The why
Pedagogy is at the heart of the new curriculum for Wales. Effective pedagogy involves exploring and reflecting on which teaching strategies will best support learning in a given context, and inquiring about the impact of this on learners.
Therefore, this study aims to explore and reflect on the ExplanAStory strategy from the DigiTales4Maths programme and inquire about the impact of the strategy on a group of learners’ conceptual understanding of commutative multiplication.
Choosing the strategy
The ExplanAStory strategy was chosen because it provides learners with an engaging experience that allows them to develop and demonstrate their understanding of a mathematical concept whilst helping them to realise the four purposes. The ExplanAStory strategy supports learners to become:
ambitious, capable learners who
are building up a body of knowledge and have the skills to connect and apply that knowledge in different contexts
can communicate effectively in different forms and settings, using both Welsh and English
can explain the ideas and concepts they are learning about
use digital technologies creatively to communicate, find and analyse information
and enterprising, creative contributors who
connect and apply their knowledge and skills to create ideas and products
lead and play different roles in teams effectively and responsibly
express ideas and emotions through different media
ExplanAStory is underpinned by the pedagogical principles which state that good learning and teaching:
regularly reinforces the cross-curricular skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competence, and provides opportunities to practise them
encourages learners to take increasing responsibility for their own learning
encourages collaboration
Rationale for the strategy
“A mathematical concept or skill has been mastered when…
a person can represent it in multiple ways, has the mathematical language to be able to communicate related ideas, and can think mathematically with the concept so that they can independently apply it.
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Progression in algebra is demonstrated when learners have explored commutativity and can recognise when two different numerical expressions describe the same situation but are written in different ways.
The mathematics and numeracy AoLE in the Curriculum for Wales 2022 states…
“Computational fluency is essential for problem-solving and progressing in all areas of learning and experience. Fluency is developed through using the four basic arithmetic operations and acquiring an understanding of the relationship between them. This leads to preparing the way for using algebraic symbolisation successfully.
Learners demonstrate conceptual understanding through being able to explain and express concepts, find examples (or non-examples) and by being able to represent a concept in different ways, flowing between different representations including verbal, concrete, visual, digital and abstract.
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