PapersFlow Research Brief
Mathematics Education and Programs
Research Guide
What is Mathematics Education and Programs?
Mathematics Education and Programs is a field focused on mathematics education in higher engineering and science, emphasizing support for students' transition to tertiary mathematics, improvement of numeracy skills, enhancement of student engagement, and use of diagnostic testing for learning support.
This area addresses challenges in STEM education and the influence of mathematics background on success in engineering and science disciplines. It includes 38,034 works with no specified 5-year growth rate. Key elements involve mathematics support for engineering students, tertiary mathematics transition, numeracy skills development, student engagement, mathematical literacy, and diagnostic testing.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Mathematics Diagnostic Testing in Higher Education
This sub-topic develops and validates diagnostic assessment tools identifying specific mathematical misconceptions and knowledge gaps in entering STEM students. Researchers study instrument psychometrics, error pattern analysis, and prescriptive feedback systems.
Tertiary Mathematics Transition for Engineering Students
This sub-topic examines cognitive and epistemological challenges students face transitioning from school to university-level mathematics in engineering contexts. Researchers investigate threshold concepts, mathematical rigor, and bridging programs.
Mathematics Support Centres in Universities
This sub-topic evaluates peer tutoring, workshops, and drop-in support services addressing mathematics anxiety and skill deficits. Researchers conduct randomized trials measuring impact on pass rates and student confidence.
Numeracy Skills Development in STEM Education
This sub-topic targets quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, and modeling skills essential for applied STEM disciplines beyond symbolic manipulation. Researchers develop contextualized numeracy curricula and assessment frameworks.
Student Engagement Strategies in University Mathematics
This sub-topic investigates active learning, technology integration, and collaborative strategies increasing motivation and deep learning in calculus and linear algebra courses. Researchers measure engagement via attendance, participation, and conceptual understanding.
Why It Matters
Mathematics Education and Programs directly impacts student success in STEM fields by addressing transitions to tertiary mathematics and numeracy gaps, which affect engineering and science performance. Maltese and Tai (2011) analyzed U.S. student data in 'Pipeline persistence: Examining the association of educational experiences with earned degrees in STEM among U.S. students' (994 citations), finding that early positive educational experiences correlate with higher STEM degree completion rates, helping sustain U.S. research leadership amid economic pressures. Kilpatrick, Martin, and Schifter (2003) in 'A research companion to Principles and standards for school mathematics' (1132 citations) synthesize literature to inform school mathematics practices that build foundational skills for higher education. Land (2003) in 'Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge: linkages to ways of thinking and practising within the disciplines' (1052 citations) identifies disciplinary thinking barriers, aiding targeted interventions in university programs. Stroud and Booth (2011) provide 'Advanced Engineering Mathematics' (1036 citations), a programmed textbook used in upper-level engineering courses to support skill acquisition.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
'A research companion to Principles and standards for school mathematics' by Kilpatrick, Martin, and Schifter (2003), as it synthesizes foundational literature on school mathematics practices that underpin tertiary support.
Key Papers Explained
Kilpatrick, Martin, and Schifter (2003) in 'A research companion to Principles and standards for school mathematics' (1132 citations) provides scholarly underpinnings for mathematics standards, which Land (2003) builds on in 'Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge: linkages to ways of thinking and practising within the disciplines' (1052 citations) by linking to disciplinary challenges. Stroud and Booth (2011) apply these concepts practically in 'Advanced Engineering Mathematics' (1036 citations), offering programmed learning tools. Maltese and Tai (2011) extend to outcomes in 'Pipeline persistence: Examining the association of educational experiences with earned degrees in STEM among U.S. students' (994 citations), quantifying persistence factors.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Research continues on mathematics support strategies for engineering students and STEM transitions, with emphasis on numeracy and diagnostic testing. No recent preprints or news coverage available in the last 6-12 months. Ongoing focus remains on student engagement and mathematical literacy challenges.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A research companion to Principles and standards for school ma... | 2003 | Medical Entomology and... | 1.1K | ✕ |
| 2 | Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge: linkages to ways... | 2003 | — | 1.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Advanced Engineering Mathematics | 2011 | — | 1.0K | ✕ |
| 4 | Pipeline persistence: Examining the association of educational... | 2011 | Science Education | 994 | ✕ |
| 5 | A Course of Higher Mathematics | 1964 | Elsevier eBooks | 881 | ✕ |
| 6 | PISA 2012 Assessment and Analytical Framework | 2013 | Programme for internat... | 782 | ✕ |
| 7 | Improving the Productivity of America's Schools. | 1984 | Educational leadership | 732 | ✕ |
| 8 | Acquisition of mathematics concepts and processes | 1983 | Academic Press eBooks | 731 | ✕ |
| 9 | A Course of Higher Mathematics | 1964 | Elsevier eBooks | 715 | ✕ |
| 10 | The development of chemistry teaching: A changing response to ... | 1993 | Journal of Chemical Ed... | 690 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does diagnostic testing play in mathematics education programs?
Diagnostic testing identifies numeracy skill gaps and supports effective learning in tertiary mathematics for engineering students. It facilitates targeted interventions during university transition. This approach enhances student engagement and mathematical literacy in STEM contexts.
How does mathematics background affect STEM degree completion?
Mathematics background influences persistence in STEM pipelines, as shown by analysis of U.S. student data. Positive early educational experiences link to higher earned degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Maltese and Tai (2011) demonstrated this association in their study with 994 citations.
What are threshold concepts in mathematics education?
Threshold concepts represent transformative ways of thinking that create troublesome knowledge in disciplines like mathematics. They link to practicing within fields such as engineering and science education. Land (2003) explored these in ETL project research, cited 1052 times.
How do programmed approaches aid engineering mathematics learning?
Programmed textbooks guide self-paced learning of upper-level engineering mathematics. They cover required topics for undergraduate courses. Stroud and Booth (2011) detailed this in 'Advanced Engineering Mathematics', with 1036 citations.
What frameworks assess mathematics skills internationally?
PISA frameworks evaluate student preparedness in analyzing, reasoning, and communicating mathematical ideas. They assess skills for future economic and societal roles. OECD (2013) outlined this in 'PISA 2012 Assessment and Analytical Framework', cited 782 times.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can diagnostic testing be optimized to predict and improve engineering student success in tertiary mathematics?
- ? What specific educational experiences most strongly predict STEM degree persistence across diverse U.S. student populations?
- ? Which threshold concepts pose the greatest barriers to mathematical thinking in higher science disciplines?
- ? How do numeracy interventions during university transition affect long-term engagement in STEM fields?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 38,034 works with no specified 5-year growth rate.
Citations highlight enduring influence of works like Kilpatrick et al. (2003, 1132 citations) and Land (2003, 1052 citations).
No recent preprints or news in the last 6-12 months indicate steady rather than accelerating activity.
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