In Australia, as well as internationally, increasing teacher shortages are leading to severe mismatches between teacher qualifications and the discipline-specific needs in schools. This mismatch has prompted many jurisdictions to require teachers to teach subjects outside their field of expertise, a challenge particularly acute in mathematics, where over 40% of high school mathematics teachers in Australia are teaching mathematics out-of-field.
To address this challenge in mathematics and to provide a middle ground between ad-hoc, single-school-based professional learning meetings and multi-year retraining programs, Southern Cross University secured a Commonwealth grant to develop a 12-week microcredential program in collaboration with the Mathematical Association of NSW as industry partners.
Led by Dr. Lewes Peddell from the Faculty of Education, this CTL session outlines the design principles, university approval process, including constructive alignment, digital badging, and advanced standing arrangements, and designation as the Professional Certificate in Teaching Mathematics (Out-of-field Teachers). This presentation also includes insights and outcomes from the inaugural cohort of 25 teachers from across Australia who completed the microcredential during Dual-Term Two earlier this year.
With planning currently underway to offer the microcredential again in 2025, this initiative is attracting national and international interest, including being shared as part of a discussion group session at the 15th International Congress on Mathematical Education in Sydney during July 2024.
Join us to explore how similar initiatives can be adapted across different disciplines and educational contexts within our university.