The AAMT’s position paper “Pedagogy in Mathematics,” giving teachers back their voice, maintaining appropriate challenge, and how to get the most value from the paper. Professor of mathematics education and AAMT’s board chair, Catherine Attard, joins Strength in Numbers to discuss the recently published position paper “Pedagogy in Mathematics,” a framework for action and improvements in your classroom, your school, and your approach, as well as the practices covered by the paper such as purposef...
Mar 09, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 10
AAMT’s study tour to the NCTM conference, ICME 15, the Focus on Maths grant program, and the Pedagogy in Mathematics paper. Mathematics Education Specialist at AAMT, Denise Halliday, joins Alan for a retrospective on the AAMT’s busy 2024, including events such as a study tour to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Chicago, the National Summit on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Education, the Australian Mathematics Education Journal and the Australian P...
Mar 03, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Situating the curriculum in real life to engage students, giving purpose to learning, teaching that real data is never perfect, the value of not having the right answer as a teacher, and much more. Founder of the Australian Data Science Education Institute, author of Raising Heretics, PhD in Computer Science Education, and passionate educator, Dr Linda McIver joins Allan to discuss best practices to grow students into powerful critical thinkers, challengers of orthodoxy, analysts and problem sol...
Dec 01, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 8
The power of AI as a teaching aid, how to ethically use AI and ChatGPT as a thinking partner, content generator, and consumer of data. Co-CEO of Tutero, Joey Moshinski, and Education Specialist at AAMT, Denise Halliday join Allan to talk about the benefits, challenges, limitations, and ethics of using AI large language models as a tool to improve the teaching of mathematics, as well as challenges with equity of access, techniques to create prompts for your AI, tailoring common exercises to your ...
Nov 24, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 7
The value of mathematical empathy, combatting societal perceptions about mathematics, meeting students where they are in order to understand them, and more. PhD Candidate and author of “Contemplating the Role of Mathematical Egotism”, Rebecca Burtenshaw joins Allan for a conversation on mathematical egotism, Rebecca’s journey from “disillusioned with mathematics” to PhD candidate in maths education, changing student’s relationships with mathematics, focusing more on student perceptions of mathem...
Nov 18, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Student engagement, #lessonstarter, engaging students with concrete materials, supporting pre-service and early career teachers, and getting out of your comfort zone. Legendary Alice Springs based teacher, teacher educator, and maths consultant Matt Skoss shares with Allan his keys to student engagement, pedagogy choice, teaching mathematical collaboration, transitioning students from concrete to abstract, cultivating positive dispositions towards learning mathematics, how important it is to joi...
Nov 11, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 5
The accessibility and power of CODAP, finding the right tools to teach statistics, mining for dataset gold, linking students' lived experiences to statistics, and embracing the specificity of statistics. Director of Learning Analytics and Technology at Loreto College, Timothy Bond chats with Allan about teaching statistics to students, his journey from avoiding statistics to loving it, the benefits of using real datasets over artificial ones, avoiding being swamped with data, helping students le...
Nov 04, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 4
How playfulness in the classroom can help get through content more quickly, help students communicate difficulties, and motivate them to be more engaged and excited about mathematics. Australian Education Awards 2023’s Rising Star of the Year, Stephanie Thomas, joins Allan to share her unique approach to teaching her Specialist Mathematics and year 11/12 General Mathematics classes. She explains her promising results from creating a playful and excited culture within the classroom, giving studen...
Oct 28, 2024•28 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Reasoning boards, building confidence in teachers and students alike, avoiding pitfalls in pre-assessment, breaking down “right or wrong” thinking, and encouraging productive classroom discussion. Creator of Reasoning Boards, author of articles in both Prime Number and APMC Voluma 28, Donna McNeight joins the season 3 return of Strength in Numbers to help spread confidence in mathematics, effective learning tools, a willingness to try new things, and an understanding of the importance of reassur...
Oct 21, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The maths education pedagogy war, the role of questioning, inquiry based teaching, pedagogical paralysis, developing students who appreciate mathematics, and more. President of the American NCTM and 8th grade teacher of over 25 years, Kevin Dykema, and AAMT’s own president and maths education academic, Catherine Attard, join Allan to talk about the challenges universal to mathematics teaching regardless of hemisphere. They explore methods to choose the right pedagogy for the right moment, how th...
Oct 14, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The Strength in Numbers podcast is back for its highly anticipated third season, and this time, we're diving deep into the heart of mathematics education. Join us as we hear from a diverse array of guests – from seasoned educators to renowned experts and academics – who unpack the challenges facing modern mathematics education. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply someone who wants to understand the complexities of modern mathematics education, this season of the "Strength in Numbers"...
Sep 27, 2024•2 min
Extending students creatively with the National Maths Talent Quest, the value of slow mathematics, contextualising theory with practice, how cybersecurity can engage students in mathematics, and the Maths Book Club WA. 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools recipient, Donna Buckley shares her expertise and experience on engaging students via challenges, the relationship between maths, science, and encryption, championing others in maths, encouraging c...
Dec 10, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Evidence-based thinking vs assumption-based thinking, the power of front-loading, and what a PLC even is. Nichols Point Primary School teachers Annie and Beck, along with Teaching and Learning Manager at Essential Assessment, Jacinta Browning join the podcast to talk about how they have utilised Essential Assessment to drive community wide improvement cycles, used a PLC as a vehicle for student-led growth, helped students share their progress with their parents, and nurtured a culture of learnin...
Nov 19, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Using storytelling as a teaching tool, the value of the relationship between student and lesson, hit YouTube channel MisterWootube, and the unique approach of the Mathematics Growth Team. Professor of Practice at the University of Sydney, published author, TED speaker, TV host on ABC and Channel 10, and Mister Wootube himself, Eddie Woo joins this episode of the podcast to share the many lessons he has learned over his career about overcoming student trauma responses to mathematics, learning how...
Nov 12, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Learning the teaching craft, creating your own manipulatives, and building a diverse professional network. Executive Officer with the Mathematical Association of Western Australia Paula McMahon joins the show to share her experiences with helping students connect different concepts of mathematics, learning the craft from teachers in other fields, advice for out of field teachers, and some thoughts on institutional changes to ease the teacher shortage. Key Links: Paula McMahon: https://www.linked...
Nov 05, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Avoiding judgement and shame responses in the classroom, finding room to let go, and showing students that maths is an adventure, not a straight and narrow path. Ph.D. in Physics, founder of Maths Plus Academy and founding member of The Global Math Project, Raj Shah joins Allan Dougan on the podcast for a discussion about how harmful shame and judgement is for maths students, helping kids develop a passion for mathematics, the difference between maths and school maths, and how helpful a rebrand ...
Oct 29, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Valuing depth over speed, remaining a learner while teaching, the power of observation, and personal mathematical identities. Director of Mathematics and Numeracy with the ACT Education Directorate Sam Hardwicke joins Allan Dougan, CEO of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers to explore creativity in maths, asking of yourself what you ask of your students, building a culture of observation, and fostering the identity of a learner. Key Links: Sam Hardwicke: https://www.linkedin.com/i...
Oct 22, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
The 3 domains of engagement in students, gaining confidence as a teacher, and the relationship between academic and practitioner. Author of EngagingMaths.com and President-Elect of AAMT Professor Catherine Attard joins this week’s episode to help teachers seek help from their local professional organisation, talk about how engaged teachers create engaged students, how academics choose their research, and bringing academia back into practice. Key Links: Catherine Attard: https://www.linkedin.com/...
Oct 15, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Integrating maths into a student’s daily life, Maths Week Scotland, and Pi Day shenanigans. That Maths Newsletter guy and Scottish Teacher of the Year 2018, Chris Smith joins the podcast to regale us with stories of his adventures and escapades during Pi Day celebrations, talk about progress with maths awareness during Maths Week Scotland, how to engage students with fun classroom events, and his maths newsletter known around the world. Key Links: Maths Week Scotland: https://www.mathsweek.scot/...
Oct 09, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Engagement vs enjoyment, fluency vs quick recall, combating maths anxiety, and well-meaning but harmful attitudes. EdTech Specialist and creator of Number Hive, Chris Hogbin joins us today to talk about the dangers of focusing on quick recall and student enjoyment, the importance of showing the purpose of maths, alternate measures of success, and fighting maths anxiety one harmful sentiment at a time. Key Links: Number Hive: https://www.numberhive.app/ Play here: https://play.numberhive.org/ Chr...
Sep 18, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Motivating students, pruning the curriculum, and getting parents involved using modern assessment tools. Essential Assessment’s Teaching and Learning Manager Jacinta Browning and President of the Queensland Catholic Primary Principals Association, Gavin Rick join to discuss the role assessment can play for students, teachers, parents, and school leadership alike. Key Links: Essential Assessment: https://www.essentialassessment.com.au/ Jacinta Browning: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacinta-brownin...
Sep 11, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Using technology to make maths relevant to student interests, breaking down walls in the classroom, unique technological manipulatives, and only using technology when you have to. Desmos Computation Layer Specialist, John Rowe joins us to talk about his unique experience using technology in the classroom, his viral quadratics tool, how to keep students engaged with each other in the classroom while using technology, avoiding choosing technological solutions for efficiency and instead focusing on...
Sep 04, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Challenging high potential underachievers, equipping your students with multiple toolsets, utilising productive struggle, and seeking out help from other teachers. PhD candidate and Master Teacher at the Education and Research Directorate, Andrea de Carvalho joins the podcast to talk about challenging already excelling students, preparing alternate work each lesson for students who need other pathways to understanding, and the advantage of a broad range of student experience and starting points ...
Aug 28, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Reintroducing physical props when teaching maths, the loss of tangible numeracy in a digital world, ditching the worksheet as the first port of call, and focusing on the language of mathematics. Numeracy Consultant at the Association of Independent Schools WA, Sheila Griffin joins Allan Dougan to discuss the loss of physical, tangible examples of maths outside the classroom and how best to counteract it, how to get students to guide learning, and allowing students to fill more of the conversatio...
Aug 21, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Differentiating engagement from entertainment, harnessing fun in the classroom, and The International Congress on Mathematical Education returns to Australia for the first time in 40 years in 2024 with ICME #15. Head of the School of Education at UNSW, Professor Kim Beswick and Former AAMT Chief Executive, Will Morony join Allan Dougan to discuss the upcoming International Congress of Mathematics Education being held in Sydney, how ICME can benefit your classroom and your career, and how they fi...
Aug 14, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Making maths accessible, bringing student interests into mathematics, intentionality in pedagogies, and the art of being less helpful. Master Teacher, Deputy Principal and published mathematics author, Mark Hansen joins us today to talk about his unique maths journey, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus’s curves of learning and forgetting and using interleaved activities to combat it, and the future of maths education in our modern age. Key Links: Mark Hansen mathsclassrenos@ outlook.com http...
Aug 07, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Solutions to common struggles facing teachers of mathematics, stories of classes that went wrong, and breakthrough moments facilitated by changing teaching tools. AAMT Chief Executive, Allan DOUGAN speaks with Dr. Peter Liljedahl - the author of bestselling teacher’s guide “Building Thinking Classrooms Creating a classroom that necessitates thinking and participation can be challenging, and the huge body of research on the subject can be difficult and time intensive to navigate, but with just a ...
Jul 31, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Learning pedagogical techniques from other disciplines, shaking up the structure of the classroom, and getting support from your local organisations. President of MASA, Rebecca Garrett and AAMT Chief Executive Allan Dougan talk about getting students excited about mathematics, disarming maths intimidation through fun challenges, and the roles your local organisations can play in helping strengthen your teaching and improve your classroom. Key Links: Rebecca Garrett on LinkedIn https://www.linked...
Jul 24, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Unique perspectives on the place mathematics has in our data-driven modern world, and how using tools like Desmos and Wolfram Alpha can help students visualise mathematics. AAMT Education Specialist Denise Halliday joins Chief Executive Allan Dougan to talk about how Denise’s early career in accounting and investment banking helped ignite her passion for teaching and gave her unique insights on the value mathematics holds in every career and industry, as well as exciting trends and tools to help...
Jul 17, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of mathematics education, exploring innovative teaching pedagogies, sharing classroom success stories, and unravelling the mysteries behind those 'Aha!' moments. Whether you're a maths enthusiast or just looking to improve your teaching skills in mathematics, this podcast brought to you by AAMT is your go-to resource for engaging, sometimes light-hearted, and informative discussions on all things maths education related! We'll bring together a dynami...
Jun 15, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
