Maths resource breaks national trends in Primary Mathematics

December, 2016 –Results come at a good time for teachers as PISA and TIMSS suggest an improvement in mathematics across the country.  A recent research report has found Matific, a new mathematics resource that is aligned to the Irish Curriculum, helped increase students’ maths test results by 34%.

The TIMS study highlighted that students’ maths results in Ireland have improved but concern remains regarding the under-performance of high-achieving students and this trend was confirmed when the PISA assessments indicated that 15 year old high-achieving students also under performed compared to other countries but showed an overall improvement.

“Students are unable to successfully make the transition from primary school to secondary school mathematics and the reason for this can be attributed to a shallow understanding of the fundamentals and an over reliance on rote learning,”  said Brent Hughes, Education Expert at Matific. “As a nation we are disengaging with mathematics and it all begins in primary school”

Associate Professor Catherine Attard, recently completed a study, which involved working with over 450 students to understand the effect Matific could have on maths learning and engagement in primary schools.

When comparing pre-trial and post-trial tests there was an average improvement of 34% in results. According to Attard, one reason for the improvement is the fact that whilst Matific is an educational tool, kids found the game based activities a fun and engaging way to learn maths.

“We found that the students engaged in the trial knew they were learning maths, but because they found the games were fun, they actively wanted to continue playing them and learn more. This is significant as it helps children have a more positive experience,” said Associate Professor Attard.

PISA and TIMS assessments found that not only did students perform poorly in relation to answering fundamental maths calculations but their ability to problem solve has continued to slide over the past decade. Matific’s approach focuses on interactive activities, each of which, allows children to immerse themselves into the fun world of maths, all while learning new skills and receiving instant feedback to help them further develop their conceptual understanding and problem solving skills in mathematics.

Matific also aims to relieve the feeling of anxiety, tension and dread that so many kids feel during maths exams or class time and give parents the confidence to know their child is genuinely enjoying the learning process and taking on board new skills when it comes to maths.

“Our goal is to change the way children view mathematics. By helping them see maths in a positive way, we will begin to see this trend reverse,” said Mr. Hughes.