Project details: The Role of Friendship Groups as Mediators of Effective Mathematics Learning in Secondary Schools

Research Team

1. Dr Julie-Ann Edwards

Funding Body

University of Southampton Research Award 

Duration

October 2005 - December 2006

Description

The study identified the extent to which friendship groups were used in mathematics classrooms. Pupil talk was analysed for levels of exploratory talk which indicates effective mathematical reasoning. Findings indicate that group work is rarely used in secondary mathematics classrooms, but that where friendship groupings were allowed, high levels of exploratory talk were identified.

Outcomes

Selection of International Conference Papers

  • Edwards, J (2007, in press) "The Language of Friendship: Developing sociomathematical norms in the secondary school classroom", Proceedings of the 5th Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME 5), Larnaca, Cyprus, European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (ERME)