Doing the maths: boosting maths attainment across Australia

Mathematics learning program Knowledgehook has launched in Australia, as the nation’s teachers turn a corner in addressing low maths attainment levels for young students. The platform is available for students in Year 3 to Year 10 through educational consultancy The Learner First.

The latest TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) found that Australia’s achievement in mathematics has improved since 2015. However, Year 4 mathematics performance has not changed since 2007. One of the biggest challenges facing educators is to find better ways to meet the learning needs of the many students who fall behind in schools, failing to meet year-level expectations (often year after year) and, as a consequence, become increasingly disengaged.

Knowledgehook’s proprietary technology harnesses the power of data to track where students are on their maths journey. The programs connect a child’s at-home learning with in-school education, providing real-time insights to teachers on learning gaps. This empowers educators to develop an understanding of the maths concepts related to their students’ challenges, enabling them to adjust instruction and monitor student progress.

As the platform launches across Australia, former Australian Mathematics Curriculum leader Margaret Bigelow said that while Australia’s results in international testing are improving, educators need the right support.

“The impact of a national approach to teaching and learning mathematics has impacted on this improved outcome. Teachers need to be supported to maintain this trajectory of improvement by having the ideas and tools to enhance the engagement of their students to develop critical and creative thinking and further mathematical skills. This will enable students to adjust to the ever-changing demands and challenges of life in the future,” she said.

Knowledgehook co-founder and CEO Travis Ratnam said the platform was inspired by his own struggles with maths as a child.

“Having the right, personalised guidance makes all the difference and every student deserves to have a teacher who has access to the best pedagogical tools, and parents who have insights into their learning. Our platform is not a game, it pulls together a 360 view on a child’s learning journey enabling people around them to improve the child’s math experience and outcomes,” Ratnam said.

The AI-enabled platform has grown to support schools across the US, Mexico and the UK, and is designed to scale across multiple countries and languages developing teacher capacity while engaging students and providing actionable insights for parents. Over the years, Knowledgehook’s research-based solution has garnered industry-leading partnerships and investments from the most recognised global education bodies, notably from the University College of London (UCL), a global leader in education research.

Joanne McEachen, founder and CEO of The Learner First, said that the platform’s instant support gives both students and teachers the help that has been missing for years.

“I love the fact maths support is available 24/7 so when a learner struggles with a math’s concept, the teacher can access professional learning and development to help support both the learner and the teacher on the spot. Moreover, it helps teachers retrace their approach and identifies what may have been missed allowing them to recover and embed essential skills and concepts. Quite simply, it is what we have been missing for years and it will certainly complement the current trajectory of further improving maths’ performance and disposition in Australian students,” she said.

The Knowledgehook team actively collaborates with governments around the world and works directly with schools and their suppliers to offer curriculum-aligned solutions in more than 100,000 schools. It is anticipated that the solution will reach 50,000,000 students globally in 2021.

For more information, contact The Learner First.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Zoriana