Wei Wang

Research Fellow

“We feel and know that we are eternal”

Baruch Spinoza

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Virtual Pathways to Numeracy: Supporting Neurodiverse Adult Learners

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Investigators

  • Charmine Hartel - Distinguished Professor & Director Opportunity Tech Lab, Monash Business School, Monash University
  • Sarah Hopkins - Associate Professor of Maths Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University
  • Wei Wang, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
  • Tanner Person, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University;
  • Abu Zafar Shahriar, Associate Professor and Assistant Director Opportunity Tech Lab, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
  • James Russo, Senior Lecturer in Maths Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University;
Need Design People Impact
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Project summary

This project supports neurodiverse young adults to build numeracy skills.

Numeracy is more than doing maths on paper. It also means using numbers in everyday life, such as money, health, work, travel, and planning.

Some young adults with intellectual disability, ADHD, or autism do not get enough learning pathways after school. This project will test whether VR can make numeracy learning more practical and meaningful.

Young adults with intellectual disability will help design three VR learning environments. These environments will let learners practise number skills in realistic situations.

  • Create VR environments for numeracy learning.
  • Design learning activities with young adults with disability.
  • Support confidence and goal setting.
  • Build evidence for future funding and wider use.
Numbers VR Learning Independence

👤 Investigators

  • Charmine Hartel - Distinguished Professor & Director Opportunity Tech Lab, Monash Business School, Monash University
  • Sarah Hopkins - Associate Professor of Maths Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University
  • Wei Wang, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
  • Tanner Person, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University;
  • Abu Zafar Shahriar, Associate Professor and Assistant Director Opportunity Tech Lab, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
  • James Russo, Senior Lecturer in Maths Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University;

🎓 Project summary

Numeracy includes both math knowledge and the positive mindset needed to apply it in meaningful, real-world situations. Adult numeracy education spans from senior-secondary through post-school learning, and is central to the UN’s goal of inclusive, quality education. Yet, it remains under-researched, especially for vulnerable groups like young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ID, ADHD, ASD), who are overrepresented in youth detention, with few learning pathways available.

This project seeks MATS Seed Scheme support to launch the ANA (Adult Numeracy for All) Pilot Project – a foundational step toward improving numeracy for young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions.

The pilot will co-design three immersive VR environments with young adults with ID. These environments will provide authentic contexts to build numeracy and assess learners’ confidence and goal-setting ability.

The full ANA Project will include:

  • Developing VR-based environments to assess and teach numeracy.
  • Designing an inclusive curriculum focused on number sense.
  • Exploring context-specific numeracy (e.g., social, health, financial).

Ultimately, the project will produce research-backed materials and training to better support educators and help more young adults pursue life-long learning and independence. The pilot will guide future development and help attract stakeholders and funding.