Strengthening the Professional Competence of Primary School Teachers: Diagnosis and Intervention Strategies for Overcoming Mathematics Learning Difficulties

PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Professor at the Educational Research Group, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). Her research focuses on primary mathematics education, assessment tools for learning achievements and progress, eye-tracking methodology, and the impact of physical education on learning outcomes and well-being. Key projects include: “Analytical Study on Monitoring Children’s Individual Progress” (2019–2020), “School Leadership and Primary Students’ Mathematics Achievements” (2020–2021), “Improvisation in Mathematics Education” (2023), and a 2024–2026 project on students’ problem-solving difficulties. Lead author of “Assessment Tools for Achievements and Progress in Primary Mathematics Education”.

Aldona Augustinienė holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Education) and is an Associate Professor at KTU Academic Centre for Social, Humanitarian Sciences and Arts, serving as an educational expert in national projects (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, COST, LMT, MITA). She participates in teacher training programs and conducts research nationally and internationally. Her interests include career education, digital learning environment development, learning strategies, early mathematics didactics, student assessment, and librarian competencies. Co-author of the virtual career education platform concept, methodological materials for grades 1–12, and analysis of individual student progress monitoring.

Berita Simonaitienė holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Education) and is an Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at KTU. Her research focuses on learning strategies, curriculum management, teaching and learning, and educational interventions. She serves as an external evaluator for educational programs and teacher training programs. She is also a co-author of the influential document “Good School Concept” (2015, approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania).

Asta Paškovskė is a PhD student in Education at KTU, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s in Computer Science, and is a certified teacher. Her research interests include primary school students’ mathematics learning, achievement gaps, their causes, and strategies to address them. She is a co-author of the “Little Giants” series of primary school math textbooks.

Renata Kondratavičienė is a Doctor of Social Sciences (Eduology), Associate Professor and Head of the Study Department at Vilnius College, with extensive experience in primary school mathematics education, learning difficulties diagnostics, and intervention. She researches mathematics teaching methods, content individualization, development of critical and creative thinking, use of virtual learning environments, and creation of digital resources (600+ tasks for primary students). She organizes teacher trainings, conducts seminars, participates in national and international conferences, and is an active member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association.

Izabela Krejtz is a PhD in Psychology and an Associate Professor at SWPS University in Warsaw, recognized internationally as an expert in eye-tracking methodology. Her research focuses on the use of eye-tracking technology in cognitive psychology experiments, exploring attention, perception, and decision-making processes. She has published extensively on experimental design, data collection, and analysis using eye-tracking techniques.

Arūnė Janulevičienė is a primary education teacher-expert at Kaunas “Vyturys” Gymnasium and a member of the Kaunas primary school teachers’ methodological group. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Applied Pedagogy. She develops digital math tasks in collaboration with the “Eduka klasė” platform (180 tasks for primary school students). Author of “Matematikos testai 1 klasei” and “Matematikos testai 2 klasei” (2019) and co-author of the research study “Assessment Tools for Primary School Mathematics Achievement and Progress.” DOI: 10.5755/e01.9786090218396