Dr Pamela Moffett

General Information

Teaching Responsibilities

BEd Primary modules

• Year 1: Mathematics and Numeracy
• Year 2: Mathematics and Numeracy
• Year 3: Mathematics and Numeracy
• Year 2: Area of Specialism (Mathematics)
• Year 4: Dissertation

PGCE (Early Years)

• Implementing a play-based curriculum
• Teaching the Key Stage 1 curriculum

CPD courses

• Spotlight on Maths Anxiety

External Interests / Community Service

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• External Examiner, Specialist Primary Mathematics Practice Programmes, Edge Hill University (2015-2018)
• External Examiner, Primary Mathematics Programmes, Sheffield Hallam University (2008-2012)
• Organise Maths Week events for local primary schools

Research Interests

• Development of early number and the use of meaningful contexts for children’s learning in mathematics
• Outdoor learning in mathematics

Background & Qualifications

• BSc (First Class Honours) degree in Mathematics, University of Warwick
• PGCE (with commendation), Stranmillis University College
• PGCert Education (Dyscalculia), Edge Hill University
• PhD in Education, Queen’s University, Belfast
• Associateship (ALCM) in Pianoforte, London College of Music
• Diploma (Dip ABRSM) in Organ Performing, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
• Diploma in Counselling (Dip Couns), The Confederation of Scottish Counselling Agencies

Research & Scholarship

Journal Articles

Moffett, P. (2022). ‘”There’s maths everywhere!”: A case study on outdoor learning in mathematics in Initial Teacher Education in Northern Ireland’, Education 3-13, 39 (3), pp.277-287.

Moffett, P. & Eaton, P. (2018): The impact of the Promoting Early Number Talk project on the development of abstract representation in mathematics. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26 (4), 547-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2018.1487166

Moffett, P. & Eaton, P. (2017): The impact of the Promoting Early Number Talk project on classroom mathematics talk, Early Child Development and Care. To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2017.1412954.

Moffett, P.V. (2011) Outdoor mathematics trails: an evaluation of one training partnership. Education 3-13, 39 (3), 277-287.

Professional Periodicals

Moffett, P. (2019). Bring calculations to life with meaningful contexts. Early Years Educator, 20 (9), 18-20.

Moffett, P. (2018). Learning to articulate mathematical thinking. Early Years Educator, 20 (8), 18-20.

Moffett, P., Gray, C., Dunn, J., & Mitchell, D. (2017). Benefits of mobile digital devices in early learning. Early Years Educator, 19 (5), 26-28.

Moffett, P., (2015) Mathematics solutions. Special (September), pp. 14-16.

Moffett, P. (2015) The sum of parent power. Early Years Educator, 16 (10), 21-23.

Moffett, P. (2014) Finger pattern flashes. Early Years Educator, 16 (8), 21-23.

Moffett, P. (2014) Percy learns to count. Early Years Educator, 16 (6), 32-34.

Moffett, P. (2013) Ingredients for maths. Early Years Educator, 15 (4), 32-34.

Moffett, P. (2012) A recipe for ratio. Mathematics Teaching, 228, 30-32.

Moffett, P. (2012) Learning about outdoor education through authentic activity. Mathematics Teaching, 227, 12-14.

Moffett, P. (2011) Mathematics in bloom. Early Years Educator, 13 (7), 16-18.

Moffett, P. (2010) Back in time on a maths trail. Mathematics Teaching, 219, 31-33.

Moffett, P. (2009) Dutch principles. Mathematics Teaching, 215, 18-19.

Moffett, P. (2009) A Dutch perspective. Mathematics Teaching, 214, 18-19.

Professional Resources

Casserly, A.M., Moffett, P., & Tiernan, B. (2014) Number Talk: A resource to promote understanding and use of early number language. Available at http://eshop.stran.ac.uk/number-talk-teaching-and-learning-resource-277-p.asp

Conference Proceedings

Casserly, A.M., Moffett, P., & Tiernan, B. (2014) ‘Early number concepts: Key vocabulary and supporting strategies’. In Pope, S. (ed.), Proceedings of the eighth British Congress of Mathematics Education (BCME), University of Nottingham, Nottingham, 11-14 April, pp. 9-56.

Corcoran, D. & Moffett, P. (2011) ‘Fractions in context: The use of ratio tables to develop understanding of fractions in two different school systems’, Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM) conference, Oxford, England, 19 November. Available at: http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/IPs/ip31-3/index.html.

Moffett, P. (2011) ‘Mathematical modelling: A case study.’ In Dooley, T., Corcoran, D., & Ryan, M. (eds.), Proceedings of Mathematics Teaching Matters: The fourth national conference on research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI), 22-23 September, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, pp. 297-309.

Moffett, P. (2009) ‘Reform via textbooks: Lessons from a Dutch-English collaboration’, In Corcoran, D., Dooley, T., Close, S. & Ward, R. (eds.), Proceedings of Mathematics for all – Extending mathematical capacity: The third national conference on research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI), 24-25 September, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, pp. 263-273.

Conference Presentations

Moffett, P. (2022) ‘Preparing pre-service teachers to teach mathematics outdoors’, Paper presented at the Teacher Education Advancement Network (TEAN) conference, on-line. 5-6 May.

Moffett, P. (2018) ‘Let’s talk about number’, Paper presented at the ninth British Congress of Mathematics Education (BCME) conference. University of Warwick, Coventry, 3-6 April.

Moffett, P. (2017) ‘Teachers’ views on the development of abstract representation in mathematics in Year 1’, Paper presented at Early Childhood Education Beyond the Crisis: Social Justice, Solidarity and Children’s Rights: The twenty-seventh European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) annual conference. Bologna, Italy, 29 August-1 September.

Moffett, P., Casserly, A.M., & Tiernan, B. (2015) ‘Developing number language in early childhood’, Paper presented at Innovation, experimentation and adventure in early childhood: The twenty-fifth European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) annual conference. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 September.

Dunn, J., Gray, C., Mitchell, D., & Moffett, P. (2015) ‘Asking the Experts: Young Children’s Views on using iPads in Early Years Classrooms’, Paper presented at Innovation, experimentation and adventure in early childhood: The twenty-fifth European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) annual conference. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 September.

Gray, C., Dunn, J., Mitchell, D., & Moffett, P. (2015) ‘The integration of tablet devices into pedagogic planning in early years classrooms’, Paper presented at Innovation, experimentation and adventure in early childhood: The twenty-fifth European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) annual conference. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 September.

Moffett, P. & Beck, G. (2015) ‘Making sense of mathematics: Identifying and addressing difficulties in the primary classroom’, Keynote presentation at The National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) NI annual conference. Stranmillis University College, Belfast, 18 April.

Moffett, P. (2015) ‘Reforming the algebra classroom through lesson study’, Paper presented at The British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM)- Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI) joint research conference. St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, 27-28 February.

Casserly, A.M., Moffett, P., & Tiernan, B. (2014) ‘Early number concepts: Key vocabulary and supporting strategies’, Paper presented at Relationships – learning together: The twenty-sixth annual conference of the Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education (IATSE). All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland, 12-13 June.

Moffett, P. (2009) ‘Reform in mathematics education: lessons from the Dutch’, Workshop presented at The Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) annual conference, Leicestershire, (9-10 November).

Moffett, P. (2008) ‘The school environment as a real life context for quality learning experiences in primary mathematics: A case study in Belfast’, Paper presented at From teaching to learning: The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER). Gothenburg, Sweden, 8-12 September.

Research Reports

Gray, C., Dunn, J., Moffett, P., & Mitchell, D. (2017). Mobile devices in early learning: evaluating the use of portable devices to support young children’s learning. Report funded by the Belfast Regeneration Fund and commissioned by the Education Authority for NI. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15948.82568

Moffett, P. & Corcoran, D. (2012) An evaluation of the implementation of Realistic Mathematics Education within primary schools in the North and South of Ireland – Final report. Available at: http://scotens.org/?p=2369.

Doctoral Thesis

Moffett, P. (2006) Wittgenstein, Bohr and the quest for objectivity in education research: A new framework for educational and psychological attributes. Unpublished PhD thesis. Queen’s University, Belfast.