School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Transition Mathematics: Early Algebraic Thinking
  • Unit Code

    MPE6263
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Vesife HATISARU

Description

This unit is designed to equip student teachers with the necessary skills to become confident lower secondary mathematics teachers in the area of algebra. As well as building an understanding of the primary to secondary education transition, students will build competence in the fundamental concepts that need to be established by younger students before they may successfully embark on learning pronumeric algebra. Student teachers will also examine some ways to develop algebraic understanding for students in their early secondary years.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded MPE4263, MPE5263.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain to colleagues, and use in teaching, the scope and sequence and expectations of the Australian Curriculum for mathematics in regard to pre-algebraic and algebraic concepts in the primary years and in Years 7 and 8.
  2. Analyse and explain to colleagues the way in which algebraic thinking uses more formal and abstract concepts than seen in early primary mathematics, based on current research.
  3. Critically reflect upon and explain in the school workplace the importance of algebraic understanding to overall mathematical success in secondary school.
  4. Reframe and provide solutions for common misconceptions about algebraic ideas in lower secondary students.

Unit Content

  1. Pre-algebraic thinking for Years Foundation to 5, using non-pro-numeric (no letters) ideas for building a pre-algebraic understanding of variables and equations.
  2. Building algebraic understanding using multiple strategies and a cohesive conceptual plan.
  3. Using story graphs to establish the concept of variation and graphing.
  4. How pre-algebraic ideas are articulated and supported in the Australian Curriculum in the primary years.
  5. Building algebraic understanding in the lower secondary years using multiple strategies.
  6. Common misconceptions about the ideas of a letter pro-numeral and an equation.
  7. How to teach the connect the idea of a simple linear equation with a graph.
  8. How algebraic ideas are articulated and supported in the Australian Curriculum in the lower secondary years.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ProjectUpper primary pre-algebra task and reflection50%
ReportCommon algebra misconceptions50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

MPE6263|1|1

School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Transition Mathematics: Early Algebraic Thinking
  • Unit Code

    MPE6263
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Vesife HATISARU

Description

This unit is designed to equip student teachers with the necessary skills to become confident lower secondary mathematics teachers in the area of algebra. As well as building an understanding of the primary to secondary education transition, students will build competence in the fundamental concepts that need to be established by younger students before they may successfully embark on learning pronumeric algebra. Student teachers will also examine some ways to develop algebraic understanding for students in their early secondary years.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded MPE4263, MPE5263.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain to colleagues, and use in teaching, the scope and sequence and expectations of the Australian Curriculum for mathematics in regard to pre-algebraic and algebraic concepts in the primary years and in Years 7 and 8.
  2. Analyse and explain to colleagues the way in which algebraic thinking uses more formal and abstract concepts than seen in early primary mathematics, based on current research.
  3. Critically reflect upon and explain in the school workplace the importance of algebraic understanding to overall mathematical success in secondary school.
  4. Reframe and provide solutions for common misconceptions about algebraic ideas in lower secondary students.

Unit Content

  1. Pre-algebraic thinking for Years Foundation to 5, using non-pro-numeric (no letters) ideas for building a pre-algebraic understanding of variables and equations.
  2. Building algebraic understanding using multiple strategies and a cohesive conceptual plan.
  3. Using story graphs to establish the concept of variation and graphing.
  4. How pre-algebraic ideas are articulated and supported in the Australian Curriculum in the primary years.
  5. Building algebraic understanding in the lower secondary years using multiple strategies.
  6. Common misconceptions about the ideas of a letter pro-numeral and an equation.
  7. How to teach the connect the idea of a simple linear equation with a graph.
  8. How algebraic ideas are articulated and supported in the Australian Curriculum in the lower secondary years.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ProjectUpper primary pre-algebra task and reflection50%
ReportCommon algebra misconceptions50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

MPE6263|1|2