The 43rd Annual Meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education took place in Pretoria, South Africa from July 7th – July 12th 2019. The theme of the conference was Improving Access to the Power of Mathematics. EPI STEM was well represented at this conference with Prof. Merrilyn Goos, Ms Jillian White, Ms Kathy O’Sullivan and Dr Niamh O’Meara all in attendance. Niamh’s presentation at PME-43 focussed on an evaluation of the bonus points initiative which was introduced in Ireland in 2012. She presented findings from a study she conducted with colleagues Dr Mark Prendergast (University College Cork) and Dr Paraic Treacy (Emirates College for Advanced Education) which investigated teachers’ perspectives on the impact of bonus points on student profile in higher level mathematics classrooms. The main finding from this study reported at PME-43 was that 31% of teachers felt that unsuitable candidates were now studying higher level mathematics and this was a direct result of the bonus points initiative.
Kathy O' Sullivan attended PME 42 where she presented a poster on her framework for embedding numeracy across the curriculum.
Jillian White presenting the results of the first phase of her PhD study entitled “Reimagining
Professional Development for Irish Mathematics Teachers”
Merrilyn’s research report, co-authored with John O’Donoghue, analysed the design features of the Professional Diploma in Teaching, the national professional learning programme for out-of-field teachers of mathematics designed and delivered by EPI*STEM in conjunction with a consortium of Irish higher education institutions. Using a hybrid theortical framework that conceptualised out-of-field teaching as boundary crossing, the analysis identified structural and core features of the programme that contribute to teacher learning and identity development.
