schools across Limerick and Clare from August.

Numeracy connects the mathematics learned at school with real-world situations that require problem-solving and critical judgment. For numeracy to be useful to students it needs to be learned in multiple contexts and in all school subjects – not just mathematics

The initiative is based on ten years of research undertaken by Professor. Merrilyn Goos (Director of EPISTEM) and her Australian colleagues Vince Geiger, Shelley Dole, Helen Forgasz and Anne Bennison. Pulling from their extensive research, Goos and her colleagues developed guidance for teachers on how to embed numeracy across all subjects within the curriculum and to support teachers in assessing numeracy learning and dealing with the challenges of working within the boundaries of specific subjects. Goos and her colleagues have published their findings in the book “Numeracy Across the Curriculum: Research-based strategies for enhancing teaching and learning” which was officially launched in Ireland at today’s announcement.

How Maths can be applied in real life

The “Numeracy Across the Curriculum” initiative has had great success over the last number of years in my native Australia.” said Goos at today’s announcement. “Empowering teachers to help their students use mathematics to solve everyday problems, or make evidence-based judgements, can be transformational. It is about looking at maths not from a closed discipline /subject perspective but how it is applied in real life contexts.”

The book provides a practical guide for both pre-service and in-service teachers, on understanding numeracy and its application in both primary and post-primary secondary schools in Ireland. Seven schools across the Limerick/Clare region have been selected to take part in the pilot scheme.

“The programme will establish meaningful and beneficial connections between schools across the Limerick and Clare region and my team here in UL, while simultaneously addressing a national priority by developing schools of excellence in the area of numeracy, and ensuring that teachers equipped with the skills to become Numeracy Ambassadors/Champions,” added Goos.

The “Numeracy Across The Curriculum” project seeks to develop teachers’ understanding of numeracy, while also guiding teachers on how to recognise and embed numeracy opportunities within their subject area. It will provide teachers with ideas, classroom activities and resources that they can use to develop students’ numeracy skills and will offer practical guidance for both schools and teachers.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Jerry O’Sullivan, Deputy Chief Executive, ESB, welcomed the launch of the book and the initiative. “The “Numeracy Across The Curriculum” project will provide teachers with ideas, classroom activities and resources that they can use to develop students’ numeracy skills and will offer practical guidance for both schools and teachers.”

“ESB is committed to supporting STEAM education and learning as a way of empowering young people to fulfil their potential, and encouraging them to positively engage with the issues and challenges facing society. Initiatives like the “Numeracy Across the Curriculum” project, with the goal of supporting positive dispositions towards the use of mathematics to solve problems encountered in day-to-day life, can only benefit young people and enable them to develop the skills necessary to critically assess the world around them and become the problem solvers and innovators of the future”.

The “Numeracy Across the Curriculum: Research-based strategies for enhancing teaching and learning” book is available now and can be accessed by all pre-service or in-service teachers as a guidance tool. The “Numeracy Across the Curriculum” pilot scheme will kick off in schools across Limerick in August 2019