Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai (Lecturer in Primary Mathematics Education) has recently been awarded the University of Reading’s Research Fellowship (£10,000) for the 2019/2020 academic year. Twenty Fellowship applications were submitted, and only five applications were chosen across the university’s five research themes. According to the University’s press release, “Five Reading academics at the top of their game have been awarded University Research Fellowships to develop their work in the arts, humanities and social sciences over the next year.”
Applications were assessed in terms of originality, rigour and significance of the proposed Fellowship project as well as the extent to which it shows ambition and constitute a ‘step change’ in the work of the applicant. The Fellowship is for the duration of one year.
Dr. Trakulphadetkrai’s project, titled ‘Learning Mathematics through Creating Story Picture books: A New Mathematics Teaching Strategy for Primary School Children’ will be built on his pilot study. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an innovative mathematics teaching strategy whereby children creating their own mathematical story picture books (MSPB). Specifically, it sets out to measure the extent to which asking Year 4 (8-9 years old) children to create MSPB about multiplication can help to develop their conceptual understanding of the topic. Finally, the study will also explore key stakeholders’ perceptions of this teaching strategy.
Dr. Trakulphadetkrai said: “Existing studies on this topic tend to be conducted in the early years (3-5 years old) and Key Stage 1 (5-7 years old) settings and they treated children as only consumers rather than producers of MSPB. This study will be the first empirical study of its kind to investigate the effect of treating children as producers of MSPB.” He also added that “This study will form part of my research underpinning my non-profit MathsThroughStories.org initiative, which sets out to encourage teachers and parents globally to teach mathematics using storytelling.”
To learn more about Dr. Trakulphadetkrai’s research interests, click here.
To learn more about the Fellowship and details of the other Fellowship recipients, click here.
Dear Dr. Natthapoj,
Congratulations. You make Regent’s International School in Thailand proud. Your research will undoubtedly benefit the global education community, particularly the current effort in searching for the most effective approach to teaching STEM to under 7. In your next visit to Thailand, do plan to present your insight to the Education Minister.