A La Trobe University expert is available to discuss the Grattan Institute’s report on how to boost students’ learning of maths in primary schools.
Professor Joanna Barbousas, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education, Impact and Innovation
Professor Barbousas is a transformational leader with more than 29 years’ experience in education. She has fundamentally reshaped both teacher education and education policy in Australia. Since joining La Trobe University in 2016, she has positioned the School of Education as a leading provider of teacher education through evidence-based innovation and explicit teaching.
Well known for its Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab, which retrains literacy teachers with explicit methods, La Trobe University recently launched the Science of Mathematics Education (SOME) Lab, which aims to tackle Australia’s mathematics crisis, training teachers how to break down concepts into clear, logical steps to replace the fads that have left many students struggling with basic numeracy.
Topics to discuss:
- What needs to be done to solve Australia’s ongoing numeracy crisis?
- How does teacher training contribute to the problem?
- How can we better train teachers to prepare them for the classroom?
Professor Barbousas is available via media manager Robyn Grace on 0420 826 595 or media@latrobe.edu.au.
The following can be attributed to Professor Barbousas:
“The Grattan Institute’s latest report is yet more evidence that Australia needs to take action to halt its ongoing numeracy crisis.
“The lifetime impact for students who fall behind on these core skills is substantial, affecting long-term employment, health and social outcomes and perpetuating cycles of disadvantage.
“Teachers are telling us they feel unprepared for the classroom. When half of our 15-year-olds fail to achieve national standards in maths, it’s not the students who are failing, it’s our approach to education.
"SOME Lab will empower educators to understand how people learn mathematics, promoting low-variance, highly systematised instructional approaches to ensure all children develop sound and robust numeracy skills.”
Contact details:
Senior media manager Robyn Grace on (0420) 826 595 or media@latrobe.edu.au
