Dr Carla Finesilver
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education and Inclusion
Research interests
- Education
- Mathematics
Biography
Dr Carla Finesilver works mainly in the areas of mathematics education and inclusion, with a particular interest in the intersection of these two fields – inclusive mathematics education. Through both her research and teaching, she aims to make mathematics, STEM subjects, and education in general more inclusive, accessible and relevant for diverse learners.
Prior to her academic career, Carla spent 10 years as a classroom teacher at various secondary schools in London, including as Head of Mathematics (and one of the founding staff) of a specialist school for students with Specific Learning Difficulties. She has contributed to national guidance on dyscalculia.
Research
Carla specialises in qualitative research, often working with multimodal data, microanalytic methods, and designing bespoke methodologies for data collection and analysis.
Current research interests include:
- supporting and creating more positive experiences for students who have struggled with school mathematics taught in ‘standard’ or ‘traditional’ ways.
- exploring creativity and diversity in learners' nonstandard arithmetical-representational strategies for mathematical problem-solving.
- improving inclusive educational environments (both on campus and online) for marginalised learners, including disabled, neurodiverse and other currently-disadvantaged students.
- training teachers in inclusive pedagogy for supporting students with SEN/Ds in the mainstream mathematics classroom.
She currently co-leads the international CERME thematic working group on Representations in Mathematics.
Teaching
Carla’s teaching is spread across multiple PhD, MA, BA and PGCE modules within the School of Education, Communication & Society.
She currently holds the roles of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead for ECS and Disability Inclusion Lead for the SSPP EDI working group. Staff and students interested in working to create a more inclusive academic environment (at King’s and beyond) are welcome to get in touch.
PhD supervision
Carla’s current and recently-completed research students have been working on:
- Developing pedagogies to reduce mathematics anxiety for students who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
- Barriers and facilitators to educational engagement for neurodiverse students in secondary chemistry classrooms.
- Experiences of primary school students with mathematical learning difficulties, as perceived by the students, their teachers and LSAs.
- Arts teachers' beliefs and judgements regarding their students with SEN, and how they adapt teaching practice.
- Literacy teaching for secondary school students with SEN, and its relationship to social and educational disadvantage.
- Integration of students with learning difficulties in mainstream Saudi Arabian schools.
Prospective doctoral candidates are welcome to contact her by email.
Further information
For further details please see her Research Staff Profile.
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Sustaining teacher quality and retention post-pandemic
This project examines the impact of the substantial changes and sustained disruption caused by Covid-19 to the development of secondary school teachers.
Project status: Completed
News
Uncovering new educational trends as students use real-world data to learn about statistics
Brand new data from an international survey of teenagers is being used by students studying quantitative methods in educational research in the School of...
CRESTEM welcomes international researchers to discuss the use of fine-grained sampling methods in STEM education research
The Centre for Research in Education in STEM recently welcomed an international research team at King’s College London to share ideas about microgenetic...
Events
Towards disability-inclusive and anti-ableist communities in Higher Education - some work in progress
Dr Carla Finesilver will discuss her work-in-progress on disability inclusion and anti-ableism in the HE context.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Must-reads in education, communication and social sciences
The School of Education, Communication & Society at King’s College London houses research from a range of different fields – from linguistics to education...
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Sustaining teacher quality and retention post-pandemic
This project examines the impact of the substantial changes and sustained disruption caused by Covid-19 to the development of secondary school teachers.
Project status: Completed
News
Uncovering new educational trends as students use real-world data to learn about statistics
Brand new data from an international survey of teenagers is being used by students studying quantitative methods in educational research in the School of...
CRESTEM welcomes international researchers to discuss the use of fine-grained sampling methods in STEM education research
The Centre for Research in Education in STEM recently welcomed an international research team at King’s College London to share ideas about microgenetic...
Events
Towards disability-inclusive and anti-ableist communities in Higher Education - some work in progress
Dr Carla Finesilver will discuss her work-in-progress on disability inclusion and anti-ableism in the HE context.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Must-reads in education, communication and social sciences
The School of Education, Communication & Society at King’s College London houses research from a range of different fields – from linguistics to education...