Dr Steven Nisbet - Griffith University

Site Degrees

BSc, BEd, MEdStud, LTCL, PhD, FACE
Senior Lecturer, School of Education and Professional Studies
Contact details for Dr Steven Nisbet

Research expertise

Mathematics education, students learning in chance and data, mathematical problem solving, numeracy outcomes, attitudes and beliefs, professional development for teachers of mathematics.

Current teaching areas

Mathematics education: curriculum studies and planning for effective mathematics teaching
Professional studies in professional practice
Problem solving in mathematics

Publications

Book chapters

Langrall, C., Nisbet, S., Mooney, E., & Jones, G. (2008). Elementary students' access to powerful mathematical ideas. In L. English (Ed.), International Handbook of Research in Mathematics Education, 2nd edition (pp. 109-135). New York, NY: Routledge.
Nisbet, S., Warren, E. & Cooper, T. (2003). Collaboration and sharing as crucial elements of professional development. In A. Peter-Koop, A. Begg, C. Breen and V. Santos-Wagner, (Eds.), Collaboration in teacher education. Examples from the context of mathematics education, (pp.23-40). Dordrecht, NL: Kluwer. ISBN 14020-1392-2.
Jones, G., Langrall, C., Thornton, C., & Nisbet, S. (2002). Elementary students access to powerful mathematical ideas. In L. English (Ed.), International Handbook of Research in Mathematics Education, (pp. 113-141). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Non-refereed books

Nisbet, S. (2011). Techniques of problem solving in mathematics. Brisbane, Qld: Steadfast Press.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Teaching mathematics for understanding. Brisbane, Qld: Steadfast Press.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Motivational activities in mathematics. Brisbane, Qld: Steadfast Press.
Nisbet, S. (2009). Constructing mathematical knowledge and building numeracy skills. Sydney, NSW: Pearson Australia.
Nisbet, S. (2009). Investigations in school mathematics: 52 Investigations for classroom use. Brisbane, Qld: Steadfast Press.
Nisbet, S. (2008). Investigations in primary mathematics. Brisbane, Qld: Independent Schools Queensland.
Nisbet, S. (2007). Data Activities for the Classroom. Brisbane: Independent Schools Queensland.
Nisbet, S. (2006). Take a chance: Chance gGames and activities for the classroom. Brisbane: Independent Schools Queensland.

Refereed journals

Nisbet, S. & Langrall, C. (2011). The role of context expertise when comparing data, Mathematical Thinking and Learning 13(1-2), 47-67.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Investigations: ideal for the multiage classroom. Journal for Multiage Education, 4(2), 13-18.
Nisbet, S. & Williams, A. (2009). Improving students’ attitudes to chance with games and activities. Australian Mathematics Teacher (Special issue on Chance & data), 65(3), 25-37.
Nisbet, S. (2008). Chance games and activities for a multiage classroom. Journal for Multiage Education, 4 (2), 17-21.
Nisbet, S., Langrall, C., & Mooney, E. (2007). The role of context in students' analysis of data. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 12 (1 ), 16-22.
Nisbet, S., Hurley, G. & Weldon, E. (2006). Population growth rates: Connecting Mathematics to Studies of Society and the Environment, Australian Mathematics Teacher, 62(3), 17-24.
Grimbeek, P., Moodie, P., Nisbet, S. (2006). Identifying factor structures in a survey probing primary teacher beliefs and practices with respect to compulsory numeracy testing: Everything goes better with Rasch item analysis. Mathematics Education Research Journal. (Special issue) 18(2), 27-39.
Nisbet, S. & Putt, I. (2004). Teaching Children to Organise and Represent Large Data Sets in a Histogram. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 9 (1 ), 13-17.
Nisbet, S., Jones, G., Thornton, C., Langrall, C., & Mooney, E. (2003). Children's Representation and Organisation of Data. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 15 (1), 42-58.

Refereed proceedings

Nisbet, S. (2010). National testing of data handling in years 3, 5 and 7 in Australia, Invited paper to 8th International Conference on Teaching Statistics, Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 10-16, 2010.
Nisbet, S. & Langrall, C. (2009). The role of context expertise in students’ analysis of data, Invited Paper for Sixth International Research Forum on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy (SRTL-6) University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia, July 10 - 16, 2009.
Langrall, C., Nisbet, S., Mooney, E. (2006). The interplay between students statistical knowledge and context knowledge in analyzing data. Invited paper to 7th International Conference on Teaching Statistics, Salvador, Brazil, July 2-7, 2006.
Mooney, E., Langrall, C., & Nisbet, S. (2006). Developing a model to describe the use of context knowledge in data explorations. Invited paper to 7th International Conference on Teaching Statistics, Salvador, Brazil, July 2-7, 2006.
Nisbet, S. (2005). Using assessment data to inform planning and teaching: The case of state-wide benchmark numeracy tests. In B. Bartlett, F. Bryer and D. Roebuck (Eds.) Stimulating the Action as participants in participatory research. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education, Griffith University, held at Surfers Paradise, Australia, 2-4 December, 2005. Vol. 3, pp. 26-38. Brisbane, Griffith University.
Duggan, R. & Nisbet, S. (2005). Teaching with visual organisers to learn how to select and apply relevant information for decision-making tasks. In B. Bartlett, F. Bryer and D. Roebuck (Eds.) Stimulating the Action as participants in participatory research. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education, Griffith University, held at Surfers Paradise, Australia, 2-4 December, 2005. Vol. 2, pp. 46-58. Brisbane, Griffith University.
Nisbet, S. (2005). Regional differences in the professional development needs and preferences of teachers of primary mathematics. In P. Clarkson, A. Downton, D. Gronn, M. Horne, A McDonough, R. Pierce and A. Roche. Building Connections: Research, Theory and Practice. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). Vol. 2, pp. 577-584. Melbourne, Victoria: MERGA.
Caswell, R. & Nisbet, S. (2005). Enhancing students mathematical learning in the middle years: The value of meta-awareness. In P. Clarkson, A. Downton, D. Gronn, M. Horne, A McDonough, R. Pierce and A. Roche. Building Connections: Research, Theory and Practice. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). Vol. 1, pp. 210-217. Melbourne, Victoria.: MERGA.
Nisbet, S. (2004). The professional development needs of primary teachers in teaching mathematics. In F. Bryer, B. Bartlett and R. Roebuck (Eds.) Educating: Weaving research into practice. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education Research. Gold Coast. 3rd -5th December, 2004. Griffith University.
Hurley, G. & Nisbet, S. (2004). Thinking immersion: Creating a classroom culture for thinkers of the future. In F. Bryer, B. Bartlett and R. Roebuck (Eds.) Educating: Weaving research into practice. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education Research. Gold Coast. 3rd -5th December, 2004. Griffith University.
Nisbet, S. (2004). The impact of state-wide numeracy testing on the teaching of mathematics in primary schools. In M. Hoines and A. Fuglestad (Eds.) Proceedings of the 28th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Vol. 3, pp.433-440, Bergen University College, July 2004.
Nisbet, S. & Grimbeek, P. (2004). Primary teachers' beliefs and practices with respect to compulsory numeracy testing. In I. Putt, R. Faragher and 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. Townsville, 27-30 June 2004. MERGA.
Nisbet, S. (2003). Teachers views on the effect of compulsory statewide numeracy testing on the teaching of mathematics in the primary school. In B. Bartlett, F. Bryer and D. Roebuck (Eds.) Reimagining Practice: Researching Change. Proceedings of the 1st Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Surfers Paradise, Australia, 5-7 December 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2003). Organising and representing grouped data. Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, MERGA 26, July 2002, Deakin University, Geelong: MERGA.
Nisbet, S. (2003). Getting organised: The role of data organisation in students representation of numerical data. Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. PME 27. Hawaii, July 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2002). The development of students thinking in Chance and Data. In M. Goos and T. Spencer (Eds.) Mathematics ~ making waves. Proceedings of the 19th Biennial Conference of The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Inc., Brisbane, January 13-17, 2003. Adelaide: The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Incorporated.
Nisbet, S. (2002). Year seven students representation of numerical data: the influence of sample size. In B. Barton, K. Irwin, M. Pfannkuch, and M. Thomas (Eds.) Mathematics Education in the South Pacific, Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Auckland, NZ, July 7-10, 2002. (pp. 520-527). Auckland: MERGA.
Nisbet, S. (2002). Representing numerical data: the influence of sample size. In A. Cockburn and E. Nardi (Eds.) Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. PME 26, Norwich, UK. July 21-26, 2002. Vol. 3, pp. 417-424. Norwich, UK: University of East Anglia.

Government reports

Report of the Strategic Numeracy Research and Development Project for DEST and Education Queensland, 2002. (co-author).

Non - refereed proceedings

Nisbet, S. (2011). Surface Paradise – 3D shapes. Paper presented at the QAMT Novice Teacher Night. 11 March 2011.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Mathematical investigations, Pearson 21st Century Education Mathematics and Science Conference, Canberra.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Implementing the Australian mathematics curriculum, Pearson 21st Century Education Mathematics and Science Conference, Canberra.
Nisbet, S. (2010). The power of context in students’ analysis of data. Paper presented at the QAMT Annual Conference, Functioning Mathematically. 24-26 June 2010.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Exploring properties of shapes in early childhood mathematics. Paper presented at the QAMT Early Years Conference. 15 May 2010.
Nisbet, S. (2010). Motivational activities in mathematics. Paper presented at the QAMT Novice Teacher Night. 12 March 2010.
Nisbet, S. (2009). Food, glorious food. Paper presented at the QAMT ‘Oktoberfest’ Forum. 10 October 2009.
Nisbet, S. (2009). Investigations for lower primary mathematics. Paper presented to the QAMT Annual Conference. 26 June 2009.
Nisbet, S. (2009). Investigations for upper primary mathematics. Paper presented to the QAMT Annual Conference. 26 June 2009.
Nisbet, S. (2009). A sequence for teaching measurement. Paper presented to the QAMT Early Childhood Mathematics Conference. 16 May 2009.
Nisbet, S. (2008). Exploring 2D shapes. Paper presented to the Early Years Key Teachers Day Seminar, August 2008.
Nisbet, S. (2008). Data detectives. Paper presented to the QAMT Annual Conference. June 2008.
Nisbet, S. (2007). Data in early childhood. Paper presented to the Early Years Key Teachers Day Seminar, August 2007.
Nisbet, S. (2007). Chance activities. Paper presented to the QAMT Annual Conference. June 2007.
Nisbet, S. (2006). Mathematics and Art. Paper presented to the Annual QAMT/STAQ Conference. All Hallows College. 5-6 October 2006.
Nisbet, S. (2006). Chance activities for the classroom. Paper presented to the May Conference of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers. University of Queensland. 6 May 2006.
Nisbet, S. (2005). Mathematics and Music. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers. Brisbane Grammar School. 22-23 September 2005.
Caswell, R. & Nisbet, S. (2005). Engaging students in mathematical learning in the middle years: The value of play. Short oral paper presented to PME, Melbourne. July 2005.
Nisbet, S. (2004). Using number tricks and puzzles in mathematics classrooms. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers, Chancellor Park College, 24-25 September, 2004.
Nisbet, S. (2004). ICT and Mathematics: The Mt Gravatt Alliance Experience. Paper presented to the August Forum of the University of Queensland, August 21, 2004.
Nisbet, S. (2003). What teachers think of compulsory numeracy testing. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers, University of Southern Queensland, September 22-23, 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2003). The literacy of numeracy. Invited paper presented to the Literacy Conference Roma and Chinchilla Districts, Roma Secondary College, August 22-24, 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2003). Collecting, organising and representing data in the classroom. Paper presented to the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) One-Day Conference on Chance and Data, Brisbane Grammar School, 10 May 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2003). The literacy of numeracy. Invited paper presented to the Literacy Conference of the Redbank Cluster of Primary Schools Kaleidoscope of Literacy: Reshaping our practices. University of Queensland, Ipswich Campus, 24 January 2003.
Nisbet, S. (2002). Exploring patterns in primary mathematics. Paper presented to the Forum on Patterns and Algebra, for the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers, University of Queensland, 7 September 2002.

Keynote addresses

Playing with mathematics. Early Years Mathematics Conference for the QAMT Early Childhood Mathematics Conference, Jindalee, Brisbane, 14 May 2011.
Mathematics without attitude, Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers One-Day Conference, University of Queensland, 6 May 2006.
The literacy of numeracy, South-East Brisbane District Mathematics Conference (Department of Education, Qld), Sunnybank Hills State School, 18 April 2006.
The role of literacy skills in improving school numeracy outcomes, Rockhampton Primary Teachers Conference for National Literacy and Numeracy Week, 31 August 2005.
The literacy in numeracy, Annual Conference of the Queensland Council for Adult Literacy, Brisbane, 7 May 2004.