Faculty of Education - Research Publications

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Author: Stacey, Kaye × End date: 2022 × Start date: 2020 × Type: Journal Article ×

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    Evolution over Two Decades of CAS-Active Senior Secondary Mathematics Curriculum and Assessment
    Leigh-Lancaster, D ; Stacey, K (MDPI, 2022-07)
    The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) introduced the use of Computer Algebra System (CAS) technology (calculator and software) into the senior secondary mathematics curriculum and examination assessment in three phases, starting with a research-based pilot from 2000, followed by parallel implementation of CAS and non-CAS subjects from 2006 and culminating in transition to CAS-assumed subjects in 2010. This paper reports reflections on these developments over two decades from the perspectives of a researcher and the state mathematics manager (the authors) in consultation with four implementing teachers (the consultants). The authors critically examined the strategic design decisions that were made for the initiative over time. Then, with contributions from the four consultants, technical design issues relating to assessment and to teaching and the changes over a decade were investigated. A range of modifications have been made over the two decades, driven by changes in device capability and progressively increasing teaching expertise. The place of CAS in senior mathematics is now widely accepted, partly because an examination component not allowing any technology has been implemented. Examination questions have become more general, which may have added difficulty, but more questions involve setting up a real situation mathematically.
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    Beyond Accuracy: A Process for Analysis of Constructed Responses in Large
    Steinle, V ; Stacey, K ; Price, B (The Korean Society of Educational Studies in Mathematics, 2022-08-31)
    This article reports a detailed analysis of errors made by early algebra students who are learning equation solving. Whilst we aim to deepen the knowledge base that can be used by teachers and curriculum writers to plan instruction, the main goal of this article is to demonstrate a 5-step process that we have developed to analyse, summarize, visualize and grasp meaning from large numbers of short constructed responses to mathematics questions. This data-driven process is illustrated using responses from 3,010 students to an online test, which is intended to be highly diagnostic and used for formative purposes. The test consisted of 14 very carefully selected linear equations to solve. Students entered only the numerical answers. Although nearly all the errors identified have been previously reported in the literature, the study provides insights into their prevalence in this target population and demonstrates how they correspond to other characteristics of the students’ algebra, including the strategies that they use to solve these linear equations. It also provides a practical example of using short constructed responses as a window into students’ thinking.