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<\/p>\nOn\u00a0Tuesday 8th May\u00a0we were visited by Lucy Rycroft-Smith, a former OU student,\u00a0who spoke to the academics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics about her work on the Cambridge Mathematics\u00a0project, including researching and writing mathematics “Espressos”. In her seminar, she talked about how influential the Open University Mathematics Education modules have been in her career.<\/p>\n
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Lucy Rycroft-Smith (photo credit below).<\/p>\n
The Open University <\/strong><\/p>\n Lucy is no stranger to the Open University as she studied her undergraduate degree in\u00a0“Mathematics and its Learning”\u00a0with us and was also an associate lecturer within the School of Mathematics and Statistics.<\/p>\n Lucy said this, about her experience of studying\u00a0our Mathematics Education modules:<\/p>\n “It is only since starting to work at Cambridge Mathematics and having the extraordinary opportunity to immerse myself in some of the significant and complex issues in maths education that I\u2019ve fully realised how excellent a grounding I got from the OU in this area.\u00a0 I still refer back to course materials that I studied ten years ago; I now have the privilege of conversing with some of the experts that wrote some of the materials.\u00a0 The ideas remain powerful and well structured, and have influenced my thinking on mathematics education in the classroom and beyond.\u00a0 I was delighted to be able to \u00a0visit the OU recently to discuss Espressos \u2013 our filtered research reviews for teachers \u2013 and start the process of completing the cycle, of beginning in my own small way to contribute something back to the field and to attempt to pay this debt in some way.\u00a0 The OU Maths Education course planted seeds in my mind that are still growing, and some of which are only coming to fruition now, in the sunny open ground of working collaboratively with world-class experts and the time and space to reflect on my classroom experience. Connecting teachers not only with research, but with researchers and the powerful dialogue that needs to happen between them, is something I\u2019m increasingly passionate about, and the OU has always done this well”.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Lucy was recently a guest on Mr Barton’s podcast and during the interview she spoke* about about her experiences of studying at the Open University\u00a0and particularly how the “Developing Mathematical Thinking” modules: ME625, ME626 and ME627 helped her grow as a learner and a teacher.<\/p>\n You can listen to the full interview here:\u00a0http:\/\/www.mrbartonmaths.com\/blog\/lucy-rycroft-smith-cambridge-mathematics-setting-times-tables-anxiety\/\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n (*Lucy spoke about the Open University about 13 minutes into the podcast).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cambridge Mathematics<\/strong><\/p>\n In her seminar, Lucy talked about the work she and her colleagues have done as part of the Cambridge Mathematics project. According to their manifesto, Cambridge Mathematics aims to secure “a world class mathematics education for all students from 5 \u201319 years old, applicable to both national and international contexts and based on evidence from research and practice<\/em>“.<\/p>\n The project aims to support teachers in their\u00a0planning and teaching by providing a well developed curriculum map, known as the “Framework”, which makes relevant links between\u00a0mathematical topics from\u00a0lower primary to upper secondary. The Framework will be a basis for planning curriculum pathways and will be\u00a0linked to assessment and\u00a0\u00a0professional development resources, including examples\u00a0of\u00a0effective pedagogies for particular mathematical topics.<\/p>\n Image showing part of the Cambridge Mathematics\u00a0Framework<\/p>\n You can find out more about the Framework, and other elements of the project here: ttps:\/\/www.cambridgemaths.org\/manifesto\/<\/a><\/p>\n Research Espressos<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cEducational research is like coffee…It can be invigorating, but only when it\u2019s filtered, fresh and in the right quantity (Otherwise it can be overwhelming, overstimulating, or just leave you bloated and anxious)\u201d <\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n @CambridgeMaths<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Cambridge Mathematics aims to support teachers in providing their students with a high quality, research and practice informed, mathematics education but, as Lucy discussed in her talk,\u00a0there are many\u00a0barriers to teachers using educational research, including lack of time and being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of existing educational research. In response to this issue, Lucy\u00a0produces monthly “Espressos” for Cambridge Mathematics. These are\u00a0“a small but intense draught of filtered research on mathematics education, expressly designed with teachers in mind” <\/em>.<\/p>\n These “Espressos” are essentially short literature reviews\u00a0of educational research topics which may be of interest to mathematics teachers in the classroom. Espressos are restricted to one (double sided) page of A4 and are written in accessible language, with busy teachers in mind. Each Espresso includes diagrams and references for further reading. Previous topics covered include: working memory, attainment grouping and effective feedback.<\/p>\n An example of an Espresso<\/p>\n Find out more <\/strong><\/p>\n You can find out more about Lucy and her work on the Cambridge Mathematics project here: https:\/\/www.cambridgemaths.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n This includes\u00a0the\u00a0filtered mathematical\u00a0research\u00a0“Espressos” and the Cambridge Mathematics\u00a0blog “Mathematical Salad”, which Lucy edits.<\/p>\n Mathematical Salad: https:\/\/www.cambridgemaths.org\/blogs\/<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Photo of Lucy taken at the Cambridge Mathematics London Conference. March 21 2018 (Matthew Power Photography www.matthewpowerphotography.co.uk On\u00a0Tuesday 8th May\u00a0we were visited by Lucy Rycroft-Smith, a former OU student,\u00a0who spoke to the academics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics about her work on the Cambridge Mathematics\u00a0project, including researching and writing mathematics “Espressos”. In her seminar, she … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/MathEd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Cambridge-Maths-300x167.png\")
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\n07969 088655 mpowerphoto@yahoo.co.uk)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"