Simon Goodchild

I gained a bachelor’s degree in pure mathematics and education from the University of Wales (Bangor) followed by a one-year post-graduate teaching qualification in 1972. Through spare time study, I subsequently gained a Master of Science degree in mathematics, statistics and computing education from the University of London, and PhD from the University of Exeter. My experience includes teaching in schools (grades 7 to 13), secondary mathematics teacher education, and university teaching and research. I have held positions in Africa, the UK and now in Norway. My professional work has included several international consultancies and evaluations of educational provision in Africa, Asia and Scandinavia. Until summer 2020, I was Director of MatRIC, Centre for Research, Innovation and Coordination of Mathematics Teaching, which is a Norwegian Centre for Excellence in (Higher) Education that was established in 2014 under my leadership at the University of Agder. Since then I have semi-retired to a 50% position that focuses mainly on research and reporting within MatRIC. My research since joining the University of Agder in 2004 has focused on mathematics teaching development, and since the founding of MatRIC this has been especially directed at teaching and learning mathematics in higher education.

Education

1971:  BSc(Hons) University of Wales: Pure Mathematics & Education.

1972:  Post Graduate Certificate in Education University of Wales. Mathematics & Adult Education.

1987:  MSc(Distinction) University of London: Mathematical, Statistical & Computing Education.

1997:  PhD. University of Exeter. Dissertation title: An Exploratory Study of Year Ten Students’ Goals in the Mathematics Classroom.

Work experience

1972-1975: Teacher of Mathematics, Robert Blake School, Malawi.

1975-1988: Teacher of Mathematics (grades 7-13) Clacton County High School, Clacton on Sea, UK. (1981) Head of Mathematics Department; (1985) Senior Teacher (curriculum/timetable).

1988-2004: Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Mathematics Education. The College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth.  From 2001 Head of Mathematics; from 2003 Head of Undergraduate Secondary Initial Teacher Training Programmes.

2004-2007: Associate Professor in Mathematics Education, Agder University College.

2007-on:      Professor in Mathematics Education, University of Agder. Spokesperson for Mathematics Education Research Group.

2013-on:      Director, MatRIC, Centre for Research, Innovation and Coordination of Mathematics Teaching (Centre for Excellence in Education)

National and International Consultancies:

1996             Primary Mathematics Project, South Africa, project evaluation UK Department for International Development (DfID.

1997             Mpumalanga Primary Schools Initiative, South Africa, mid-project consultancy for British Development Division Southern Africa, UK DfID

1998-2000 Teaching development support in Swaziland (DfID funded project).

2005             Mathematics-English language trainer-training materials development for Government of Malaysia/British Council.

2008             Institutional evaluation for Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan.

2011-           Member of the scientific advisory board for teacher education at Stockholm University.

2014-2015  Expert group for natural sciences and mathematics. Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

2017            Response group for “Quality in learning resources” The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training

2018             Research Quality Assessment, Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen

Awards

2013    Svend Pedersen Lecture Award, University of Stockholm, Department of Mathematics and Science Education