Hidden Treasure: Investigating the potential of Community Professionals in supporting young children’s mathematical learning
Principal Supervisor: Dr Sheena Elwick
Co-Supervisor: Associate Professor Angela Fenton
This study aims to explore the way that Community Professionals in rural Australia support young children's (birth to five) mathematical learning, both intentionally, and unintentionally. The results of a previous Masters' project by the author, identified that Community Professionals – defined broadly as people within the community whose role is not formal care, standardised education, or mathematical-based, but who do engage with young children; such as, kinder gym and dance instructors, health workers, and music program coordinators - often support young children's mathematical learning. However, to date, there has been no research in this area, and limited research on young children's mathematical learning in informal settings in Australia generally, despite the clear evidence that early mathematical development sets the foundation for success in later mathematics learning and that mathematical learning regularly occurs in a range of out-of-school contexts.
Therefore, this qualitative study will seek to uncover the various ways in which mathematical learning experiences and engagement are provided by Community Professionals for young children.
I first began at CSU as an Undergraduate student studying my BEd (K-12 Middle schooling) and Grad Cert (Secondary Education). During this time, I was offered a casual Research Assistant role on the Albury Campus, working for Professors Bob Perry and Sue Dockett on their many projects! Once I graduated, they offered me a fixed term Research Assistant role, and not long after I also began working in EC STEM subjects – and I just never left! I completed my Masters Degree (Educational Research) in 2022, and have now been a Research Assistant/Associate for 14 years, Sessional Academic for 12 years, and a QA Officer for 5 years. Doing a PhD with CSU was a natural progression in my academic career, and I am so grateful to the AGRTPSA for the scholarship to be able to do this!
CSU STEM Education Research Group
