Translating research into practice and design
Our research activities help us to design and write the Cambridge Mathematics Framework as well as the tools and reports we use in analyses of curricula, resources and assessments. In the course of this work, we come across research implications that we want to share with teachers directly through carefully designed digests, podcasts and blog posts.
Research Summaries
Research Summaries are concise reviews of literature in a given area of mathematics learning, together with their implications for the Cambridge Mathematics Framework. They include an interactive component of part of the Framework map. Research Summaries and their waypoints and research references are fundamental to our analyses of curricula, resources and assessments. For more information about the production and use of Research Summaries, see our Ontology report.
Most Research Summaries are currently not publicly available, though one is available here as an example. The dynamic online map and tools are not part of the example but a demonstration can be seen in this video. Some Research Summaries have been adapted into interactive Percolations within the JourneyMaths platform and were available to the public there during a beta testing period. There are currently 85 complete Research Summaries drawing on over 1500 research sources and contributing over 1000 waypoints to the Cambridge Mathematics Framework. A selection of 15 Research Summary titles are provided below as an example.
Espressos
Espressos are concentrated two-page digests of research and classroom implications that are free of charge and widely used for teacher professional learning. Each Espresso considers one particular issue in mathematics education, and how the latest good-quality research can provide helpful guidance or further reading. A searchable list of Espressos can be found on our main Espressos page.
Video resources
We produce three types of video resources:
- CoffeePods offer new ways to engage with Espresso content for mathematics teachers of all ages, experiences and sectors worldwide.
- The Staffroom Catch-Up podcast series offers listeners the opportunity to hear staffroom conversations beyond their original settings. In the first series, we hear from practitioners about what ‘educational research’ means to them and how it impacts their work.
- Informational videos about the Cambridge Mathematics Framework.
Instants and Percolations
Instants address key concepts and relationships at a glance. They provide a brief narrative, key terms and research references, examples of classroom dialogue, and typical models and tools which can be used to connect concepts. They are integrated with other content, including Percolations, in the JourneyMaths platform, though beta testing has closed and the platform is not currently live.
Percolations are fine-grained knowledge maps of many related concepts paired with a narrative of the synthesis of research and practice sources that has informed them. Teachers can interact with the maps, exploring neighbourhood clusters and pathways or jumping around. The text and references of the original underlying Research Summary are also provided. They are integrated with other content in the JourneyMaths platform, though beta testing has closed and the platform is not currently live.
Blogs
We have published over 300 blog posts which you can browse here. The focus of our blogs ranges through policy and big ideas, maths in everyday situations, intersections of maths with careers, teaching maths, events and take-aways, and research considerations. Their aim is to add to teachers’ rich experience with mathematics which they can draw on when working with students.
Games
We believe that well-designed learning games can enhance students’ engagement with foundational mathematical ideas, tying together content, context and motivation. They can play powerful roles in early exposure and reinforcement in addition to being used for consolidation of ideas and as a fun reward. Our research synthesis can suggest useful activities, groupings of ideas and beneficial experiences to support in particular games. Games we have designed so far can be explored here.