Science and Mathematics Education Research Group

We develop skills in students, teachers and educators for planning, enacting, developing and evaluating teaching on a research-based foundation. We do this by developing didactics, activities, teaching aids, and strategies. In our research, we examine and develop teaching and learning in the areas of mathematics and science. We cooperate closely with schools and daycare centres to test new initiatives and strengthen children’s learning.

Learn more about our projects

Project: PRIMA

The purpose of the project, Mathematical attention and picture books in day care: Project PRIMA, is to strengthen children's mathematical development by increasing the educators' knowledge and skills, and to develop learning-supporting activities about mathematical attention. The target group is thus pedagogues in daycare centers.

The project is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Project: 1,800 Danish students participate in TRACK

TRACK is a three-year research project (2022-25) with VIA, Aarhus – and Aalborg universities. We investigate whether parts of Singapore’s way of teaching mathematics can be helpful in a Danish context. The chosen elements are grounded in mathematics problem solving and the structured use of various kinds of representations, for example concrete materials, drawing and symbols. The project includes new textbooks for Danish 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders. A total of 1,800 students and their teachers take part in TRACK, which will investigate how Danish teachers can develop their methods in mathematics.

Project: 10-year investigation of children’s interest in science

We participate in a national 10-year investigation in how children develop interest in and knowledge of science. The project follows children in schools, families, and during leisure time.

Project: How science teachers can inspire children towards sustainability

Novo Nordisk Foundation has donated 4,5 mio. DKK to a project, where VIA looks at how science teachers can inspire and motivate children towards tackling everyday sustainability challenges.

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Søren Witzel Clausen at socl@via.dk

How we work

Fields of expertise
- Learning and teaching numbers and arithmetics
- Beginners mathematics education (0-6 year-olds)
- Special education in mathematics
- Ways of working with problems: IBSE, Engineering, research skills
- Science and maths’ learning processes in children and adolescents
- Students with special needs (talents and maths’ difficulties)
- Professional development and professionalism of pedagogues, teachers, and educators
- Teaching the UN’s Sustainability Goals
Our approach

Our research focus on developing didactics, activities, teaching aids, and strategies in mathematics and science education and pedagogical activities. We develop and research practice by creating didactic laboratories where we investigate what happens when new interventions or learning activities are implemented. Our projects are characterised by close collaboration in practice with schools and day-care centres, deeply rooted in teacher and pedagogue education as well as teacher and pedagogue training, and collaboration across professions.

Learn more

See our academic profile (danish)

Contact

Peer Daugbjerg
Associate Professor, PhD, Head of Programme (Science)
T: +45 87 55 32 82
E: pd@via.dk
Expertise: Narrative- and Science Education research, Teacher Professional Development

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Lóa Björk Jóelsdóttir
Associate Professor, Head of Programme (Maths)
T: +45 28 97 01 68
E: loho@via.dk
Expertise: Research within arithmetics, teacher education, creativity, and giftedness

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Pernille Bødtker Sunde
Researcher, PhD
T: +45 28 94 09 79
E: pbos@via.dk
Expertise: Research within arithmetics, mathematics awareness, learning difficulties

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Mette Bjerre
Researcher, PhD
T: +45 29 82 37 35
E: mebj@via.dk
Expertise: Research within geometry, mathematics awareness, mathematical representations

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Pernille Ladegaard Pedersen
Associate Professor, PhD
E: pelp@via.dk
Expertise: Research within rational numbers, fractions, learning

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Mette Henne Hesselholt Hansen
Associate Professor, PhD
E: mhhh@via.dk
Expertise: Research within inquiry based science education, outdoor schooling and quantitative methods

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