MatRIC, a Norwegian centre for excellence in mathematics higher education – foundation, paradigms and research

Speaker:

Professor Simon Goodchild, University of Agder, Norway

Abstract:

The Norwegian Centre for Excellence in Education programme was set up in 2010-2011 with the goal of stimulating “the development of education and innovative approaches in higher education at the bachelor and master levels. The ambition of the initiative is to contribute to the development of excellent quality in higher education and to highlight the fact that teaching and research are equally important activities for universities and university colleges”[1]. This presentation will begin with a short introduction to the development of the programme in Norway, followed by a more detailed description of one of these Centres, MatRIC, Centre for Research, Innovation and Coordination of Mathematics Teaching. MatRIC leads developmental research and supports innovation in mathematics teaching and learning within higher education ‘user programmes’.

The presentation will move on to a consideration of the need to manage different ideologies and paradigms in the work of the Centre. There will be an overview of the research being undertaken by the Centre’s research group, and small studies supported by small research grants awarded by the Centre. A closer look at two of the innovation/research studies will conclude the presentation.