Mathematics pedagogy and scholarship group

We are interested in the pedagogy and scholarship of mathematical sciences, investigating modern methods for university mathematics education, computer and AI-assisted learning and aspects of the philosophy and history of mathematical sciences. If you are interested in joining our email list, please contact Dr Paul Hewson.

Forthcoming Seminars:

• Speaker: Prof Christopher Brignell, Nottingham University
• Title: Growth and decline: the differing fortunes of maths courses and maths students
• Abstract: The Observatory for Mathematical Education was founded in 2023 with the aim of analysing the mathematical education system, from primary schools through to postgraduate degrees. By understanding how the system works (or doesn’t work) we can inform decision-making at national, institutional and classroom levels.  We achieve this through analysis of national government datasets and the largest longitudinal cohort study of mathematical education.
• One particular challenge is understanding the HE mathematics landscape.  With many institutions having degree-awarding powers, every undergraduate mathematics degree differs in assessment strategy, curriculum and teaching practice.  Similarly, no two students are alike and each will have their own experience of studying HE mathematics.
• Our analysis shows the main dimensions of variability between courses are entry requirements and module choice; the breadth of mathematics; and beliefs about the nature of mathematics. While institutions are often classified according to mission group (e.g. Russell Group), the analysis develops a typology which classifies programmes according to student relevant measures.
• For students, our analysis shows the transition from school to university is a struggle for many students and this results in a drop in mathematical confidence during the first semester of university.  Their transition experiences are patterned by gender, socio-economic status, prior attainment and institution. Who is likely to succeed and who will flounder and what, if anything, should we do in response?
• Timetable Details: MTH_Seminar_B_S06 – MTH Seminar Series: Mathematics Pedagogy Thu 2026-03-05 09:35 – 10:25 170 /Harrison

Forthcoming Journal Club:

• I wondered about a close read of a paper like this one: Riyan Hidayat , Hutkemri Zulnaidi , Sharifah Norul Akmar Syed Zamri (2018) “Roles of metacognition and achievement goals in mathematical modeling competency: A structural equation modeling analysis” (There’s a lot of interesting work looking at schoolchildren, very little on university students – this is one of the few that attempts some work on adults). Any volunteers to lead a discussion?

Previous seminars:

• 12th February 9:35 Harrison 170
• Author: Marcus Messer (KCL)
• Title: Automated Feedback of Pure and Applied Mathematics
• Abstract:
• Manual feedback is often too slow to keep pace with student learning. Automated tools bridge this gap by providing instant, actionable guidance. This talk explores the automated assessment landscape for mathematics, with a focus on existing tools, such asLambda Feedback, Imperial’s own tool for grading symbolic math and physical quantities.
• Lambda Feedback is currently used by over 4,500 students per year. The platform supports over 2,000 questions split across 80 modules, including Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering. Join us for a presentation on an overview of mathematics automated assessment tools, followed by a hands-on session with Lambda Feedback.
• Note: Please bring a laptop to participate in the interactive portion of this session.

• 5th February 9:35 Harrison 170
• Author: Ioanna Papatsouma (Imperial College)
• Talk title: Developing Teaching and Scholarship with Students as Partners
• Abstract: Students as Partners (SaP) is an innovative pedagogical approach in which students and academics collaborate to enhance teaching, learning, and the overall student experience. By drawing on the expertise of both learners and educators, SaP promotes mutual growth, active engagement, and co-creation of knowledge. This approach has been gaining increasing attention in higher education for its potential to transform learning and teaching practices. In this talk, I will provide an overview of the literature on SaP and showcase examples of mathematics and statistics projects from Imperial College London, highlighting how this collaborative approach can enrich both teaching and learning.

https://exlean.org/workshop-interactive-theorem-proving-in-education-and-research-july-2024/

• 23rd October 2025 14:30 FORUM Seminar Room 11 (The Steve Edge Room)
• Title: Accessibility of mathematical material
• Author: Christian Lawson-Perfect
• Abstract: I’ll give a brief introduction to the topic of accessibility, then talk about particular access considerations for mathematical material. I’ll talk about how we’ve improved accessibility  at Newcastle through development of the open source tool Chirun as well as discussing the importance of cultural change and institutional support.
• Speaker Slides