The Benefits of Educative Curriculum Materials for Discovery-Based Learning in Primary Mathematics Education

In active engagement with mathematical content and problems, learners acquire
knowledge and skills in primary mathematics education. Their understanding is
built up through their own activities and independent exploration of contexts. Such active-constructive learning goes back to Bruner's (1961) theory of iscovery learning.
In order to implement this teaching concept, it requires a balance of independent and informative learning. Our research group, composed of mathematics professors and teachers and specialists in didactics and media design creates Educative Curricular Materials that can be used within the framework of discovery learning. The development already takes into account the new competency-based curriculum for Mathematics Education from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), starting in the school year 2023/24. Educative Curricular Materials are teaching materials that have a dual function: They oer methodical-didactical structured activities for the learners and they promote the professional development of the teachers. The materials produced expand the teachers' subject knowledge and didactic repertoire.