The Swedish Research Council invests in the University's network for algebra learning

The Swedish Research Council has granted SEK 1.2 million to Kristina Palm Kaplan, senior lecturer in mathematics education at the University of Gävle, to further develop the Nordic Network for Algebra Learning (N2AL).

The aim of the network is to create stronger research environments in mathematics education with a focus on how algebra is taught and understood in schools in the Nordic countries.

"This network has been my academic home since I was a PhD student. Getting funding to strengthen and develop it further is both meaningful and necessary to drive the research forward," says Kristina Palm Kaplan.

A key to the future of mathematics education

In recent decades, the Nordic countries have strived to integrate algebraic thinking earlier in school education, but how this is reflected in classrooms varies.

"We can see that there is often a gap between what the policy documents prescribe and what actually happens in teaching. This is something we want to understand better and help to change," says Kristina Palm Kaplan.

Four research tracks

The research project consists of four sub-projects involving researchers from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Among other things, they will investigate:

• Teaching activities and formative assessment of algebraic skills in collaboration with teachers.
• How mathematical generalization is treated in policy documents, teaching materials and teaching in the Nordic countries.
• How algebra can be used to model real-life situations and problems in teaching.
• Student outcomes and professional development - studying data from large-scale surveys to understand both how teacher professional development can be implemented and applied in new contexts, and how the situation in the Nordic countries looks for different student groups.

Focus on collaboration and knowledge exchange

The network organizes annual symposia and workshops to exchange knowledge and develop joint research applications. The grant from the Swedish Research Council will be used to finance the network meetings and enable deeper collaboration between researchers and teachers.

"We want to create a context where even smaller research groups have the opportunity to collaborate internationally and develop the teaching of algebra on a scientific basis," says Palm Kaplan.

Kristina Palm Kaplan has been employed at the University of Gävle since 2023 and received her PhD from Uppsala University in 2019. She is a mathematics education specialist and has extensive experience of working with algebra teaching in both research and teacher education.