Children as Mathematical Learners
UndergraduateCUR-EDP2432027
Course information for 2027 intake View information for 2026 course intake
Immerse yourself in the number and algebra strand of the Australian mathematics curriculum. Explore how children learn maths through a constructivist teaching approach, and identify knowledge using assessment strategies and diagnostic assessment.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 21 Feb 2027
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $842
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Children as Mathematical Learners
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- demonstrate sound mathematical content knowledge related to the Number and Algebra strands within the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics
- demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the structure and content of the Number and Algebra strands within the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (F-6) along with effective teaching strategies to foster children’s understanding
- develop, implement, analyse and moderate diagnostic and formative assessment tasks effectively to elicit children’s mathematical knowledge and understanding in the Number and Algebra strands
- critique and design learning using a range of contemporary pedagogies including constructivism, inquiry, and explicit direct instruction when planning for teaching and learning in mathematics.
- Conceptual and procedural understanding;
- Place value;
- Multiplicative thinking;
- Fractions and decimals;
- Proportional reasoning;
- Number patterns
This unit is the second in the mathematics education sequence and extends preservice teachers’ knowledge of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics, with emphasis on the proficiency strands and their role in developing deep conceptual understanding. The structure, intent, and developmental progression of the Number and Algebra strands from Foundation to Year 6, including place value, multiplicative thinking, fractions, decimals, and early algebraic reasoning are examined. Your mathematical content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge will be strengthened through engagement with contemporary research, analysis of common student errors and misconceptions, and evidence informed instructional approaches. Learning experiences are designed to build capacity to interpret curriculum requirements, plan coherent learning sequences, diagnose student thinking, and implement developmentally appropriate teaching strategies that foster conceptual understanding in primary mathematics. Core Content around appropriate subject matter expertise to effectively teach numeracy, explicit teaching of mathematics, and building of fluency, understanding, problem solving, and reasoning is addressed.
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Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Portfolio 1 (50%)
- Portfolio 2 (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- CUR-BED-DEG-2027 - Bachelor of Education (Primary Education)
Elective
- CUR-FAST-DEG-2027 - Fast track your Curtin on campus study
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
- CUR-EDC145-The Numerate Educator
CUR-EDC141 (Not currently available)
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Others
Successful completion of 100 credit points in the degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
8 student respondents between 26 May - 8 Dec 2025.
50%of students felt the study load was manageable
62%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Education (Primary Education)
UndergraduateCUR-BED-DEG
Fast track your Curtin on campus study
UndergraduateCUR-FAST-DEG