Intervention
Implementation
Designed by scholars in the field of math education
Five laboratory sessions of three hours each, over 5 consecutive weeks (tot: 15 hours)
Two main activities
Treatment delivered by 4 trained tutors with a math education background
School teachers in the classroom with the role of observers
Third grade classes (primary school)
Focus on numeracy (largest GGM)
Treatment delivered dt the classroom level:
All students in treated classes take part to the activities during school time, including student with disabilities or special needs
Children selected in the control group follow the usual curriculum
Didactical approach
Active learning and student-centered teaching practice
Based on Social constructivism and laboratorio matematico concepts
Laboratorio matematico developed in the 2000s by Italian scholars
Small heterogenous groups
Individual work as well as engagement with peers (group activities) and with the tutor (collective discussions)
Interaction and communication
Problem-solving tasks
Thinking, constructing mathematical meanings, and solving problem
Doing instead of listening
Sharing and comparison of ideas
Avoid pressure and competitiveness
no request for immediat answers
Mistakes as opportunities for learning
Attention to possible different thinking processes
Narrative content
Different semiotic resources
words
gestures and body activities
tools and materials
Support gender balanced participation
Pilot study
Pilot study in two classes over (October - December 2018) to assess:
Length and difficulty of the activities
Tutor and teachers' comments
Length and difficulty of outcome measures (pre-test and post-test)
Tutor and teachers' comments
Item-Response-Theory analysis