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Dr John Griffith Tupouniua PhD

Lecturer - Mathematics Education

Doctoral Co-Supervisor
Institute of Education

Dr. John Griffith Tupouniua (aka John Griffith Moala) is currently a Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Massey University. He is originally from Tonga, of Tongan and Fijian descent, and was educated in the United States and New Zealand. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in mathematics, and a PhD in Mathematics Education. His current primary area of research is algorithmic thinking. John's other research interests include making mathematics accessible to all learners and debunking myths about mathematics (and mathematics education). Also published as: Moala, John Griffith; Moala, J., Moala, J.G.

Professional

Contact details

  • Location: AT3.57, Atrium Building
    Campus: Albany

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of Auckland (2019)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Co-Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Algorithmic thinking

Teaching and learning discrete mathematics

Making mathematics accessible to/for all learners

Debunking myths about mathematics (and mathematics education)

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Education (130000):
Mathematical Sciences (010000)

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 0 1

Research Outputs

Journal

Tupouniua, J. (2023). Toward culturally sustaining supervision practices in mathematics education: what do Pasifika research students value most about their supervisors?. AlterNative: an international journal of indigenous peoples. , 1-10
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Tupouniua, J. (2023). What challenges emerge when students engage with algorithmatizing tasks?. Journal of Pedagogical Research. 7(2)
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Tupouniua, J. (2023). Differentiating between counterexamples for supporting students’ algorithmic thinking. Asian Journal for Mathematics Education. 1(4), 475-493 Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27527263221139869
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Hunter, J., Hunter, R., Tupouniua, J., & Leach, G. (2022). Bringing the home into school: learning and connecting through mathematics education during the time of a pandemic. Educational Studies in Mathematics. 111(2), 207-224
[Journal article]Authored by: Hunter, J., Tupouniua, J.
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1
Hunter, J., Hunter, R., Tupouniua, J., & Fitzgerald, L. (2021). Implementing localised curriculum drawing on a funds of knowledge perspective. The New Zealand Annual Review of Education. 26(2020), 153-161 Retrieved from https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzaroe/article/view/6930
[Journal article]Authored by: Hunter, J., Tupouniua, J.
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Tupouniua, JG. (2020). Finding Correct Solution(s) ⇏ Creating Correct Algorithm(s): Shedding More Light on How and Why. The Mathematician Educator. 1(2), 102-121 Retrieved from http://ame.org.sg/2021/01/06/tme2020-vol-1-no-2-pp-102-121/
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Tupouniua, J. (2020). Explicating how students revise their algorithms in response to counterexamples: building on small nuanced gains. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology. , Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0020739X.2020.1837402
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Moala, JG. (2021). Creating algorithms by accounting for features of the solution: the case of pursuing maximum happiness. Mathematics Education Research Journal. 33(2), 263-284
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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6
Moala, JG., Yoon, C., & Kontorovich, I. (2019). Localized considerations and patching: Accounting for persistent attributes of an algorithm on a contextualized graph theory task. Journal of Mathematical Behavior. 55
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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6
Yoon, C., Chin, SL., Moala, JG., & Choy, BH. (2018). Entering into dialogue about the mathematical value of contextual mathematising tasks. Mathematics Education Research Journal. 30(1), 21-37
[Journal article]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Book

Hunter, J., Hunter, R., Tupouniua, J., & Leach, G. (2021). Taking a Strength-Based Approach: Bringing Student Homes into Schools During a Pandemic. In FM. Reimers, & FJ. Marmolejo (Eds.) University and School Collaborations during a Pandemic: Sustaining Educational Opportunity and Reinventing Education. (pp. 195 - 209). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature
[Chapter]Authored by: Hunter, J., Tupouniua, J.
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Thesis

Moala, J. (2019). Exploring Mechanisms by which Student-Invented Algorithms in Mathematics Emerge: A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education, The University of Auckland, 2018.. (Doctoral Thesis, The University of Auckland) Moala, J. (2019). Exploring Mechanisms by which Student-Invented Algorithms in Mathematics Emerge: A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education, The University of Auckland, 2018.. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Tupouniua, J. (2015). On being stuck: a preliminary investigation into the essence of mathematical problem solving. (Master's Thesis)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Moala, J. (2013). Interior-Point Methods for Linear Programming.. (Master's Thesis, The University of Auckland)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.

Report

Yoon, C., & Moala, J.(2019). Making mathematical thinking visible. : Teaching and Learning Research Initiative
[Technical Report]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Barton, B., Davies, B., Tupouniua, J., & Yoon, C.(2017). How to: generate conceptual readiness.
[Technical Report]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Conference

Tupouniua, J. (2021, November). Pasifika research students and their supervisors— a case study from mathematics education. Presented at NZARE 2021
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Hunter, J., Hunter, R., Tupouniua, J., & Fitzgerald, L. (2021, November). Weaving knowledge together: Teachers drawing on diverse students’ funds of knowledge to develop and enact mathematical tasks. Presented at NZARE 2021
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Tupouniua, J., & Hunter, J.How does a teacher sustain collective mathematizing among non-dominant students?. . Shanghai, China
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Tupouniua, J., Hunter, J., & Hunter, R. (2019, November). Exploring sources of self-efficacy among culturally diverse learners in mathematics. Presented at NZARE 2019. University of Canterbury.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Hunter, R., Hunter, J., Restani, R., & Tupouniua, J. (2019). Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities. Poster session presented at the meeting of Ka Awatea Conference, Massey University
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Hunter, J., Tupouniua, J.

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Moala, J., & Hunter, R. (2019). Developing mathematical resilience among diverse learners: Preliminary progress and problematics.. In G. Hine, S. Blackley, & A. Cooke (Eds.) Mathematics Education Research: Impacting Practice. (pp. 500 - 507). : 42nd MERGA Conference 2019
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Moala, J., Yoon, C., & Kontorovich, I. (2018). The emergence of a prototype of a contextualized algorithm in a graph theory task. In A. Weinberg, C. Rasmussen, J. Rabin, M. Wawro, & B. Stacy (Eds.) Proceedings of the 21st Conference on Research for Undergraduate Mathematics Education. : 21st Conference on Research for Undergraduate Mathematics Education
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Moala, J. (2018). How do students create algorithms? Exploring a group's attempt to maximise happiness. In J. Hunter, P. Perger, & L. Darragh (Eds.) Making waves, opening spaces: Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. (pp. 353 - 360).
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Yoon, C., Chin, SL., Moala, J., & Maheux, JF. (2017). Reflecting teams for developing student sensitivity in mathematical noticing.. In B. Kaur, WK. Ho, TL. Toh, & BH. Choy (Eds.) Proceedings of 41st Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Vol. 1 (pp. 295 - 295).
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
Moala, J., Yoon, C., & Kontorovich, I. (2017). A puzzling misconception or a logically persistent way of understanding? Examining structures of attention.. In B. Kaur, WK. Ho, TL. Toh, & BH. Choy (Eds.) Proceedings of the 41st Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Vol. 2 (pp. 369 - 376).
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Tupouniua, J.
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Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

 

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 2 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Kim Hailwood - Doctor of Philosophy
    Parental involvement/engagement in New Zealand children’s education
  • Mary Rahiti - Doctor of Philosophy
    Optimal practices for effective school leadership in implementing evidence based projects

Media and Links

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