Foundations of Mathematical Understanding (12035.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Foundations of Mathematical Understanding
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online self-paced
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Education
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Teacher Education Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
To be effective educators, teachers need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the development of the big ideas that underpin mathematics. In this unit students will become familiar with the content and structure of mathematics and explore the progression of mathematical understanding from early childhood through to lower secondary school. Students will explore the interconnected nature of mathematical ideas and the abstraction of these ideas from their concrete underpinnings.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the big ideas that underpin mathematics;
2. Analyse the connections within and between big ideas in mathematics;
3. Demonstrate familiarity with a range of mathematical representations and explain their importance in mathematical knowledge; and
4. Apply knowledge of how mathematical ideas are developed and abstracted from concrete underpinnings.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

9864 Core Mathematics

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Jonathan Adams
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online self-paced Dr Jonathan Adams
2026 Bruce, Canberra Winter Term 08 June 2026 Online self-paced Dr Kristen Tripet
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 On-campus Dr Jonathan Adams
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 Online self-paced Dr Jonathan Adams
2027 Bruce, Canberra Winter Term 07 June 2027 Online self-paced Dr Kristen Tripet
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Dianne Siemon, Elizabeth Warren, Kim Beswick, Rhonda Faragher, Jodie Miller, Marj Horne, Dan Jazby, & Margarita Breed. (2021) Teaching Mathematics: Foundations to Middle Years (3rd ed.) 

A small number of digital copies are available through UC Library. It is recommended that primary education students purchase a copy as the same textbook is used in The Practice (PCK) of Teaching Mathematics (9888) and The Practice (PCK) of Teaching Mathematics (9888).

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, or if no submission has been made by the due date and time, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day, for three days, after which the submission will receive a score of ‘0' in keeping with UC's Assessment Policy.

Special assessment requirements

Normally an aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

This unit contains a significant of online material that students are expected to engage with each week.

Students are expected to view all lecture material and complete pre-tutorial activities and engage with the tutorial recordings and activities each week.

Indicative workload:

  • Online lecture material (and review of this material): Approximately 4.25 hours x 7 weeks = 30 hours
  • Online self-paced tutorials: Approximately 2.75 hours x 7 weeks = 20 hours
  • Readings: Approximately 2.75 hours x 7 weeks = 20 hours
  • Assessment preparation: 60 hours
  • Additional study: 20 hours

Participation requirements

This is an online unit that allows you to study in your own time. The course content is designed in weekly blocks that do not require you to attend any timetabled activities unless specifically stated. There may be optional timetabled activities to further support your learning that you can choose to attend. Assessment deadlines will apply.

Required IT skills

All students will need to access Canvas and be able to present their assignments in the required digital format via the online drop boxes.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

This unit involves research-led education and/or work-integrated learning. There are active researchers delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

Next step

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