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Dr Matt Sexton
Matt Sexton (PhD, MEd, BTeach, BArts) is the Director of the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC) at ACU, Melbourne Campus. He is also the Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA) Enterprise Manager working within the DVCRE unit, and a Mathematics Education Lecturer in the National School of Education.
Matt worked for the Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) in 2008 and 2009, fulfilling the role of School Adviser Mathematics. During this time, Matt collaborated with members of the MTLC at ACU, as well as teachers, School Mathematics Leaders and principals who were participating in the Contemporary Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (CTLM) project, a school improvement initiative conducted by CEOM and ACU.
As an ACU academic staff member, Matt lectures preservice teachers, drawing on experiences in schools. Matt lectures and tutors in core mathematics education units that form part Education courses at ACU. He developed, along with Dr Andrea McDonough, the University Partnerships for Teaching and Learning Mathematics (UPTLM) project which aimed to research purposeful ways to build pre-service teacher capacities to be more effective mathematics teachers.
Matt's PhD, one of the first in Australia about mathematics leadership in primary school settings, investigated how School Mathematics Leaders/Numeracy Coordinators contributed to the sustainability of project-initiated mathematics teaching reforms through their leadership of school-based professional learning. The theoretical framework of Matt's thesis drew upon cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT).
Matt works closely with school communities, often looking for opportunities to teach mathematics lessons and working with classroom teachers and mathematics leaders. Matt uses these experiences to support his teaching at ACU, his research interest areas, and the professional development he designs and facilitates for teachers and leaders in schools.
Recent professional development projects
2023
2022
2021
2020
Gervasoni, A., Hunter, R., Bicknell, B., & Sexton, M. (2012). Powerful pedagogical actions in mathematics education. In B. Perry, T. Lowrie, T. Logan, A. MacDonald, & J. Greenlees (Eds.), Research in mathematics education in Australasia 2008-2011 (pp. 193 - 218). Rotterdam: Sense Publications.
Clarke, D.M., Roche, A., & Sexton, M. (2023). You decide: More than meets the eye. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 28(1), 18-23.
Sexton, M. & Downton, A. (2014). School mathematics leaders' beliefs about their role when participating in a school mathematics project. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 19(3), 3-5.
Clarke, D.M., Roche, A., Wilkie, K., Wright, V., Brown, J., Downton, A., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Sexton, M., & Worrall, C. (2013). Demonstration lessons in mathematics education: Teachers' observation foci and intended changes in practice. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 25(2), 217-230.
Sexton, M., Gervasoni, A., & Brandenburg, R. (2009). Using a concept cartoon to gain insight into children's calculation strategies. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 4(14), 24-28.
Sexton, M., & Lamb, J. (2023). Evidencing relational trust within mathematics leadership activity. In B. Reid-O'Connor, E. Prieto-Rodriguez, K. Holmes, & A. Hughes (Eds.), Weaving mathematics education from all perspectives (Proceedings of the 45th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 459-466). MERGA.
Sexton, M., & Nuttall, J. (2021). Leadership of strengths-based approaches for early years mathematics education: Using CHAT as a framework for educational leaders professional learning leadership. In Y. H. Leong, B. Kaur, B. H. Choy, J. B. W. Yeo, & S. L. Chin (Eds.), Excellence in mathematics education: Foundations and pathways (Proceedings of the 43rd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 92-95). MERGA.
Sexton, M. (2019). Object-motives of mathematics leaders' professional learning leadership during participation in a mathematics project. In G. Hine, S. Blackley, & A. Cooke (Eds.). Mathematics education research: Impacting practice (Proceedings of the 42nd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 660-667). MERGA.
Sexton, M., & Lamb, J. (2017). Using activity theory to understand a mathematics leaders' motivations and use of mathematical knowledge for teaching. In A. Downton, S. Livy, & J. Hall (Eds.), 40 years on: We are still learning! (Proceedings of the 40th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 466-473). MERGA.
Sexton, M., & Downton, A. (2014). School mathematics leaders' perceptions of successes and challenges of their leadership role within a mathematics improvement project. In J. Anderson, M. Cavanagh, & A. Prescott (Eds.), Curriculum in focus: Research guided practice (Proceedings of the 37th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp.581-588). MERGA.
McDonough, A., & Sexton, M. (2011). Building preservice teacher capacity for effective mathematics teaching through partnerships with teacher educators and primary school communities. In J. Clarke, B. Kissane, J. Mousley, T. Spencer, & S. Thornton (Eds.), Mathematics: Traditions and [new] practices. Proceedings of the AAMT-MERGA conference, Alice Springs (Vol. 1, pp. 508-514 ). MERGA.
Sexton, M. (2010). Using concept cartoons to access student beliefs about preferred approaches to mathematics learning and teaching. In L. Sparrow, B. Kissane, & C. Hurst (Eds.), Shaping the future of mathematics education (Proceedings of the 33rd annual conference of the Mathematical Research Group of Australasia, Fremantle, pp. 515-522). MERGA.
Clarke, D.M., Downton, A., Clarkson, P., Roche, A., Sexton, M., Wilkie, K., Brown, J., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Scott, A., & Wright, V. (2013). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2012: Report to CEO Melbourne. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Catholic University.
Clarke, D.M., Downton, A., Clarkson, P., Roche, A., Sexton, M., Brown, J., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Scott, A., Wilkie, K., & Wright, V. (2012). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2011: Report to CEO Melbourne. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Catholic University.
Clarke, D.M., Downton, A., Brown, J., Clarkson, P., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Roche, A., Scott, A., & Sexton, M. (2011). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2010: Report to CEO Melbourne. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Catholic University.
Clarke, D.M., Roche, A., & Sexton, M. (2022). Engaging maths: 21 more favourite lessons. Classic Press.
Sexton, M. (2019). Diffy towers: Exploring subtraction as difference. Prime Number, 34(3), 24-27.
Sexton, M. (2015). Two of my favourite mathematical tasks for the early years. Prime Number, 30(3), 9-11.
Sexton, M., Brown, J., & Downton, A. (2010). Understanding fractions. Prime Number, 25(4), 3-6.
Sexton, M. & Weedon, L. (2009). CEOM strategic support and the school adviser, mathematics. Learning Matters, 14(1), 63-64.
Leading Excellence in Matheamtics (2023)
Contemporary Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (CTLM) project (2008 - 2012)
Director of the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (2018 - present)
Matt is the Director of the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC). In this role, Matt prepares and leads professional development for primary and secondary school teachers and mathematics leaders in schools. The MTLC holds an important place in ACU's impact and engagement where the professional developments plays a vital role in supporting classroom teachers and leaders learn about and use mathematics education research to inform their practice in schools.
Mathematics Education Lecturer (2010 - present)
Matt lectures and tutors in mathematics education units that form part of the Master of Education (Mathematics Leadership), Master of Teaching (Primary), Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood/Primary) courses.
Units that Matt leads and teaches in are:
Matt is a member of the:
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