2010 Conference Presenters

Dr. Manuela Piazza

Dr. Manuela Piazza is a leading researcher in the field of numerical cognition. She is based at the Faculty of Cognitive Science at the University of Trento, Italy and also collaborates with Stanislas Deheane and his team at the INSERM-CEA Cognitive unit, Orsay, France. Manuela studied for her PhD in London under the supervision of Brian Butterworth and was a European Marie Curie Individual Fellow at INSERM for 2003-2005. Her current research interests are ‘Subitizing and visuo-spatial working memory’, ‘Caracherizing the level of abstraction of the neural code for numerical quantity’ and ‘Isolating the neuro-cognitive start-up-tools in numerical cognition and tracking their development in young children’.

Presentation: Neurocognitive start-up-tools in numerical cognition

Humans come to life equipped with sophisticated mechanisms based on parietal cortex circuitry for representing different aspects of the self and of the world that are crucial for planning actions. These aspects mainly relate to space and quantity and include position, spatial configuration, size, time, and approximate number. While these mechanisms are functional at very early age, during development they undergo important refinements both as a function of pure brain maturation and of exposure to specific cultural practices. Manuela will draw upon the latest functional imaging and research data to demonstrate why and how understanding these mechanisms can have strong practical implications for Maths teaching and remedial programs.

Jean Gross

Jean was until 2005 Senior Director within the government’s Primary National Strategy. A former teacher, lecturer, educational psychologist and Head of Children’s Services, she is a leading expert on inclusion issues. Her work has focused on improving outcomes for children with significant difficulties in literacy and mathematics, promoting teachers’ skills in inclusive teaching, and developing children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills through the SEAL whole-curriculum approach.

Presentation: Learning from Every Child Counts

Every Child Counts is a new national programme aimed at tackling numeracy difficulties early, before they become entrenched. Jean’s session will review the impact of the programme on individual children and on schools, and draw out the lessons learned.

Dr. Silke Göbel

Silke is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of York. Her research interests include Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and she is currently involved in studies investigating number representation in dyslexic adults. Silke has learnt neuropsychological assessment procedures for children and has been trained in a child-friendly imaging method (MEG) at the York Neuroimaging Centre (YNiC).

Presentation: Dyslexia and number – what can we learn from adult brains?

Silke will review findings on number processing and maths in dyslexia, then present results from one of her studies on numerical and related skills in adults with dyslexia. Her presentation will end with an overview of research findings on the functional brain differences in adults with dyslexia.

Rose Griffiths

Rose Griffiths is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Leicester, and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy in 2009. Starting as a teacher with a particular interest in working with children who find maths difficult, Rose taught in primary, secondary and special schools, and worked with young children and their parents, including through Sure Start. Her publications include many books for children, parents and teachers. Rose’s research interests have included counting and early arithmetic, raising the achievement of looked after children, and childhood bereavement.

Presentation: Primary Sector Breakout - Helping Primary Children Succeed in Maths

Rose will outline the most important principles of effective teaching for children whose attainment is low. It will provide practical ideas so that the children you work with can enjoy maths and make more progress.

Dr. Dave Hewitt

Dave Hewitt has taught in schools for 11 years, including five years as a Head of Mathematics, before moving to the University of Birmingham where he has worked for the last 20 years. He completed his PhD in 1994 and has been interested in a variety of areas of mathematics education based around the notion of economic use of personal time and energy in the learning and teaching of mathematics. This interest has resulted in the development of frameworks and activities for teaching mathematics along with a variety of computer software including Developing Number and Grid Algebra which are sold by the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM).

Presentation: Secondary Sector Breakout - Stressing commonalities rather than differences in the teaching of mathematics

Many children have difficulties with mathematics and each class, even if organised in ability groups, is a mixed ability class. As a teacher of mathematics it is possible to stress the differences which exist between students and cater for those differences. Alternatively it is possible to stress what they have in common. This talk will put an argument for stressing what students have in common and ways in which we can try to access the mathematician within each and every student. Each problem a student faces with mathematics can be viewed either as the student’s problem with mathematics or as a teacher’s challenge with ways to approach that piece of mathematics. Of course, it is always a mix of both but sometimes the student’s problem is not necessarily concerned with the difficulty of mathematics and sometimes an alternative approach can allow what appeared to be difficult become more intuitive and obvious.

Clare Trott

Clare is a Mathematics Support Tutor for the Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University. She specializes in one-to-one mathematics support for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Clare has been instrumental in establishing the Dyscalculia and Dyslexia Interest Group (DDIG); she is also lead tutor on the Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics Support and Dyslexia/Dyscalculia in FE/HE.

Presentation: HE/FE Sector Breakout - Supporting mathematics and specific learning differences in HE/FE

Clare will focus on the difficulties encountered by dyscalculic students in FE/HE. She will provide case studies and activities will be offered that illustrate the problems faced, together with strategies for supporting the student and promoting independent learning.

Dr Steve Chinn

Steve taught for 40 years, in mainstream schools, Further Education and in Special Education. He founded and for nineteen years ran Mark College, a school for dyslexic boys, which received Beacon School status. Steve is an author, researcher and international lecturer.

Presentation: Recent developments in classroom research into Maths Learning Difficulties and Dyscalculia

Steve’s session will cover recent classroom studies and other recent understandings of Maths learning difficulties and dyscalculia. It will also consider the structure of a test protocol for diagnosing Maths learning difficulties.