Methodology of Mathematical Education

For 30+ years I taught mathematics and methodology of mathematical education at every level – from secondary school to foundation courses to mainstream undergraduate courses to supervision of MSc dissertations in mathematical education and PhD theses in mathematics. The last 15 years I worked at the University of Manchester, where I am a Professor of Pure Mathematics (since 1998). I am a member of the Council and of the Programme Committee of the London Mathematical Society – the professional organisation of British mathematicians.

My concerns about the state of the British education system led me to organise a Discussion Meeting “Where will the next generation of UK mathematicians come from?” (Manchester, 2005). Since then, my activities in the area of education are mostly informed by the grim findings of that meeting.

My views on education are reflected in a book (downloadable for free) – and associated blog “Mathematics under the Microscope”.

Books in progress:

Blogs:

Papers and preprints

Peer Reviewed Papers on Mathematical Education

  1. Didactic transformation in mathematics teaching, in The Teaching--Research Interface: Implications for Practice in HE and FE (Muir Houston, ed.). Higher Education Academy Education Subject Centre, Bristol, 2008, pp. 30-35.  ISBN 978-1-905788-81-1. pdf
  2. Coxeter theory: cognitive aspects, in The Coxeter Legacy: Reflections and Projections (C. Davis and E.W. Ellers, eds.). Fields Institute Communications. Ser. no. 46 (2006), Amer. Math. Soc. pp. 17--43.  ISBN 0-8218-3722-2.  draft pdf
  3. Research Globally -- Teach Locally, Mathematics TODAY 41 no. 4 (August 2005) 104-105. pdf
  4. Implementation of the Kid Krypto concept, MSOR Connections (ISSN 1473-4869), 2 no. 3 (2002) 23--25. pdf

Preprints

  1. Mathematical abilities and mathematical skills (with A. Gardiner), 2006.
  2. A dozen problems (with A. Gardiner), 2005.
  3. What is it that makes a mathematician? 2005.

Some popular mathematics in Turkish

  1. Boyutsal Analiz veya Elmalari Insanlara Bulmek, Matematik Dunyasi, no. 2 (2008) 71-76.
  2. Postane Sani sive Cesitlemeleri,  Matematik Dunyasi, no. 4 (2005) 61-66.
  3. Kaybolan Acilar (Bir Karinca Hikayesi), Matematik Dunyasi, no. 2 (2004) 62-64.

Slides of selected talks

  1. Didactic transformation. Keynote talk at Mathematicians and Maths Educationalists: How can we collaborate? Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, 19 March 2008.
  2. Navigation on the Riemann sphere, a lecture in The Galois Group Presents series, 12 March 2008, University of Manchester.
  3. Human dimension of mathematics. Colloquium talk at Mid-Eastern Technical University, Ankara, 5 April 2007. 
  4. Where do mathematicians come from? Keynote talk at World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Conference. Cambridge, 25 July 2006.