Igor' Kontorovich
Associate Professor in Mathematics Education
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science
The University of Auckland, New Zealand

Undergraduate studies provide an excellent opportunity to get a sense of research in mathematics education and a taste of an academic lifestyle. It is also an opportunity to boost your CV, develop new skills, and explore whether postgraduate studies can be a good fit for you.

 

A scholarship project continues for ~10 weeks and provides domestic and international students with $6,000 tax-free stipend. Explore the details of Research Scholarship and note the due date.

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The project for this year:

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SCI137: Making sense of first-year students' struggles with proofs

Proofs are a cornerstone of mathematics. Yet, mathematics education research shows time and again how challenging proving is for newcomers to this activity. Proving is especially challenging for students who transition from secondary to university mathematics.

The Scholarship Student will analyze written proofs created by first-year students. The aim of the analysis is to identify common issues, blind spots, and successes, and to make conclusions about students’ mathematical ways of thinking behind the proofs.

My former Scholarship Students presented the results of their Summer Projects at educational conferences, and submitted papers to international research journals.

Ideal student: This project is intended for all students with a solid mathematical background and a genuine interest in education. Students who completed MATHS202, MATHS303, MATHS399 and/or have some teaching experience are especially encouraged to apply.