Proposed Title
Making Children’s Number Sense Thinking Visible: Creating a Universally Designed Assessment in Preschool
Supervisor
Principal Supervisor: Professor Amy MacDonald
Co-Supervisor: Professor Lena Dainaia
Research
This mixed methods study investigates early number sense—including understandings of quantity, counting, magnitude, and part–whole relationships—is foundational to later mathematical learning (Beliakoff, et.al., 2025). Many current assessments of early number sense generate data that may be of limited use to teachers (Wager, et al., 2015), may have limited predictive validity (de Bruin et al., 2023; Outhwaite et al., 2024) or may result in misguided understandings about what children know about mathematics (Wager et al., 2015; Clarke, 2015).
The use of Universal Design for Assessment (UDA; Thompson, Johnston & Thurlow, 2002) as a framework for developing representational assessments of early number sense in the year before school ensures all students can access the assessment task, so that valid inferences can be made about their performance. In this way, teachers are supported to come to a deeper understanding of all learners, which supports them differentiated their teaching and builds teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in this critical area of mathematical development.
Why I chose Charles Sturt
I am a Senior Research Fellow in the Effective Practice in Education program at the Australian Council for Educational Research. I lead researchers in developing assessment frameworks and assessments in a range of key learning areas in the early years. For instance, I am currently leading assessment development in executive function for the Preschool Outcomes Measure for the Commonwealth of Australia. I am also developing an assessment of reading fluency for students in early primary school.
I am particularly interested in early mathematics learning (an area I first explored in my honours degree in 1995 and presented at MERGA in 1996). At that time, I was a research assistant for Professor Janet Bobis (University of Sydney) and Professor Joanne Mulligan (Macquarie University) where we explored children’s early representations of number learning. I collected and analysed the drawings of hundreds of children in the first year of school. I was aware of Professor Amy MacDonald’s work and saw through social media that she was seeking PhD students interested in representational assessment, the very area that I had been so fascinated with in my early research career.
I anticipate the opportunity to work alongside Professor MacDonald and Professor Lena Danaia to improve reporting and assessment to inform early mathematics teaching.
Engagement and Memberships
- Mathematics Association of Victoria
- Australian Council of Educational Leaders
- Primary English Teachers Association
Publications
Journal publications and repository
Anderson, P., Cloney, D., Rollo, G., Picker, K., & Mitchell, P. (2020). Reading Instruction Evidence Guide. (Initial Teacher education). Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). http://research.acer.edu.au/teacher_education/28
Anderson, P., Cloney, D., Rollo, G., Picker, K., Mitchell, P., & Trevitt, J. (2020, Aug 1). Reading Instruction Evidence Guide Map. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). http://research.acer.edu.au/teacher_education/27
Anderson, P., Kralj, M., & Rollo, G. (2023). Using the Progressive Achievement approach to develop data-informed schools. In Supporting schools’ and teachers’ use of assessment to inform learning of all students https://doi.org/10.37517/978-1-74286-731-1
Lonsdale, M., Rollo, G., Wilkinson, J., Radloff, A., Armstrong, S., Milgate, G., & Trevitt, J. (2011). Literature review relating to the current context and discourse of Indigenous tertiary education in Australia. http://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=indigenous_education
Purdie, N., Wernert, N., & Rollo, G. (2006). Enhancing employment opportunities for indigenous Victorians: a review of the literature.
Ramalingam, D., Anderson, P., Knowles, S., Anzai, D., & Rollo, G. (2021). Describing growth in early reading skills. Discover - Early childhood. https://www.acer.org/au/discover/article/describing-growth-in-early-reading-skills
Ramalingam, D., Anderson, P., Knowles, S., Anzai, D., & Rollo, G. (2021). Making excellent progress in early reading: How can the identification of essential skills and concepts help?. https://doi.org/10.37517/978-1-74286-638-3_12
Richardson, K., & Rollo, G. (2024). Reporting of students with disability in NAPLAN. Discover - School education. http://research.acer.edu.au/discover_schooleducation/101
Richardson, K., & Rollo, G. (2024). The invisible cohort: Reporting of students with disability in the national assessment program for literacy and numeracy. Australian Journal of Education, 68(2), 103-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/00049441241242520
Rollo, G., & Picker, K. (2024). Unpacking the science of reading research. Australian Council for Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.37517/978-1-74286-742-7
Griggs, S., Rollo, G., Picker, K. and Earp, J. (2023) Expert Q&A: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Families https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/expert-q-a-navigating-difficult-conversations-with-families
Rollo, G., & Picker, K. (2024). Forget the reading wars; there is a science to reading well in Discover
Rollo, G., & Picker, K. (2024). Unpacking the science of reading research – what the research says (3-part series)
https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/unpacking-the-science-of-reading-what-the-research-says
Rollo, G., Picker, K. and Earp, J. (2023) Expert Q&A: Phonics in Early Reading Instruction
https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/expert-q-a-phonics-and-early-reading-instruction
Conference papers
Rollo, G., & Glasswell, K. (Pending) From Screening to Support: Leading MTSS Decision -Making [Presentation] ACEL National Conference 2026: Bold Leadership – New Frontiers in Education.
Griggs, S., & Rollo, G. (2023). Partnerships in early childhood education: Engaging families in professional conversations. In K. Burns (Ed.), Research Conference 2023: Becoming Lifelong Learners. Proceedings and Program (pp. 68–75). Australian Council for Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.37517/978-1-74286-715-1-14
McMillan, J., Rollo, G & Richardson, K. (2025). Supporting engagement and progress for all students, teachers, and leaders through a coordinated approach to inclusion. [Presentation] In K. Burns (Ed.), Research Conference 2025: Enabling holistic growth for all students. Proceedings and Program (2025). Australian Council for Educational Research.
Ramalingam, D., Anderson, P., Knowles, S., Anzai, D., & Rollo, G. (2021, August 16-20). Making excellent progress in early reading: How can the identification of essential skills and concepts help? [Presentation]. Research Conference 2021: Excellent progress for every student: Proceedings and program. Australian Council for Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.37517/978-1-74286-638-3_12
Rollo, G., & Bobis, J. (1996). What Does an Expert Teacher in Instructional Computing Look Like? Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA).
