Staff Profiles

Len began his career as a primary school teacher in the United Kingdom, and spent time teaching in Sydney. During his teaching career he worked with all ages of primary children, specialised in physical education, language and literacy, and mathematics, as well as twice being a Deputy Head Teacher, and Acting Head Teacher of a large Nottinghamshire Primary school.

Before commencing his appointment at Curtin University, Len worked in teacher education at The Nottingham Trent University (U.K.) and Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. He joined Curtin University in 1999.

Professional Memberships
Len is a member of the following professional groups that are closely aligned with research and development in mathematics teaching.

* Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) UK
* Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT)
* National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) USA
* National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) USA
* Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)
* International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME)
* Australian College of Educators (ACE)
Mathematical Association of Western Australia (MAWA)
He is an active member through conference attendance, presentation of papers, and publication of articles on research and development. In recent years he has been a judge for the MERGA Early Career Award and the Professional Implications Award. Following on from his time as Joint Editor (with Dr Paul Swan) of the refereed journal Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, he is now the Joint Editor (with Dr Sandra Frid and Dr Merrilyn Goos) of the international journal Mathematics Teacher Education and Development. Len is also a member of the Editorial Board of the international journal Mathematics Education Research Journal.

Len has engaged in a wide range of research and development topics in mathematics education, and teacher professional development. He has presented papers on mathematics education at conferences and invited seminars in Australia, New Zealand, USA, South Africa, U.K., and Germany. His work has been recognised with the following awards:

2007 Australian College of Educators admitted to the rank of Fellow of the College.

2005 National winner (with Dr Frid) of the Australian Award for University Teaching (Social Science & Education).

2002 Practical Implications Award. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 25th Annual Conference Auckland, New Zealand (with Dr Sandra Frid).

1997 Best Mathematics Education Paper. 8th International Conference. Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, Orlando, Florida (with Dr Tony Herrington, Dr Jan Herrington & Prof Ron Oliver), .

Recent research projects have included:

• Developing primary teacher education students' profesional capacities for children's diverse mathematics achievement and learning needs (Australian Teaching and Learning Council 2008)
• Science for early childhood teacher education students:Collaboration between teacher educators, scientistss, and engineers (Australian Teaching and Learning Council 2008)
• Western Australian Focus Groups for the National Survey in Science, ICT and Mathematics Education (DEST funded, 2005)
• Core member of the Western Australian Hub of SiMERR, the National Centre for Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (DOTARS funded, 2005-2007)
• Numeracy across the curriculum (DEST funded, 2002-2003; in conjunction with the Centre for Learning, Change and Development, Murdoch University)
• Mathematics teaching portfolios (2002 onwards)

He has supervised honours, masters and doctoral students in number sense, numeracy, game playing, word problems, and physical education.

Book Chapters (Authored, Research Quality)

• White, P, Sparrow, L, and Olson, J. 2011. Influence of lesson study on teachers' mathematical pedagogy. In Lesson study research and practice in mathematics education, eds L. Hart, A. Alston, & A. Murata, 39-59. New York: Springer.
• Sparrow, L, and Frid, S. 2009. Understanding the dilemmas of beginning mathematics teachers: Practical research findings. In Empowering the mentor of the beginning mathematics teacher, eds G. Zimmermann, P. Guinee, L. Fulmore, E. Murray, 25-26. Reston, Virginia, USA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
• Frid, S, and Sparrow, L. 2009. The mentor as a "fellow worker". In Empowering the mentor of the preservice mathematics teachers, eds G. Zimmermann, P. Guinee, L. Fulmore, E. Murray, 31-31. Reston, Virginia, USA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
• Trinidad, S, Treagust, D, Frid, S, Sparrow, L, and McCrory, K. 2006. "Somewhere different to go" - Report from SiMERR Western Australia. In Science, ICT and Mathematics Education in Rural and Regional Australia. State and Territory Case Studies. Companion volume to the SiMERR National Survey., 1 Edition, eds T. Lyons (Ed.), 6-29. Armidale, NSW: National Centre of Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia, University of New England.
• Sparrow, L, and McIntosh, A. 2005. Beyond written computation: Some answers and even more questions. In Beyond Written Computation, eds A. McIntosh & L. Sparrow, 182-189. Perth Western Australia: Mathematics, Science & Techhnology Education Centre, Edith Cowan University.
• Sparrow, L, and McIntosh, A. 2005. Developing Number Sense in classrooms. In Beyond Written Computation, 1 Edition, eds A. McIntosh & L. Sparrow, 150-159. Perth Western Australia: Mathematics, Science & Techhnology Education Centre, Edith Cowan University.
• Swan, P, and Sparrow, L. 2005. Techno-ignorent, techno-dependent or techno-literate? A case for sensible calculator use. In Beyond Written Computation, 1 Edition, eds A. McIntosh & L. Sparrow, 53-63. Perth Western Australia: Mathematics, Science & Techhnology Education Centre, Edith Cowan University.
• Sparrow, L, Forster, P, Flynn, P, and Frid, S. 2004. Calculators and Computer Algebra Systems. In Research in Mathematics Education in Australasia 2000-2003, 313-336. Flaxton, Queensland: Post Pressed.

Refereed Articles (Scholarly Journals)

• Hurst, C, and Sparrow, L. 2010. Effecting affect: Developing a positive attitude to primary mathematics learning. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom 15(1): 18-24.
• Frid, S, Smith, M, Sparrow, L, and Trinidad, S. 2009. Innovations in a pre-service teacher education programme. International Journal of Innovation and Learning 6(5): 517-536.
• Frid, S, and Sparrow, L. 2009. "You just have to take a bit of a risk sometimes": Breaking the 'cycle of tradition' in mathematics education. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development 11: 36-53.
• Sparrow, L. 2008. Real and relevant mathematics: Is it realistic in the classroom?. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom 13(2): 4-8.
• Frid, S, Sparrow, L, Trinidad, S, and Smith, M. 2008. An exploration of issues in the attraction and retention of teachers to non-metropolitan schools in Western Australia.. Education in Rural Australia 18(1): 43-57.
• Swan, P, and Sparrow, L. 2005. Decimals, denominators, demons, calculators and connections. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom 10(3): 21-26.
• Sparrow, L. 2004. Sitting at the back: Noticing 'math noticing'. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom 1: 7-12.

Fully written papers (Refereed Conference proceedings)

• Cavanagh, R, and Sparrow, L. 2010. Measuring mathematics anxiety: Paper 1 - developing a construct model. AARE conference 2010 Make a difference, 28/11/2010. Melbourne: Australian Association for Research in Education inc..
• Sparrow, L, and Cavanagh, R. 2010. Measuring mathematics anxiety: Paper 2 - Constructing and validating the measure. AARE Conference 2010 Making a difference, 28/11/2010. Melbourne: Australian Association for Research in Education inc.
• Hurst, C, and Sparrow, L. 2010. The mathematical needs of urban indigenous primary children: A Western Australian snapshot. The Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia 33rd Annual Conference, 03/07/2010. Fremantle, WA: MERGA inc.
• Sparrow, L, Frid, S, and Smith, M. 2008. Interactive whiteboards at a remote school as a catalyst for teacher professional learning.. 24th SPERA National Rural Education Conference, 27/08/2008. Melbourne: SPERA.
• Frid, S, Sparrow, L, Trinidad, S, and Treagust, D. 2007. Issues in teaching and learning science, ICT, and mathematics in rural and regional Western Australia.. AARE 2007 Fremantle: International Education Research Conference, 26/11/2007. Fremantle: AARE Inc..
• Frid, S, Sparrow, L, Treagust, D, and Trinidad, S. 2007. Science, ICT and mathematics as curriculum priorities: What are the practices and needs of beginning primary teachers?. AARE 2007 Fremantle: International Education Research Conference, 26/11/2007. Fremantle: AARE Inc..
• Frid, S, and Sparrow, L. 2007. Towards "Breaking the Cycle of Tradition" in Primary Mathematics. 30th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education research Group of Australasia, 02/07/2007. Hobart, Tasmania: MERGA.
• Asplin, P, Frid, S, and Sparrow, L. 2006. Game playing to develop mental computation: A case study. Identities, cultures and learning spaces., 01/07/2006. Canberra: The Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia.
• Swan, P, and Sparrow, L. 2005. Decide, select, perform and make sense: Computation in primary mathematics. 20th Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 16/01/2005. Sydney: The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers.
• Frid, S, and Sparrow, L. 2004. Supporting Reflection as Pre-Service Primary Teachers Develop a Mathematics Teaching Portfolio. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 01/06/2004. Townsville, Queensland: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia.
• Swan, P, and Sparrow, L. 2003. Calculator Use with Older Primary Classes: Children's Changes. Third International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 01/01/2003. East London, South Africa: Curtin University of Technology.
• Sparrow, L, and Frid, S. 2003. Using an Empowerment Professional Development Model to Support Beginning Primary Mathematics Teachers. 27th Meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, 01/07/2003. Hawaii: University of Hawaii.