EDF5825 Numeracy and mathematical thinking
Faculty of Education
EDF5825 Numeracy and mathematical thinking is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before EDF5825
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EDF5825
No unit lists EDF5825 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Must be enrolled in D6001
Overview
This unit focuses on how young children develop mathematical thinking from birth to five years. In this unit, you will explore how mathematics concepts and numeracy skills develop when young children experience meaningful learning opportunities through play, everyday experiences, interactions with others, inquiry and problem solving. You will explore relevant curriculum frameworks for early childhood mathematics learning and teaching in Australia and engage with current research, policy, and teaching practices to build your understanding of how young children learning mathematics. Mathematics is a cultural practice, and as future educators you need to be aware and responsive to the cultural understanding of children. You will investigate tools, technologies, and processes for monitoring and evaluating children’s thinking and fostering their mathematical progress in inclusive ways. You will critically reflect on your childhood experiences with mathematics to become aware of how your early experiences influence your current mathematical pedagogy.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Observation of young children's mathematical thinking (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
- Plan, justify and demonstrate a mathematical resource for young children (2000 words or equivalent)Project50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
demonstrate advanced knowledge of relevant curriculum frameworks and theories about early childhood mathematics and numeracy development
- 2
articulate the key concepts for young children in each of the mathematics strands and apply these to planning and evaluation
- 3
identify everyday learning experiences in a range of settings that foster young children’s mathematical thinking
- 4
demonstrate the capacity to use tools, technologies, and processes for monitoring children’s thinking and fostering their mathematical progress.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.
Usually, you can expect to engage with:
• 24 hours* of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities; and
• the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
*Subject to variation due to professional experience requirements
You will be provided with the opportunity to engage with relevant literature and resources. Further, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of topic areas through collegial discussion and debate, and by participating in activities designed to extend your understanding.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.
Where it fits
EDF5825 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Ann Downton
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Ann Downton
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EDF5825?
EDF5825 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is EDF5825 offered?
In 2026, EDF5825 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is EDF5825?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EDF5825 have an exam?
No. EDF5825 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include EDF5825?
EDF5825 is part of Early childhood education.