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Key understandings in mathematics learning

Project summary

In 2007, the Nuffield Foundation commissioned a team from the University of Oxford to review the available research literature on how children learn mathematics. The resulting review is presented in a series of eight papers.

Papers 2 to 5 focus mainly on mathematics relevant to primary schools (pupils to age 11 years), while papers 6 and 7 consider aspects of mathematics in secondary schools.

Researcher

Professor Terezinha Nunes, Professor Peter Bryant and Professor Anne Watson, University of Oxford

Publications

The review is available to download in a number of different formats:

Introduction and summary of findings (171KB)
This is a summary of the review as a whole and is also the first section of Paper 1: Overview.

Summary papers (273KB)
Summaries of papers 1-7.

Printed copied of these two publications are available. To order copies contact Frances Bright on 020 7681 9586.

AVAILABLE AS DOWNLOADS ONLY

Paper 1: Overview (259KB)
Paper 2: Understanding extensive quantities and whole numbers (326KB)
Paper 3: Understanding rational numbers and intensive quantities (247KB)
Paper 4: Understanding relations and their graphical representation (314KB)
Paper 5: Understanding space and its representation in mathematics (338KB)
Paper 6: Algebraic reasoning (292KB)
Paper 7: Modelling, problem-solving and integrating concepts (283KB)
Paper 8: Methodological appendix (161KB)

Full review: All 8 papers together in full (1507KB)

Related publications

Article by Anne Watson published in the Scottish Mathematical Council Journal, May 2010:

Download article (PDF)

Grant amount and duration

£30,000.00
10 March 2008 - 9 October 2008

Last Updated Fri, 7 May 2010