The Effectiveness of an Intervention Programme on Working Memory Plus Arithmetic Knowledge (WM+A)Title

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of an intervention programme (WM+A)
which is designed to improve children’s maths attainment. The intervention programme
consists of two parts: working memory intervention and arithmetic knowledge intervention.
Three research questions are asked: (1) What is the effect of WM+A intervention on children’s
numeracy skills? (2) What is the effect of WM+A intervention on children’s working memory?
(3) What is the effect of WM+A intervention on children’s attention and behaviour in class?
The investigation will be carried out at international schools in Thailand, which follow the
National Curriculum in England and use English as a medium of instruction for teaching and
learning. Pre-tests will be given to assess children’s numeracy skills, working memory,
attention and behaviour in class, followed by intervention session for 10 weeks. Children will
receive 5 weeks of working memory intervention, followed by 5 weeks of arithmetic knowledge
intervention. During the intervention session, half of the time will be one-to-one teacher led
activities, and the other half will be computer games that reinforce the strategy and concepts
which have been learned in the teacher led activities. Post-tests will then be conducted to
measure the outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of the WM+A intervention programme.
It is expected that the current study will contribute both to the theory of children’s maths
attainment and on the practice of maths education.