Last week, we were privileged to host educators from around South Australia for a full day workshop on the topic of ‘Becoming a Better Maths Teacher’. Facilitated by leading educators, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell, the day traversed the space where cognitive science, educational psychology, and neuroscience meet pedagogy to deliver sensible classroom practice.
Cognitive load theory has reshaped how we understand learning. It has confirmed that learning is not passive, it is active, effortful, and deeply dependent on how information is presented, connected, and revisited. Applying this understanding is the vital role of the highly skilled teacher.
The science of learning tells us that strategies like retrieval practice, spaced learning, and interleaving are not optional extras — they are essential tools for helping students transfer knowledge from working memory to long-term understanding. And when it comes to Mathematics — a subject that builds layer upon layer of abstract reasoning — these tools are invaluable. Key outcomes from the workshop included:
- Maximising learning in the first 10 minutes of a lesson and to set the tone for the whole lessons
- Crafting effective worked examples to ensure students grasp new concepts with clarity
- Streamlining feedback practices to make giving and gathering feedback efficient and impactful
- Sustaining your growth and inspiration as a mathematics teacher throughout your career
At Prince Alfred College, our teachers continually reflect on how best to structure learning so that it aligns with how the brain actually works — whether that’s through worked examples, scaffolded tasks, meaningful practice, or carefully spaced review. We know that our boys’ mathematical success is based on having a deep knowledge of mathematical concepts and skills and the mindset to apply this in unfamiliar contexts. And this requires knowledgeable, skilful teachers. We look forward to providing further professional development opportunities for our teaching staff to ensure our boys continue to receive an exceptional education based on well-researched principles and practices.
About the Presenters:
Craig Barton is based in the UK and has spent over two decades in the classroom, and during that time he has become a passionate advocate for evidence-informed teaching. He is author of the best-selling book, “How I Wish I’d Taught Maths” and the creator of “Mr Barton Maths” resource and toolkit. The workshop was part of the national 'Becoming a Better Maths Teacher: Craig Barton's Aussie Tour with Ollie Lovell'.
Ollie Lovell is an Australian high school teacher and researcher who has dedicated his career to helping educators bridge the gap between theory and practice. Ollie is host of the “Education Research Reading Room” podcast, where he engages some of the world’s leading education thinkers, author of “Cognitive Load Theory in Action” and “Tools for Teachers”.
