University of Tasmania, Australia

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Tracey Muir

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Dr Tracey Muir

Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, Graduate Research Coordinator

B.Ed. M.Ed

Contact Details

Contact Campus Newnham Campus
Building Building A
Room Reference A229a
Telephone +61 3 6324 3261
Fax +61 3 6324 3048
Email Tracey.Muir@utas.edu.au

Research interests

Dr Muir’s research interests include effective teaching for numeracy, problem solving in mathematics, and parental involvement in mathematics education. Her PhD, which was awarded in 2009, looked at primary mathematics teachers’ practices, the factors which contributed to effective mathematics teaching and the use of self-reflection. Her current research interests include:

  • Parental involvement in children’s mathematical education.
  • Teachers’ use of Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) in the teaching of mathematics.
  • Pre-service teachers’ content and pedagogical content knowledge.
  • The use of ‘Second Life’ and virtual classrooms to improve the practicum experience of pre-service teachers.

Teaching

Dr Muir’s teaching is centred mainly in the Bachelor of Education program where she lectures in early childhood and primary mathematics education. Ms Muir is passionate about providing students with positive mathematical experiences and increasing their confidence in both their own mathematical ability and their ability to teach mathematics to others.

Other interests and achievements

Dr Muir is committed to maintaining and strengthening links with the wider educational community through supervision of pre-service teachers and the provision of, and participation in, mathematics professional learning for teachers. Dr Muir also maintains links with the profession through her membership of professional bodies, including Mathematics Association of Tasmania, Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. She is currently the VP (Development) for the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA).

She was co-editor of APMC (Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom) from 2008-2010 and Secretary of the Mathematics Association of Tasmania from 2005-2007. She has presented papers and workshops at state, national and international conferences and regularly writes and reviews journal articles.

Dr Muir received the MERGA Early Career Award in 2008, and her teaching has been recognised through three teaching merit certificates and a Vice-Chancellor’s Team Award for teaching excellence in 2011. She has been the recipient of three Teaching and Learning Grants and received an IRGS grant in 2010.

Selected publications

Journal Articles
  • Muir, T., Beswick, K., & Williamson, J. (2010). Up-close and personal: Teachers' responses to an individualised professional learning opportunity, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 38 (2) pp. 129-146.
  • Muir, T., Beswick, K., & Williamson, J.C. (2008). “I'm not very good at solving problems”: An exploration of students' problem solving behaviours, Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 27 (3) pp. 228-241. 
  • Muir, T. (2008). Principles of Practice and Teacher Actions: Influences on Effective Numeracy Teaching. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 20 (3) pp. 78-101. 
  • Muir, T., & Beswick, K. (2007). Stimulating reflection on Practice: Using the Supportive Classroom Reflection Process, Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 8, pp. 74-93.
Conference publications
  • Muir, T. (2009). ‘Investigating Teachers' Use of Questions in the Mathematics Classroom’, Proceedings of the 33rd Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, 19-24 July 2009, Greece, pp. 161-168.
  • Muir, T. (2008). ‘Describing effective teaching of numeracy: Links between principles of practice and teacher actions ’, 11th International Conference on Mathematics Education (ICME-11), July 2008, Mexico, pp. 1-8.
  • Muir, T. (2008) ‘Zero is not a number: Teachable moments and their role in effective teaching of numeracy’, Navigating currents and charting directions, July 2008, Brisbane Australia, pp. 361-367.
Journal articles
  • Muir, T. (2006). Developing an understanding of the concept of area. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 12 (4) pp. 5-9.
  • Muir, T. (2005). ‘When near enough is good enough' Eight principles for enhancing the value of measurement estimation for students. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 10 (2) pp. 9-14. 
Books
  • Watson, J. M., Beswick, K., Brown, N. R., Callingham, R. A., Muir, T., & Wright, S. E. (2010). Digging into Australian Data with Tinkerplots, Sandown Village, Melbourne: Objective Learning Materials.
Conference publications and presentations
  • Muir, T., Callingham, R., & Beswick, K. (2011). Using interactive whiteboards to teach mathematics: Examining teachers’ pedagogical approaches. Proceedings of the 2011 INTED Conference, 7th-9th March, 2011, Valencia, Spain.
  • Beswick, K., & Muir, T. (2011). Interactive whiteboards as potential catalysts of pedagogic change in secondary mathematics teaching. In J. Clark, B. Kissane, J. Mousley, T. Spencer & S. Thornton (Eds.). Mathematics traditions and [new] practices (Proceedings of the AAMT-MERGA- conference 3rd-7th July, 2011). Alice Springs: MERGA.
  • Muir, T. (2011). Join the club: Engaging parents in mathematics education. In J. Clark, B. Kissane, J. Mousley, T. Spencer & S. Thornton (Eds.). Mathematics traditions and [new] practices (Proceedings of the AAMT-MERGA- conference 3rd-7th July, 2011). Alice Springs: MERGA.
  • Muir, T., Ashman, G., Short, M., Jales, A., & Myhill, M. (2010). ‘Cultural contrasts in the classroom: Preparing international pre-service teachers for professional experience’, Cultures of Learning - Proceedings of the Teaching Matters 2010 Conference, 24-25 November 2010, Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre, University of Tasmania, pp. 70-82. 
  • Muir, T. (2010). Using video-stimulated recall as a tool for reflecting on the teaching of mathematics. In L. Sparrow, B. Kissane & C. Hurst (Eds.), MERGA33 2010 Shaping the Future of Mathematics Education (Proceedings of the 33rd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia). Fremantle, WA: MERGA. 
  • Beswick, K., & Muir, T. (2009). Do you see what I see? Pre-service teachers watching video excerpts of teaching. In Partnerships for Learning: On Campus and Beyond (Proceedings of the 8th Teaching Matters Conference). University of Tasmania, Hobart: CALT.
  • Muir, T. (2009). At home with numeracy: Empowering parents to be active participants in their child's numeracy development. In R. Hunter, B. Bicknell, & T. Burgess (Eds.), Crossing Divides (Proceedings of the 32nd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia). Palmerston North, NZ: MERGA.
  • Muir, T. & Edmondson, I.J. (2007). Numeracy Opportunities Across the Curriculum: Encouraging pre-service teachers to reflect on their experiences. Paper presented at the annual AARE Conference, 26-30 November, 2007, Adelaide, SA.
  • Muir, T. (2007). Setting a good example: Teachers’ choice of examples and their contribution to effective teaching of numeracy. In J. Watson & K. Beswick (Eds.), Mathematics: Essential research, essential practice (Proceedings of the 30th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia pp. 513-522). Adelaide: MERGA Inc.
  • Muir, T. (2006). What does effective teaching for numeracy look like? The design of an observation schedule. In P. Grootenboer, R. Zevenbergen & M. Chinnappan (Eds.), Identities cultures and learning spaces (Proceedings of the 29th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 368-375). Adelaide: MERGA Inc.
  • Muir, T., & Beswick, K. (2005) Where Did I Go Wrong? Reflecting on the Problem Solving Process. In  P. Clarkson, A. Downton, D. Gronn, M. Horne, A. McDonough, R. Pierce & A. Roche (Eds.), Building connections: Theory, research and practice (Proceedings of the 28th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 561-570). Melbourne: MERGA.
  • Beswick, K., Muir, T., & McIntosh, A.J. (2004). Developing an instrument to assess the number sense of young children. Paper presented at the Annual AARE International Education Research Conference 28th November - 2nd December 2004, Melbourne, Australia. 
  • Beswick, K., & Muir, T. (2004). Talking and Writing About the Problem Solving Process. In I. Putt, R. Faragher & M. McLean (Eds.), Mathematics education for the third millennium: Towards 2010 (Proceedings of the 27th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 95-102).  Townsville: MERGA. 
  • Muir, T., & McIntosh, A.J. (2004). Building a Common Culture K – 12. Paper presented at the Continuity and Change: Educational Transitions International Conference, 27-28 November 2003, Sydney, Australia.
Other
  • Muir, T, ‘'I thought I was reasonably good at teaching maths': The link between principles of practice, teacher actions and supportive classroom reflection’ (2009) [Unpublished doctoral thesis]
  • Muir, T, ‘How Do I Solve It?’ (2004) [Unpublished masters thesis]