MA Mathematics Education

Mathematics is a key aspect of education, from early years through to university, for economic wellbeing in contemporary digital, competitive environments. Learners of all ages should be confident and capable in using and applying their mathematics knowledge and this requires competent and inspirational teachers.

This course aims to develop these inspirational mathematics teachers by enhancing existing knowledge and pedagogical skills, engaging in small scale research projects, and particularly drawing on strategies used in mathematically high performing countries.

Key features

• This is a fully online masters degree in mathematics education, the first such course in a UK university. It is based on the expertise and experience of staff in the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, a research and development centre dedicated to supporting teachers of mathematics in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors of education.
• The professional development innovations are supported through working with colleagues using Japanese-style lesson study for review, evaluation and sustainability; this course provides the training needed for implementation of effective lesson study.
• Evidence of innovative and motivating strategies for teaching and learning is based on video clips from the UK and, in particular, Finland, Japan and New Zealand which are all countries with mathematical high progress throughout school education.
• Overall the modules are designed to help teachers develop their own inspiring and motivating lessons, based on effective strategies from mathematically high performing countries together with support to take on a leading role in mathematics education in their institution, whether in the Primary, Secondary or Tertiary sector of education.
• The modules also introduce sensible and straightforward ways of using educational research for development, implementation and evaluation of school or classroom based initiatives, including one major initiative that will be the focus of the final module.

This programme is based on four 30-credit masters level modules. The first three are based on understanding and innovation with teaching and learning mathematics for understanding and through problem solving and contextual maths. The fourth module is based on understanding relevant research techniques appropriate for evaluating innovation and experiments in mathematics education. To complete the Masters degree, there is a 60-credit dissertation module based on a substantial research and development project that students implement and evaluate in their own educational setting.