Passionate teacher specialising in assessment and feedback to large cohorts, promoting active learning in large classes, e-assessment and exploring playfulness in Higher Education. I believe in putting the student at the centre of their own personal learning experience, no matter the size of the class.
Currently accepting suitable PhD candidates for projects at the intersection of mathematics with education, educational psychology, scholarship of learning & teaching (SoTL), …. Get in contact below
Outreach advocate and champion. We all succeed when we all succeed. Passionate about removing maths anxiety and sharing my enthusiasm and delight for Mathematics, I take outreach to the street with #StreetMaths, the interplay between street theatre and mathematics. Join in the Maths Week Scotland 2018 fun with maths inside, a photo competition open to school-aged children and young people living in Scotland to identify and reflect on the Maths surrounding us daily: the maths inside.
Lifelong lover of Mathematics, my interests range across a wide mathematical aesthetic from the playful to the specifically applied. I enjoy geometry in a wide sense, from tightly packing the boot of a car before a long journey, to the minimal model program and surrounding ideas in birational geometry
Thank you so much for the help you gave me with my project. I know I was slow at times and you were extremely patient and explained things really well to me and I am delighted with my grade so thank you Finally I can't thank you enough for your kind words and all the help you've given me this year, as well as the enjoyment and satisfaction from my project. It really has been a pleasure.
— Level 4 Project Student August 2015You should continue to make the lectures fun and interesting, definitely my favourite lectures of the week. I think we can all see that you're really passionate about the subject and it really comes across
— Level 1 Student February 2016The improvements in students’ performance have continued into the current academic year and the School has successfully introduced the same methods into Level 1, where some classes contain over 600 students.
— University Teaching Excellence Award Ceremony Transcript August 2015You should continue giving us info that allows us to understand the principles in the notes and giving them more meaning than something we have to memorise
— Level 1 Student November 2015Our chink free armour is holding despite there being a few frantic moments behind the scenes :) I think all the preparation you did before term has been vital to keeping things chugging along. Actually student feedback has been pretty positive and the students are working really hard. I don't want to be to be too optimistic at this stage, but I think we will see an improvement in exams.
— Level 2 Course Convener October 2013You should continue your explanations — they are really good! Feel like I remember something for every lecture. Sometimes they are a bit out there but I think it helps people understand. Your enthusiasm, easy to see you love what you do
— Level 1 Student November 2015...Overall Dr Andrew Wilson is an amazing lecturer who cares about his teaching, his students and is generally a good person. (full quote in Awards & Nominations below)
— SRC Student Teaching Awards Best Feedback Nomination 2016When we've spoken in the past about teaching, there has been a strong sense of enthusiasm from you, which I really like, and would love to be able to take into my own lectures.
— Mathematics Lecturer February 2017I didn't have the chance to get my hands on one of your feedback papers, therefore I am sending you my feedback directly. You are AWESOME, please don't change your teaching style! Maths started making sense after a long time of studying them! Thank you
— Level 1 Student Novemeber 2014Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund award for Innovation in Public Engagement: Awarded to Andrew for his Street Maths project taking mathematical topics to new audiences through a twist on a traditional street theatre introducing passers-by to mathematical concepts and taking maths-anxiety faced by many.
— Award Nomination October 2016You should continue to provide examples in Geogebra, Wolfram, etc., play interesting and relevant videos. Continue trying to make the lecture as interesting and a useful as possible. Giving us breaks every now and again.
— Level 1 Student November 2015
This is a photo competition open to school-aged children and young people living in Scotland to identify and reflect on the Maths surrounding them daily: the maths inside. The purpose of this competition is to raise awareness and celebrate the often unseen mathematics all around us. Photographic submissions of everyday objects in the wild, in the city or through change with the maths inside sticker on them are invited. Celebrate the Scottish Government initiative ‘Maths Week Scotland 2018’ with us! Visit maths inside.
Delighted to have hosted a wide range of students to the International Summer School and for them to have had such good outcomes! This is in a large part due to the student-centred and student-focused pedagogy which embeds play as a central feature of the course. A big thank you to our excellent tutors Georgios Antoniou, Miguel Couto and Luke Hamlin. If you wish to play with some of the games get in touch!
Thanks to QAA Scotland for inviting me to feature in their upcoming Focus On Feedback from Assessment film suite. It was fun to be whisked away from the Learning & Teaching Conference to participate!
UPDATE: the videos are available now on the QAA webpages & youtube (playlist, What do staff and students say about feedback? & Using technology for assessment feedback)
With overwhelming support from peers, I was voted best presentation at the 11th University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching Conference
Excited to present my work on Embedding Play in Higher Education at the upcoming 11th University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching Conference. I argue that we cannot afford not to embrace playfulness in our educational toolkit
Invited to present on Feedback & Assessment to Large Cohorts at the QAA Focus On: Feedback from Assessment event. Some of the main messages and take-aways are available on Twitter with the hashtag #FocusOnFeedback. Do get in touch if you want to hear the take-aways from my presentation
Great to be back in Pohang again with so many of my academic relatives! What an awesome Christmas party full of birationalists, interesting problems and joy — thanks @IBS_media for hosting & for the exquisite seminar space
Delighted to be invited to speak again at the Leading Enhancement in Assessment and Feedback (LEAF) Symposium about Assessment and Feedback to Large Cohorts — it was great to chat through issues and hear from colleagues. The biggest issue raised was that of time or workload. Do get in touch if you want to chat through how we managed this in implementing changes in our non-honours programmes. You can see the action on Twitter, slides from my talk available here
College of Science & Engineering Lightning Talk. Wisdom begins with wonder, so Socrates teaches. To get there requires play. Lightning-fast outline of my endeavours to scaffold playfulness into the classroom — building on the premise that to prepare our graduates for society we should best embed the core activity of our species in building civilisation, namely play (cf. Homo Ludens, J. Huizinga, 1928)
We saw a sturdy rise in student numbers on the International Summer School! Building on our success from Summer 2016, feedback shows the overwhelmingly positive student experience on this course. This is in a large part due to the student-centred and student-focused pedagogy which embeds play as a central feature of the course. Of course, this would not have been possible without the support and expertise of our excellent tutors Mr Georgios Antoniou, Mr Miguel Couto, Dr Scott Richardson, Ms Lucia Rotheray and Dr George Vazanellis. If you wish to play with some of the games get in touch!
Maclaurin Society (MacSoc) lend a hand to the Glasgow Dental School and the Glasgow Dental Alumnus Association to create a World Record Breaking smile! Was fun chatting through the details of the BIG smile with everyone, well done on being world record holders!
Delighted to chat through issues in Higher Education, contributing my knowledge on Assessment and Feedback to Large Cohorts with Mr Andrew Robinson, Ms Fransonet Reyneke, Dr Ann Torres, Prof. Hassan Mohamed Selim and the chair Dr Andrew Ashwin for the Cengage Annual Conference
Wonderful evening hearing about adventures in space and reflections on floating above us all from the awe-inspiring astronaut, Col. Hadfield… and we just missed out winning Fred MacAuley’s Quiz — 2nd to the SQA team!
WOW! What a great event, with public lectures from Prof. Tadashi Tokieda and Dr Hannah Fry, a visit from Field’s Medalist Cédric Villani and loads of great talks! A video tour is available here
After our success at the Herald Higher Education Awards early this year, JiSC further celebrated our award by promoting our work through their website with a short podcast to share details of the project for others to learn from — see our JiSC podcast
The School hosted students from the University of California who exceeded expectations in completing their summer school program. Next year we are hoping to build on this success as we look to widen our summer activities
We have been further honoured with a Herald Innovation Technology Excellence Award for our work on Assessment & Feedback in our non-honours programmes. This was a large team project involving many colleagues across the School. To learn more, listen to our JiSC podcast
As part of Glasgow Science Festival and supported by the Wellcome Trust and Glasgow Polyomics, #StreetMaths is an interplay between street theatre and mathematics, taking mathematics outreach to the street. Report available
UPDATE: I’ve been awarded the Wellcome Trust ISSF Award for Innovation in Public Engagement
Very excited by my recent promotion! Watch this space for more updates on upcoming projects
During British Science Week, I was delighted to give an interactive mathematics outreach workshop at HMP Low Moss
Excellent enthusiam, passionate problem solving skills & great creativity from the S3 pupils who joined my RI Masterclass — keep up the good work!
Delighted to be invited by the College of Science & Engineering (CoSE) Dean of Learning and Teaching to present recent updates to our exciting non-honours mathematics programme to colleagues who focus on learning & teaching
Following on from our successful Learning & Teaching conference presentation earlier in the year, Dr Prof. Tara Brendle and I were invited to present at the Leading Enhancement in Assessment and Feedback (LEAF) Symposium organised by Dr Amanda Sykes, Dr Maxine Swindler and Dr Jason Bohan. ‘One of the explicit goals of the LEAF project, is to develop a cross-college toolkit on assessment and feedback.’ Our slides are available here
During the session 2013–14, I made significant contributions to the introduction of e-assessment in the Level 2 curricula. For these changes, the Level 2 Teaching Team was awarded a College Teaching Excellence Award. In session 2014–15, we were further praised with a University Teaching Excellence Award. In part, this accolade was due to the successful implementation of similar changes in Level 1 where I played a lead role. Award footage is available
Following the successful Learning & Teaching Conference presentation, in June 2015, Dr Prof. Brendle and I presented our achievements to the Scottish Mathematical Support Network at their annual meeting held at Glasgow Caledonian University. Slides here
As a key player in the success of the changes implemented in the Levels 1 and 2 curricula, I was invited along with Prof. Strachan (Head of Mathematics) and Dr Prof. Brendle (Director of Teaching) to present at the University’s Learning and Teaching Conference in April 2015 on Online Assessment & Feedback: how to square the circle
Engaged again with the Busking Bikes over the Easter period
Invited by the Maclaurin Society (student run mathematical sciences society), I gave an impromptu street theatre flavour to the proceedings to members at their ‘Talking Numbers’ event where informal short talks were given on a wide range of mathematical and statistical topics to great success
My busking partner and I were caught by a Wikipedian on camera and are now the image on the Edinburgh International Science Festival’s Wikipedia page!
I’ve been given a few weeks off my role at the University of Glasgow to work with the upcoming Edinburgh International Science Festival. I’ll be at various venues across Edinburgh creating street science shows and smaller busks to engage and inspire children and adults alike!
As a part of the Level 2 team and for my contribution last summer, we’ve been awarded a College Teaching Excellence Award and nominated for a University Teaching Excellence Award — Now we just have to decide how to spend the £1,000 £2,000 prize money…
Delighted to be back in my role as a University Teacher at the University of Glasgow
Excited to be selected as a Busking Science Communicator working with the Edinburgh International Science Festival in the Abu Dhabi Science Festival taking place during November 2013. I’ll be a member of the ‘Busking Bikes’ team (although I believe we use tri-cycles not bi-cycles!) training local communicators into confident busking science communicators and then going out onto the streets of Abu Dhabi to engage and inspire the public using a series of short scientific demonstrations.
UPDATE: Interview with Nicola Shepherd (Busking Bikes Manager) discussing the Busking Bikes at Abu Dhabi Science Festival 2013 (via Speaking of Science).
Working over the summer to redesign the University of Glasgow’s Level 2 mathematics courses. A key goal has been to develop practices that will enhance student feedback and engagement. We have incorporated a portion of online assessment (for the first time at Glasgow’s School of Mathematics and Statistics). I have developed a LaTeX class specifically to meet the needs of Level 2 Mathematics — I hope to open-source this class file and make it available online at some point in the near future. It is designed with a very modern look (using TikZ/PGF) to bring our handouts inline with current textbook typography
Talking through the Kähler-Einstein Problem, Tian’s α-invariant and ℂ+-actions on Affine Cones, (abstract) to our local Geometry & Topology Seminar
Invited to present my work on Conjugacy in Higher Rank Cremona Groups (abstract) to our local Algebra Seminar
Enjoying my new post as University Teacher in Mathematics at the University of Glasgow. Students of 1S Calculus can find the lecture slides here, they follow very closely the notes on Moodle UPDATE: slides are now out-of-sync with the Moodle notes
Back in the UK now, searching for new projects and anticipating exciting new challenges. Those looking to get in contact can reach me below
Presenting my work on Computing invariant global log canonical thresholds in Magma (abstract) at the Computational Algebra Seminar, Uni. of Sydney. See also the report on my time there
I am visiting the University of Sydney working on a del Pezzo package for Magma with Dr Martin Bright, Dr Prof. Gavin Brown and Dr Steven Donnelly.Hopefully, this will eventually dovetail with some code of Gavin and Martin’s that calculates Riemman-Roch spaces. This will allow us to calculate the ‘worst’ (G-invariant) divisors in the pluri-anti-canonical linear systems — that is, a calculator for$\text{lct}_m(X,G)$, where G is a finite group acting bi-regularly on a (possibly du Val) del Pezzo surface X
I have completed my PhD abstract under Dr Prof. Ivan Cheltsov at the University of Edinburgh. In my thesis I calculate global log canonical thresholds on smooth del Pezzo G-surfaces (where G is a finite group acting bi-regularly the surface such that the invariant Picard rank is one), finding that $\text{lct}=\text{lct}_m$ for $m=1,2$ or $4$; that is, that the global log canonical threshold is realised by a G-invariant divisor in the first, second or fourth anti-canonical linear system. I use these to classify the G-surfaces into G-exceptional and G-weakly-exceptional. There are applications of these results to the existence of Kähler-Einstein metrics, convergence of the Kähler-Ricci itteration and to certain conjugacy questions in higher rank Cremona groups.
Lecturer in Mathematics
University of Glasgow
Born in a blizzard on a Monday, I am a Lecturer in the School of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Glasgow on the Learning, Teaching and Scholarship track. My interests include Assessment and Feedback to Large Cohorts, e-Assessment, Widening Participation, Outreach, Student Engagement, and playfulness in Higher Education. At the 11th University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching Conference my talk Embedding Play in Higher Education attracted the suport of my peers and was voted as best presentation. For my outreach project #StreetMaths, I was awarded in 2016 the Wellcome Trust ISSF Award for Innovation in Public Engagement. The pot of PE prize money was spent to kick-start maths inside, a interdisciplinary maths photo competition celebrating Maths Week Scotland 2018. My work in improving the student assessment and feedback experience attracted both College and University Teaching Excellence Awards in 2014 and 2015 respectively and the project’s success, including the introduction of e-Assessment into the undergraduate syllabus, was further honoured with a Herald Innovation Technology Excellence Award in 2016. This was a large team project involving many colleagues across the School. To learn more see our JiSC podcast. I can be contacted below, on my University of Glasgow webpage or found on Twitter with @tentivetodetail
For an up-to-date, complete listing visit my University of Glasgow webpages. Earlier publications are also available
Governor, Dollar Academy, 2018–2023
Recognising Excellence in Teaching Fellow, 2018
Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET) is a professional development scheme which celebrates colleagues at the University of Glasgow who are passionate about learning and teaching. RET is aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework and is therefore accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the organisation whose mission is to enhance learning and teaching in higher education in the UK.
Best presentation at the 11th University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching Conference, 2018
Delighted (and surprised!) to have won the Best Presentation for Embedding Play in Higher Education at the 11th University of Glasgow Learning & Teaching Conference — thanks to the audience for playing with me!
Expert Panel Member, Cengage Annual Conference, 2017
Delighted to chat through issues in Higher Education, contributing my knowledge on Assessment and Feedback to Large Cohorts with Mr Andrew Robinson, Ms Fransonet Reyneke, Dr Ann Torres, Prof. Hassan Mohamed Selim and the chair Dr Andrew Ashwin
Herald Innovative Technology Award (Levels 1 & 2 Teams), 2016
For details please see our JiSC podcast and above Timeline posts
Council of Senate Member, University of Glasgow, 2016–2019
Education Committee Member, Edinburgh Mathematical Society, 2015–2019
My main role here is reviewing applications to the Schools Enrichment Fund
Wellcome Trust ISSF Award for Innovation in Public Engagement, 2016
Delighted to have won this award for #StreetMaths!As a part of Glasgow Science Festival and supported by the Wellcome Trust and Glasgow Polyomics — #StreetMaths — an interplay between street theatre and mathematics. Taking mathematics outreach to the street. Mathematical busking, usually taking place in public spaces to a varied audience, seeks to surprise and engage passers-by with routines ingrained with mathematical themes reaching audiences not usually exposed to mathematics through traditional channels
ISSF Glasgow Polyomics (Wellcome Trust) Public Engagement Bursary, 2016
As a part of Glasgow Science Festival and supported by the Wellcome Trust and Glasgow Polyomics — #StreetMaths — an interplay between street theatre and mathematics. Taking mathematics outreach to the street. Mathematical busking, usually taking place in public spaces to a varied audience, seeks to surprise and engage passers-by with routines ingrained with mathematical themes reaching audiences not usually exposed to mathematics through traditional channels. Report available
London Mathematical Society Undergraduate Research Bursary, 2016
LMS Undergraduate Research Bursary, URB 16-73 (with S. Montesano), Phylogenetic Algebraic Geometry: Local description of the Kimura 2-parameter model.
SRC Student Teaching Awards Best Feedback (nomination), 2016
Video ‘Andrew had us fill in a feedback form he made himself, just so he could get information as to how he could improve his lectures directly from us. He then actually implemented our suggestions into his lectures. He actively asked us if we wanted to go through something again or if we wanted to take the long route in an example or the quick one. As my tutor first he goes over the most common question answered wrong in that week’s assignment he then goes round the class asking individually if we have any questions on the feedback exercises for that week or the previous week’s workshop. If we do he will sit down and help us. He doesn’t have to do this, he could just sit at the front and tell us to do some questions but he doesn’t. Overall Dr Andrew Wilson is an amazing lecturer who cares about his teaching, his students and is generally a good person.‘
University Teaching Excellence Award (Level 1 & 2 Teams), 2015
During the session 2013–14, I made significant contributions to the introduction of e-assessment in the Level 2 curricula. For these changes the Level 2 Teaching Team was awarded a College Teaching Excellence Award. In session 2014–15, once sufficient evidence of its success had been gathered, we were awarded a University Teaching Excellence Award. In part this award was due to the successful implementation of similar changes in Level 1 where I played a lead role. The award footage is available here
College Teaching Excellence Award (Level 2 Team), 2014
For the introduction of Online Assessment in Level 2 Mathematics.
“ This has been a major project that has resulted in much better and frequent feedback to students and has improved student engagement.”
EPSRC Scholarship for Doctoral Studies, 2006
To support doctoral studies in Algebraic Geometry at the University of Edinburgh under Prof. Ivan Cheltsov. Thesis: Smooth Exceptional del Pezzo Surfaces
Nuffield Foundation Undergraduate Research Bursary in Science, 2004
Creating aperiodic tilings of the plane with exotic rotational symmetry with Prof. Peter Kropholler, University of Glasgow (URB/01796/G)
Lamont Prize, School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Glasgow, 2004
For an excellent performance in the Junior Honours seminars. See the University story on Prof. Lamont
Feedback to Large Cohorts
e-Assessment
Mathematical Outreach & Engagement
Learning vs. Teaching
Playfulness in Higher Education
Birational Geometry
Error Correcting Codes
Algebraic Geometric Techniques in Phylogenetics
PGCert in Academic Practice
University of Glasgow, 2018
PGCert in University Teaching (incomplete)
University of Edinburgh, 2011
PhD in Algebraic Geometry
University of Edinburgh, 2010
MSci in Mathematics
University of Glasgow, 2005
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