Chelsea Cutting

Dr Chelsea Cutting

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Chelsea Cutting is a nationally and internationally recognised researcher in early mathematics education, whose work investigates how spatial reasoning shapes young children’s mathematical thinking and learning. Her research examines the often-overlooked spatial foundations of early fraction development, particularly partitioning, unitising, proportional reasoning and quantitative equivalence. Through design-based research, she develops and investigates innovative pedagogical approaches that make spatial reasoning explicit in early mathematics classrooms, advancing understanding of how children construct mathematical concepts through interactions among spatial processes, representations, materials and contexts.

CUTTING, C. J. (2023). Exploring the efficacy of a spatial reasoning approach to teaching and learning fractions in the early years (Doctoral dissertation, RMIT University).

 

Year Citation
2025 Cutting, C. (2025). Beyond counting: Spatial reasoning. Every Child, 31(2), 20-22.
2023 Fowler, S., Kennedy, J. P., Cutting, C., Gabriel, F., & Leonard, S. N. (2023). Self-determined learning in a virtual makerspace: a pathway to improving spatial reasoning for upper primary students. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 34(2), 563-584.
DOI Scopus13 WoS8
2023 Fowler, S., Cutting, C., Fiedler, S. H. D., & Leonard, S. N. (2023). Design-based research in mathematics education: trends, challenges and potential. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 35(3), 635-658.
DOI Scopus21 WoS14
2023 Cutting, C., & Lowrie, T. (2023). Bounded learning progressions: a framework to capture young children's development of mathematical activity in play-based contexts. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 35(2), 317-337.
DOI Scopus12 WoS7
2023 Cutting, C., & Lowrie, T. (2023). Steering STEM education develpoment through play. Research Outreach, 134(134), 1-2.
DOI
2023 Cutting, C., Unsworth, P., & Trewartha, B. (2023). Unpacking a framework for activating and assessing student's prior knowledge. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 28(2), 3-7.
2022 Fowler, S., Cutting, C., Kennedy, J., Leonard, S. N., Gabriel, F., & Jaeschke, W. (2022). Technology enhanced learning environments and the potential for enhancing spatial reasoning: a mixed methods study. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 34(4), 887-910.
DOI Scopus43 WoS32
2022 Cutting, C., & O'Keeffe, L. (2022). Supporting children to think flexibly about fractions. Australian Primary Maths Classroom, 27(3), 6-10.
2020 Cutting, C., & Larkin, K. (2020). The impact of weekly formative video feedback on pre-service teachers' experiences in online mathematics education. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 23(1), 74-90.
Scopus4
2019 Fowler, S., O'Keefe, L., Cutting, C., & Leonard, S. (2019). The mathematics proficiencies: A doorway into spatial thinking. Australian primary mathematics classroom, 24(1), 36-40.
2019 Balzaretti, N., Ciani, A., Cutting, C., O'Keeffe, L., & White, B. (2019). Unpacking the potential of 360degree video to support pre-service teacher development. Research on Education and Media, 11(1), 63-69.
DOI
  • EBSS Early Career Research Award, 2026
  • Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation (Now Firefly): Early Career Research Grant, 2024
  • Early Learning STEM Australia: STEM in Schools F-2., Cwth Dept of Education, Skills & Employment, 01/01/2024 - 23/12/2024

Courses I teach

  • EDUC 3001 Exploring Mathematics through Play (Birth - 5 years)
  • EDUC 2013 Spatial Reasoning (Primary Specialism)
  • EDUC 3073 Mathematics Education 1 
  • EDUC 3074 Science and Mathematics Education 2 (Birth to 5 years) 
  • EDUC 4222 Integrating Mathematics and Science for Young Children 
  • EDUC 3073 Mathematics Education 1 (2024)
  • EDUC 3075 Mathematics Education 2 (2024)
  • EDUC 3089 Mathematics Education (Early Childhood) (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • MHEC - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)
  • MHPE - Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours)
  • MBET - Bachelor of Education

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Developmental Dyscalculia: An investigation of Australian and UK policies and practices Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Claire Nicholls
2024 Co-Supervisor An Activity Systems Approach to Sustainability Master of Research (Sociology) Master Part Time Mr Tom Linnell
2024 Co-Supervisor An Activity Systems Approach to Sustainability Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Tom Linnell

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