Conference on Research in Mathematics Education

• Full conference proceedings are hosted on Zenodo, and can be found by clicking here.
• The book of abstracts is available here.
• A detailed schedule for each session can be found by clicking here.

MEI 7 Mathematical Literacy, throughout and beyond education is hosted by the Institute of Education, Dublin City University, and will take place on the St Patrick’s Campus on  11 - 12 October 2019. MEI 7 is kindly supported by the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).

Download the First Announcement here.

MEI 7 continues with the proud tradition of hosting  a series of biennial conferences on the former grounds of St. Patrick’s College which now houses Ireland’s first Institute of Education here in DCU. It is dedicated to creating a stage for sharing ideas and best practices in the field of mathematics teaching, and exchanging findings of current research in mathematics education. Previous conferences have explored themes of Crossing Boundaries in Mathematics Education, (MEI 5, 2013); Mathematics Teaching Matters (MEI 4, 2011); “Mathematics for all” - extending mathematics capacity (MEI 3, 2009); “Walking the talk” - using mathematics education research (MEI 2, 2007); and Opening Doors  (MEI, 2005).

The diversity of contributors to the conference is a real strength and provides an opportunity for consultation, discussion, and co-operation. Our conference theme Mathematical Literacy, throughout and beyond education aims to foreground learner's engagement with mathematics at all stages of the education system, and their development of mathematical proficiency within and beyond formal classroom settings. We hope that this conference will build on the knowledge and collegial networks established at previous MEI conferences and also allow for a renewal of friendships and the establishment of contacts within the mathematics education community, while also providing a forum for:

• Discussion of issues pertaining to mathematics teaching and learning across the continuum, from Early Years to Third level and beyond;
• Consideration of future directions for mathematics education research in light of recent national developments and international trends;
• Improving collaborations between mathematics education communities within Ireland and in other countries.

After a brief hiatus brought about by our hosting of CERME10, we are very happy to welcome the Mathematics Education Research community, both Irish and international, to join us in Dublin for MEI 7.

MEI 7 will take place on 11 - 12 October on the St Patrick’s Campus of Dublin City University. Details of Keynote Speakers and Guidelines for Submission are below.

Theme: Mathematical Literacy, throughout and beyond education

Our conference theme Mathematical Literacy, throughout and beyond education aims to foreground learners’ engagement with mathematics at all stages of the education system, and their development of mathematical proficiency within and beyond formal classroom settings.Mathematical literacy encompasses a learner’s proficiency to engage fluently with mathematical concepts, and to apply mathematical thinking in non-routine and novel situations.

Mathematically literate children and adults recognise the mathematics in a situation, and understand how to mathematise a scenario in order to problem solve. Equally, mathematical literacy includes the capacity to interpret and analyse scenarios presented through mathematics. Mathematically literate individuals are thus less vulnerable to being convinced by inaccurate interpretations of data and mathematics. A key aspect of mathematical literacy is fluency in expressing one’s mathematical thinking in a clear and convincing manner

The notion of what it means to be mathematically literate is to a large extent dependent on the context in which mathematics is used. Some consider performance in examinations to be a determinant of level of mathematical literacy. However, successfully completing daily activities and routines such as traveling and cooking all rely on fundamental mathematical literacy, for example, knowledge of distance, time, weight and temperature. For educators, mathematical literacy encompasses far more than an ability to do mathematics oneself, but also to be able to ascertain where the learner is at in their mathematical understanding and to scaffold and extend that learning.

The education system in Ireland plays a key role in developing the mathematical literacy of all learners, to support full engagement with 21st century society. Central to such active citizenship is the propensity to apply mathematical concepts beyond the walls of the various classrooms where mathematics is taught, at primary, secondary and third levels. At MEI7 we will engage in dialogue about a broad variety of mathematical research that is taking place in Ireland, and collectively we will seek to solidify and progress the research field of mathematics education, throughout and beyond Ireland.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Paola Valero, Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Stockholm University

Paola Valero's research pursues the overall question of why and how mathematics education can be thought of as political. Her studies on the cultural politics of mathematics education shed light on the significance of mathematical qualifications for the governing of populations and the making of desired types of citizens. In particular, her research questions how the desire of more and better mathematical qualifications for all, leads to the exclusion of many from participation in meaningful mathematics education. Her research facilitates problematisation of the connections between mathematics education and democracy, social justice  and inclusion. 

https://www.su.se/english/profiles/pvale-1.261854

Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai, Lecturer in Primary Mathematics Education, University of Reading

Dr. Trakulphadetkrai’s research interests are centred around the use of storytelling to help enrich mathematics teaching and learning experiences. Currently, he leads the non-profit research-based MathsThroughStories.org initiative, which sets out to investigate various aspects of using mathematical story picture books in mathematics teaching and learning. The website also offers valuable and free resources for parents and teachers. Since its launch in March 2017, the website has now been viewed over 200,000 times by more than 35,000 teachers and parents from nearly 170 countries around the world. By the end of the 2018/2019  academic year, Dr. Trakulphadetkrai will have trained nearly 2,000 teacher trainees at around 30 universities across the UK and internationally on how to integrate mathematics story picture books in mathematics teaching.
In addition to his roles as Lecturer in Primary Mathematics Education and as Director of Research Communications at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education, Dr. Trakulphadetkrai also serves as an executive committee member and trustee of the UK Association of Teachers of Mathematics. Previously, he served  as an executive committee member of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics; as Chair of the British Congress of Mathematics Education’s Communications Committee as well as Co-Editor of the Mathematical Association’s Primary Mathematics Journal.

Symposium on Efficacy Beliefs of Teachers of Mathematics

We welcome Dr Mark Morgan, who has conducted extensive research in the areas of teacher motivation and job satisfaction and Dr Siún Nic Mhuirí , who will present results from an Irish study with student teachers.

Organising Committee

Aisling Twohill (aisling.twohill@dcu.ie)

Lorraine Harbison (lorraine.harbison@dcu.ie)

Siún Nic Mhuirí (siun.nicmhuiri@dcu.ie)

Fiona Giblin (fiona.giblin@dcu.ie)

Fionnán Howard (fionnan.howard@dcu.ie)

Claudine McGowan (claudine.mcgowan@dcu.ie)

Paul Grimes (paul.grimes@dcu.ie)

Maurice OReilly (maurice.oreilly@dcu.ie)

Scientific Committee

Lorraine Harbison (lorraine.harbison@dcu.ie)

Aisling Twohill (aisling.twohill@dcu.ie)

Sinead Breen (sinead.breen@dcu.ie)

Joe Travers (joe.travers@dcu.ie)

Gerry Shiel (gerry.shiel@erc.ie)

Brien Nolan (brien.nolan@dcu.ie)

Eabhnat Ní Fhloinn (eabhnat.nifhloinn@dcu.ie)

The MEI conference series is a forum for those involved or interested in issues facing mathematics education at any educational level, from primary through to 4th level. Below please find information on previous conferences in the series, and links to their proceedings.

• MEI 7 (2019): "Mathematical Literacy, throughout and beyond education". The conference took place in Dublin City University Institute of Education on the 11th and 12th of October 2019.
  • The proceedings for MEI 7 are hosted on Zenodo, and can be found by clicking here
  • The book of abstracts for MEI 7 is available here
  • Photographs from the conference can be found here 
  • Links to the questions submitted to Padlet during each symposium can be found below:
    • Efficacy Symposium
    • Curriculum Change Symposium
  • MEI 7 marked the beginning of Maths Week 2019 in Ireland. A presentation about Maths Week in Ireland, given by Dr. Cordula Weiss (Maths Week Ireland), can be found by clicking here

• MEI 6 (2015): Joint Conference with the British Society of Research in the Learning of Mathematics (BSRLM)

  • Link to proceedings on the BSRLM webpage

• MEI 5 (2013): Crossing Boundaries in Mathematics Education

  • Link to proceedings

• MEI 4 (2011): Mathematics Teaching Matters

  • Link to proceedings

• MEI 3 (2009): “Mathematics for all” - extending mathematics capacity

  • Link to proceedings

• MEI 2 (2007): “Walking the talk” - using mathematics education research

  • Link to proceedings

• MEI 1 (2005): Opening Doors

  • Link to proceedings

• History of MEI

  • A link to the history of the conference will be available here shortly

Travel to St Patrick's Campus, Dublin City University

Travel throughout the city with Leap

Map of St. Patrick's Campus, Dublin City University

You can access the campus map online by clicking on the tab for DCU St. Patrick's Campus

Other useful links

Dublin Bus | Irish Rail | Irish Ferries | Stena Line | TFI 

Organising Committee Chair

Paul Grimes | paul.grimes@dcu.ie

Scientific Committee Chair

Mary Kingston | mary.kingston@dcu.ie