معرفی
Patricia Marchand is a faculty member at the University of Sherbrooke's Faculty of Education, specializing in mathematics education and special needs education. She teaches graduate courses in school adaptation and mathematics education, and conducts research on learning difficulties, spatial reasoning, and teaching methodologies for students with special needs. Her work bridges theory and practice in educational settings, with particular focus on developing effective interventions for students experiencing mathematical learning challenges.
Education
- Doctorate in Education (2005) - Université de Montréal
- Master's in Mathematics (1998) - Université du Québec à Montréal
- Bachelor's in Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science for Secondary School (1995) - Université du Québec à Montréal
Research Interests
Dr. Marchand's research focuses on mathematics education for students with learning difficulties, particularly in the areas of spatial reasoning, geometry teaching, and preventive support systems. She investigates how to develop mathematical understanding in primary school students, with special attention to fraction concepts, geometric constructions, and volume understanding. Her work emphasizes the integration of spatial reasoning across mathematics and science education, and she explores collaborative approaches between teachers, orthopedagogues, and mathematics didacticians to support students at risk of academic failure.
Research Trends
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on spatial reasoning development in elementary mathematics education, with particular attention to geometry concepts. She has developed preventive support systems for students with learning difficulties, examining how to articulate pedagogical and orthopedagogical practices in mathematics. Her work increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary approaches, connecting mathematics with other subjects like science and language arts to create more comprehensive learning experiences for students at risk. The analysis of teaching sequences that promote spatial reasoning has become a central theme in her recent scholarship.
Research Funding
Dr. Marchand has secured significant research funding as principal investigator and co-researcher on multiple projects:
- Principal Investigator: "Comment développer le raisonnement spatial en classe de 6e année dans un contexte interdisciplinaire mathématiques et astronomie?" (SSHRC, $88,364, 2021-2026)
- Principal Investigator: "Transmettre le plaisir d'apprendre à lire et soutenir les élèves à risque de vivre des difficultés scolaires dès la maternelle" (TD Bank and University of Sherbrooke Foundation, $500,000, 2017-2022)
- Co-researcher: "Le centre RBC d'expertise universitaire en santé mentale destiné aux enfants, adolescents et adolescentes, et aux jeunes adultes" (Royal Bank of Canada, $1,000,000, 2016-2021)
- Multiple projects with the Quebec Ministry of Education focused on supporting students with learning difficulties in mathematics classrooms
Teaching and Supervision
Dr. Marchand teaches graduate courses in mathematics education, school adaptation, and special education at the University of Sherbrooke. Her regular courses include "Didactique de la géométrie et de la mesure" (Geometry and Measurement Teaching), "Intervention en mathématiques" (Mathematics Intervention), and "Potentiel mathématique de l'apprenant" (Student's Mathematical Potential). She provides clinical supervision for students in school adaptation programs, with particular attention to mathematics teaching for students with special needs, and has developed specialized training approaches using role-playing as a teaching methodology for prospective mathematics educators.
