Tanya Evans

Biography

Tanya Evans is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics whose research sits at the intersection of mathematics education, cognitive science, and educational psychology. Her work explores the theoretical and empirical foundations of mathematical cognition, with a focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative pedagogical and assessment practices informed by contemporary research in learning sciences.

Tanya's academic journey began with a degree in Mathematics and Education, followed by a graduate fellowship at Rice University, where she pursued a PhD in Pure Mathematics specialising in Low-Dimensional Topology. While at Rice, she also engaged with financial mathematics through MBA coursework, an area that continues to inform her broader mathematical interests.

Since 2016, Tanya has served as an Executive Committee member of HERDSA (Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia), NZ branch. She is also a member of the International Steering Committee of the DELTA conferences on undergraduate mathematics and statistics teaching and learning.

Since 2017, Tanya has been a member of the executive committee of the New Zealand Mathematical Society Education Group, leading a special interest group on advocacy for improved teaching and learning of mathematics in New Zealand schools.

In 2023, Tanya, together with Valerie Sotardi (UC) and Robyn Caygill (MoE), founded a New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Special Interest Group on Quantitative Studies in Education (QSE). QSE is a community of researchers, policymakers, and educators from diverse fields with a shared interest in promoting the NZARE’s broad research focus and who are committed to excellent research involving quantitative studies that are underpinned by the scientific method in Aotearoa New Zealand and the broader Pacific region with the core aims:
1. To cultivate an arena for the development and dissemination of high-quality, empirical and/or theory-based research in education that draws on causal and correlational methodologies;
2. To facilitate contact and collaboration among our members, including advanced and early career researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate students; policymakers and the Ministry of Education; and other interested parties such as educators, principals, and community members;
3. To organise relevant activities (e.g., conference presentations, thematic symposia, and workshops) that support excellence in education research using quantitative research; and
4. To participate in and contribute to education policy changes in Aotearoa New Zealand through evidence-based, larger-scale, and more generalisable research.

The SIG adopts a lens under which empiricism is the basis for acquiring generalisable knowledge. It advocates for the rigorous collection and quantitative analysis of data, focusing on objectivity, replicability, and generalisability. Its mission is to foster systematic and scientific investigation of educational phenomena and processes.

Distinctions/Honours:

Rice University graduate fellowship (fully-funded Masters and PhD)

Nomination for the ‘Lecturer of The Year’ award, Massey University, 2009

Member of the team awarded the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, Faculty of Science, UoA, 2015

Centre for Learning and Research (CLeaR) Fellowship (2016) on the theme of e-learning

Opening Plenary speaker at the 12th Delta conference – the Southern Hemisphere Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, November 24-29, 2019, Fremantle, Perth, Australia. Her presentation titled "Who is tasked with the modernisation of university mathematics education? Research mathematicians and mathematics education researchers bridging the disciplinary gap" can be viewed on Tanya's YouTube channel.

Plenary speaker at the New Zealand Mathematical Society 2023 Colloquium, December, 3-6, 2023. Her presentation titled "Mathematics Education Paradigm Wars: Unapologetic Critique and Reflection" is available on her YouTube channel.

Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society (elected in December 2022)

Responsibilities: Head of the Mathematics Education Unit (since 2021); Teaching Professional Development Advisor (since 2018)

Committee/Professional groups/Services:
- Founding member and co-leader of the NZARE SIG on Quantitative Studies in Education (since 2023);
- Member of the New Zealand Executive Committee of HERDSA (Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia) (since 2016);
- Member of the International Steering Committee of the DELTA conferences on the teaching and learning of undergraduate mathematics and statistics (since 2016);
- Member of the executive committee of the New Zealand Mathematics Society Education Group, leading a SIG on advocacy for improved teaching and learning of mathematics in New Zealand schools (since 2017);
- Member of the Internal Reference Group for the STEM Onli