Dr Jenny Sharp
Profiles

Dr Jenny Sharp

Lecturer in Mathematics Education

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Dr Jenny Sharp can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
  • Mathematics education
  • Gifted and talented
  • Mathematics masterclasses
  • Mathematics enrichment schools
  • Primary school governor
Biography

Biography

I am responsible for the Mathematics with Education degree programme which has two modules: a school placement module and a Mathematics Education Project.

These two modules prepare the students for a career in teaching mathematics, they provide a very strong foundation to those applying for any type of initial teacher training place.

I run the Mathematics Enrichment Programme which provides workshops and masterclasses for children from year 5 (aged 9) through to those in year 12 and 13. The events that I run at the University cover schools from across Devon and Cornwall meeting in excess of 500 able mathematicians per year and I am a regular invited speaker through the Royal Institution’s masterclass programme delivering masterclasses in throughout the country. In a typical year I work with over 1,200 students and nearly 200 teachers from over 320 schools.

Details of the Mathematics Enrichment Programme for schools can be found here: Mathematics Enrichment Programme

Qualifications

I have a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Plymouth.

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

I am module leader for the Mathematics Education modules which are part of our Mathematics degrees. The School Placement module is for final year students who are interested in teaching as a career. The Mathematics Education Project allows those students who are on the Mathematics with Education degree to study in depth an area of Mathematics Education which will be useful to them once they start their teaching career. 

I am module leader for two of the modules on the Foundation Year of the Mathematics Degree. These modules allow the students who are going to progress to the mathematics degrees the chance to develop the skills that will be needed on the degree. We look at 'why' rather than just learning procedures, concentrating on formal proofs, writing mathematics correctly as well as instilling a sense of enjoyment of mathematics.

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Craven MJ & Sharp J (2018) 'The "Mathematics Problem": A Plymouth Foundation Year Case Study' Journal of the Foundation Year Network 1, 23-35 Publisher Site Open access
Graham E, Headlam C, Sharp J & Watson B (2008) 'An investigation into whether student use of graphics Calculators Matches their Teacher’s Expectations' International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology 39, (2) 179-196 , DOI
Graham T, Headlam C, Honey S, Sharp J & Smith A (2003) 'The use of graphics calculators by students in an examination: what do they really do?' International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology 34, (3) 319-334 , DOI
Graham T & Sharp J (1999) 'An Investigation into Able Students' Understanding of Motion Graphs' Teaching Mathematics and its Applications: An International Journal of the IMA 18, (3) 128-135 , DOI
SHARP JM & DYKE PPG (1995) '3 VARIABLE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS MODELS - A SIMPLE GEOMETRICAL APPROACH' MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTER MODELLING 21, (6) 65-72 Author Site , DOI
Personal

Personal

Links

Mathematics Enrichment Programme for Schools