Overview
In Mathematics Curriculum, you will build on the knowledge acquired in previous mathematics units to develop a deeper understanding of the structure, sequencing and connections between the critical concepts and skills in mathematical content across the year levels in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. You will learn to solve problems through transference of mathematical knowledge using acquired reasoning, logic, and analytical skills. You will be able to identify physical and digital resources and justify differing pedagogies used to teach the sub-strands of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics to overcome barriers to learning mathematics for children of diverse backgrounds. Your personal competence and proficiency towards mathematics teaching is enhanced in this unit, you will learn to identify issues and challenges to mathematical understanding at key stages of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. The learning sequence of this unit supports your ability to develop, and use, a suitable range of appropriate and accurate assessment processes to evaluate the mathematics learnt.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite:- Students must successfully complete the unit EDCU12038 prior to enrolling in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Assessment results and final grades
Engage with campus students
Unit coordinator to have frequent "drop-ins" to campus tutorial groups to answer student assessment questions
Feedback from SUTE data
Clarity around assessment tasks
Communication of assessment tasks to occur early in the unit
Feedback from SUTE data
MSTEAMS Learning Community Group engagement
Inform students of expectations for their commitment to their Learning Community Groups early in the term.
- Analyse the structure and organisation of content in the mathematics curriculum to identify key stages in concept development as a focus for assessing student learning
- Assess students' understanding of the mathematical content to identify possible misconceptions or barriers to learning for diverse student groups
- Distinguish evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning of mathematics that promote engagement, understanding and mathematical proficiency for students from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Design tools and guides for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in Mathematics
- Reflect on professional learning to describe processes and strategies that improve teaching practice and student learning
- Justify the selection and use of resources that scaffold students’ understanding of core mathematical concepts
- Identify opportunities for students to use ICTs purposefully to gain mathematical knowledge and proficiency.
Successful completion of this unit provides opportunities for students to engage with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage) focus areas of:
1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students
1.2 Understand how students learn
1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies
2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
3.4 Select and use resources
5.1 Assess student learning
6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice
6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 45% | |||||||
| 2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 45% | |||||||
| 3 - Peer assessment - 10% | |||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||||
Textbooks
Helping Children Learn Mathematics
- Edition: 4th (2022)
- Authors: Robert Reys
- Wiley & Sons
- Milton Milton , Queensland , Australia
- ISBN: ISBN :9780730391807
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- MS Teams
- Microsoft CoPilot, ChatGPT, or similar Generative Artificial Intelligence tool.
- Feedback Fruits
- CQU Success
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.gronow@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 1
Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Introduction to EDCU13020 Mathematics Curriculum.
Chapter
Cavanagh, H. & McMaster, H. (2017). A Specialist Professional Experience Learning Community for Primary Pre-service Teachers Focused on Mathematical Problem Solving. Mathematics Teacher Education & Development, 19(1), 47–65.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete formative assessment task on Feedback Fruits
"My ambitions for this unit"
Using AI in this unit
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 2
Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Australian Curriculum: Mathematics
Chapter
View the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (v9) website
- Australian Curriculum: Mathematics
- Mathematical Proficiency Strands
- Numeracy Progression
- General Capabilities: Critical and Creative thinking
- Australian Curriculum v9
Reys. (2022). Helping Children Learn Mathematics, 4th Australian Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
Chapter 2 Helping children learn mathematics with understanding
Recommendation 4: Use communication to encourage understanding, p37.
Chapter 5 Process of doing mathematics
5.1 Understanding
5.2 Fluency
5.3 Problem solving
5.4 Reasoning
5.5 Communication
5.6 Representations
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Assessment in Mathematics, Part A
Chapter
Reys. (2022) Helping Children Learn Mathematics, 4th Australian Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Chapter 4 Enhancing learning and teaching through assessment nad feedback
4.1 Enhancing learning and teaching
4.2 Gathering information on children's learning
4.3 Ways to assess children's learning and dispositions
4.4 Keeping records and communicating about assessments
Miller, & Hudson, P. J. (2007). Using Evidence-Based Practices to Build Mathematics Competence Related to Conceptual, Procedural, and Declarative Knowledge. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 22(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5826.2007.00230.x
Read pages 49-54 Definitions of conceptual, procedural and declarative knowledge.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Assessment in Mathematics, Part B
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Mathematical Pedagogy
Chapter
Reys. (2022). Helping Children Learn Mathematics, 4th Australian Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Chapter 2 Helping children learn mathematics with understanding
2.2 Meaningful connections between procedural and conceptual knowledge
2.3 How do children learn mathematics
2.4 How can we help children make sense of mathematics?
Readings
Protheroe, N. (2007). What does good math instruction look like? Principal, 87(1), 51-54.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Task 1 - Draft of Written Assessment submitted on Feedback Fruits - Friday 15 August 2025
Assessment Task 3 - LCG evaluations submitted on SPA - Friday 15 August 2025
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Professional Learning and Reflective Practices
Chapter
Reys. (2022). Helping Children Learn Mathematics, 4th Australian Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Chapter 1 School mathematics in a changing world
1.4 Where can you turn?
Lane, R., McMaster, H., Adnum, J., & Cavanagh, M. (2014). Quality reflective practice in teacher education: A journey towards shared understanding.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Task 1 - Final Written Assessment submitted on Moodle - Friday 29 August 2025.
Assessment in Mathematics Due: Week 6 Friday (29 Aug 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7
Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Learner Diversity in Mathematics
Chapter
Reys. (2022). Helping Children Learn Mathematics, 4th Australian Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Chapter 2 Helping children learn mathematics with understanding
2.1 How can we support divers learners in our classroom
Chapter 3 Planning and teaching
3.5 Meeting the needs of all children
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Developing Mathematical Understanding
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Learner Engagement in Mathematics
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Numeracy in Mathematics
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Task 2 - Presentations submitted on Feedback Fruits - 26 September 2025.
Week 11
Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Games and Mathematical Thinking
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025Module/Topic
ICTs and Digital Technologies in Mathematics
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Task 2 - Reflective Practice written task submitted on Moodle - 10 October 2025.
Engaging Students in Learning Mathematics Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Task 3 - LCG evaluations submitted on SPA - Friday 17 October 2025.
Peer assessment Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (17 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will begin this unit by completing a "My ambitions for this unit" formative task on Feedback Fruits at the end of week 1.
In this unit, you will be working in Learning Community Groups (LCG). Campus students and online students will be randomly allocated to a LCG. These groups will operate on MSTEAMS and will involve you working with other students on the course content and assessment tasks. All students are expected to have regular contact with their LCG.
Assessment in this unit involves peer-evaluation.
Assessment Task 1 and Assessment task 2, students will use the Feedback Fruits application to share samples of their work and their LCG members will give feedback and evaluate the work presented.
Assessment Task 3 involves LCG members evaluating the peers engagement in their LCGs on MSTEAMS. This is completed in two parts, one at the end of week 5, the other at the end of week 13.
For any questions please contact the Unit Coordinator: Dr Mark Gronow by email at m.gronow@cqu.edu.au
1 Written Assessment
This task requires students to examine the relationship between curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Students will research and apply knowledge and understanding of mathematics curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to demonstrate their understanding of how students learn mathematics.
In this task, students are to create an authentic mathematical activity that embeds assessment. In the activity, students' will address a mathematical concept chosen from a given content description from the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (v9). The mathematical activity will consist of a pedagogical approach that enables the teacher to notice children’s mathematical thinking and engages children in learning mathematics. The activity embeds assessment as, for, and of learning in the activity, and includes a diagnostic assessment as a component of the activity to identify the children's entry level to the mathematical concept.
Students upload a draft of their written submission on the Feedback Fruits to be reviewed and evaluated by other LCG members. Feedback from these reviews will help the writing the final submission.
Students submit their final written submission on Moodle for marking.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 6 Friday (29 Aug 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit as one word document on the Moodle AT1 submission site
Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025)
Manuscript returned with tracked changes and the completed criteria sheet
- Knowledge and understanding of mathematical content in the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics.
- Ability to create a mathematical activity that employs a pedagogical strategy to notice children's mathematical thinking and engages children in learning mathematical content.
- Ability to embed assessment as, for, and of learning mathematical content, including a diagnostic assessment component in the mathematical activity.
- A self-reflection of professional learning; including feedback from draft uploaded to Feedback Fruits, LCG MSTEAMS discussions and personal experience in completing this task.
- Written reflection follows APA7 guidelines of formatting and referencing, file name is given as indicated and correct cover page is used. Writing is clear and concise and written in a coherent narrative with attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Analyse the structure and organisation of content in the mathematics curriculum to identify key stages in concept development as a focus for assessing student learning
- Assess students' understanding of the mathematical content to identify possible misconceptions or barriers to learning for diverse student groups
- Distinguish evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning of mathematics that promote engagement, understanding and mathematical proficiency for students from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Design tools and guides for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in Mathematics
- Justify the selection and use of resources that scaffold students’ understanding of core mathematical concepts
- Identify opportunities for students to use ICTs purposefully to gain mathematical knowledge and proficiency.
2 Reflective Practice Assignment
The professional learning report presentation is not submitted for marking on Moodle.
The written submission of this assessment will consist of a reflective practice report, written in an academic style of writing, of the investigation and strategy of the mathematical concept in their presentation. Students will critique the research evidence and respond to the feedback received in the LCG that framed their understanding and disposition of teaching and learning mathematics that addresses the criteria of the task description from the Moodle site.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 3: You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit as one word document on the Moodle AT2 submission site.
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics and a productive disposition towards teaching mathematics.
- Investigates mathematical misconceptions and barriers relating to learning mathematical content that addresses the needs of all students.
- Discusses various resources that promotes students' mathematical thinking, engagement and conceptual understanding.
- Designs an appropriate pedagogical strategy that includes an ICT resource that engage students in learning mathematics.
- A self-reflection of professional learning; including feedback from draft uploaded to Feedback Fruits, LCG MSTEAMS discussions and personal experience in completing this task.
- Written reflection follows APA7 guidelines of formatting and referencing, file name is given as indicated and correct cover page is used. Writing is clear and concise and written in a coherent narrative with attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Analyse the structure and organisation of content in the mathematics curriculum to identify key stages in concept development as a focus for assessing student learning
- Assess students' understanding of the mathematical content to identify possible misconceptions or barriers to learning for diverse student groups
- Distinguish evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning of mathematics that promote engagement, understanding and mathematical proficiency for students from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Design tools and guides for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in Mathematics
- Reflect on professional learning to describe processes and strategies that improve teaching practice and student learning
- Justify the selection and use of resources that scaffold students’ understanding of core mathematical concepts
- Identify opportunities for students to use ICTs purposefully to gain mathematical knowledge and proficiency.
3 Peer assessment
This assessment task involves each student evaluating other members of their Learning Community Group (LCG) members based on their participation in the LCG during the term.
Review/Exam Week Friday (17 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submission completed on Self and Peer Assessment (SPA) application.
The ten criteria questions are:
- Was dependable in attending group meetings.
- Willingly accepted assigned tasks.
- Contributed positively to group discussions.
- Completed work on time or made alternative arrangements.
- Helped others with their work when needed.
- Did work accurately and completely.
- Contributed their fair share of the work.
- Worked well with other group members.
- Overall was a valuable member of the team.
- Gave and accepted feedback willing and productively.
- Analyse the structure and organisation of content in the mathematics curriculum to identify key stages in concept development as a focus for assessing student learning
- Assess students' understanding of the mathematical content to identify possible misconceptions or barriers to learning for diverse student groups
- Reflect on professional learning to describe processes and strategies that improve teaching practice and student learning
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
