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College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Nerida Ellerton

Professor
Office Hours
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 am–12 noon
Office Phone
(309) 438-7376office
phone
Email
nellert@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Professor, Mathematics Education, ISU, 2002–current Professor and Dean, Mathematics Education, University of Southern Queensland (1997–2002) Professor Mathematics Education, Edith Cowan University (1993–1997) Director, National Center for Mathematics Education Research (1992–1993)

Teaching Interests & Areas

• Algebra education • Mathematical modeling • Number sense • History of school mathematics

Research Interests & Areas

I have conducted research on how language, cultural and historical factors influence the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. Particularly since taking up my appointment at ISU, I have published a number of papers on the learning and teaching of rational number, algebra, and on the history of school mathematics. I have also conducted much research over the past 30 years on problem posing in school mathematics. I was Associate Editor of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (2011–2015), and Editor of the Mathematics Education Research Journal (1993–1997).

Outstanding College Researcher Award

College of Arts and Sciences
2015

Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Arts and Sciences

Illinois State University
2010

Book, Authored

Ellerton, N. F., & Clements, M. A. (2016). Samuel Pepys, Isaac Newton, James Hodgson, and the beginnings of secondary school mathematics. New York, NY: Springer (331 pages).

Clements, M. A., & Ellerton, N. F. (2015). Thomas Jefferson and his decimals: Neglected years in the history of US school mathematics. New York, NY: Springer. (204 pages).

Ellerton, N. F., & Clements, M. A. (2014). Abraham Lincoln’s cyphering book and ten other extraordinary cyphering books. New York, NY: Springer. (367 pages).

Singer, F. M., Ellerton. N. F., & Cai, J. (Eds.). (2013). Problem posing in mathematics teaching and learning: Establishing a framework for research. PME Special Issue, Educational Studies in Mathematics, 83(1), 1–162.

Ellerton, N. F., & Clements, M. A. (2012). Rewriting the history of school mathematics in North America, 1607-1861. New York, NY: Springer. (223 pages)

Book, Chapter

Ellerton, N., Vaiyavutjamai, P., & Clements, M. Reinventing the wheel: Historical perspectives of theories for interpreting discourse patterns in mathematics classrooms. J. Dindyal, L. P. Cheng, & S. F. Ng (EDs), Mathematics education: Expanding horizons. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia 2 (2012): 258–265.
Singer, M., Ellerton, N., Cai, J., & Leung, E. Problem posing in mathematics learning and teaching: A research agenda. B. Ubuz (EDs), Proceedings of the 35th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education 1 (2011): 137-166.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. Hidden weaknesses in Mathematics education settings. I. Hideki (EDs), Development of mathematical literacy in the lifelong learning society. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2010): 286-301.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. The 5-R model for improving pre-service teachers’ algebra content knowledge. I. Hideki (EDs), Development of mathematical literacy in the lifelong learning society. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2010): 268-285.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. Summary of ciphering books at Phillips Library, Salem, Massachusetts. Phillips Library (EDs), Addendum to MSS 399, American and Canadian ciphering books. Phillips Library (2009)

Book, Edited

Singer, F. M., Ellerton, N. F., & Cai, J. (Eds.). (2015). Mathematical problem posing: From research to effective practice. New York: Springer. (569 pages).

Journal Article

Ellerton, N. Engaging pre-service middle-school teacher-education students in mathematical problem posing: Development of an active learning framework. Educational Studies of Mathematics 83.1 (2013): 87-101.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. Prospective middle-school mathematics teachers’ knowledge of equations and inequalities. J. Cai & E. Knuth (EDs). Early algebraization (2011): 379-408.
Ellerton, N., & Yimer, A. A five-phase model for mathematical problem solving: Identifying synergies in pre-service-teachers’ metacognitive and cognitive actions. The International Journal on Mathematics Education 42.2 (2010): 245-261.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. A model for improving prospective mathematics teachers’ algebra content knowledge. Brunei International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education 1.1 (2009): 65-84.
Clements, M., & Ellerton, N. Young children learning mathematics in Brunei Darussalam: Some questions and answers from research. Studies in Education 13 (2009): 142-157.

Presentations

Ellerton, N. F. (2015, December 17). Beginnings of modern secondary school mathematics: The Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital, London, 1673–1798. Invited keynote paper presented at the research symposium, “Being Mathematical in the Georgian Period,” All Souls College, University of Oxford, UK.

Ellerton, N. F. (2014, December 19). The cyphering tradition in 18th- and 19th-century school mathematics—Especially in North America and Great Britain. Invited keynote paper presented at the research symposium, “Mathematical Readers in the Early Modern World”, All Souls College, University of Oxford, UK.

Early history of school mathematics in North America 1607–1861. 12th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME 12). (2012)
Learning mathematics at Illinois State Normal University, 1857–1900. Annual Conference of the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America (ISMAA). Illinois State University. (2012)
Learning to think mathematically. Illinois State University. UNITE (Urban Needs in Teacher Education). (2012)
Misconceptions about young Abraham Lincoln’s school mathematics achievements. Annual Conference of the Illinois Section of the Mathematical Association of America (ISMAA). (2012)
Reinventing the wheel: Historical perspectives of theories for interpreting discourse patterns in mathematics classrooms. 35th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Group of Australasia (MERGA). (2012)
Rewriting the history of school mathematics in North America 1607–1861: The central role of cyphering books. 12th Annual Conference of the Country School Association of America. (2012)
The curious case of duodecimals in North American cyphering books and early textbooks. History and Pedagogy of Mathematics (HPM) Conference. University of California at Berkeley. (2012)
The early years of the Mathematics Department at Illinois State Normal University, 1857–1907. Group for Educational Research (GERM). (2012)

Grants & Contracts

TEACHER + PLUS Project. US Department of Education. Federal. (2009)
Comparing Algorithms in Students’ Cyphering Books and Mathematical Textbooks: 1701-1861. Illinois State University.
Comparing Algorithms in Students’ Cyphering Books and Mathematical Textbooks: 1701-1861
Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. Illinois State University Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. Federal.