Teachers visit King's for annual Mathematics Teachers' Conference

Organised by Mathematics Lecturer Dr Asuka Kumon together with the NMES Faculty Outreach Team, this annual event aims to create a collaborative environment where our academics can share their expertise with local teachers. The event also gives teachers the opportunity to network with each other, sharing best practice and their personal experiences of teaching.

The day started with a talk from Lecturer Dr Natalie Evans, who explored mathematics beyond the curriculum. She highlighted the benefits for students in taking part in extra-curricular mathematics activities like UK Maths Challenges, and well as how to guide students through STEP MAT and AEA tests. Natalie’s talk was followed by a discussion led by Professor of Practice Dan Abramson, who explored how students’ attitudes towards maths change drastically as they move from primary to secondary school, and what can be done to tackle this. We then had a talk from Lecturer Dr Lassina Dembélé, who explored prime numbers, primality testing and how prime numbers can sometimes camouflage themselves from these tests.

After a well-earned lunch, Lecturer Dr Dominic Yeo explored how to introduce proof-writing to mathematics students, and how this is a vital stepping stone towards the more advanced mathematics explored at undergraduate level. The final discussion of the day was led by Dr Asuka Kumon, who facilitated an open-ended discussion exploring how to help students ‘bridge the gap’ between school and university. We wrapped up these discussions with celebratory coffee and cake, whilst visiting our student-led exhibition ‘It All Adds Up: Global Discoveries in Maths’.

The conference concluded with an entertaining keynote from popular mathematician Dr Katie Steckles. Katie led the audience on a hands-on journey through the many areas of mathematics you can explore with the humble sheet of paper, with the attendees making Möbius strips, flexagons and more. The perfect end to an engaging interactive day of maths discussions! The day was well received by the teachers in attendance, with many noting they enjoy the topics of talks and discussions, as well as the presentation skills of the lecturers delivering these.

The Mathematics’ Teachers Conference is an annual event run by the Department of Mathematics, usually in the summer term. You can read more about the event, and find details of the next edition when they are available here.

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