Gill Adams EdD, PGCert , MA, PGCE, BH

Gill is postgraduate research tutor for the Sheffield Institute of Education.  She is also course leader and tutor for the Doctorate in Education and the MA Mathematics Education.  Her research focuses on mathematics teacher learning and on the doctoral experience, utilizing narrative approaches to explore social and political contexts.

Gill began her career as a secondary mathematics teacher in inner London, later supporting schools in developing mathematics teaching. Prior to moving to Sheffield Hallam University, Gill volunteered in  Ethiopia for two years with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), leading professional development programmes for teachers and teacher educators and taught for four years on the MA in Education and on mathematics initial teacher education courses at Liverpool John Moores University.

Department of Teacher Education

Social Sciences and Arts

Gill joined the Mathematics Education Centre at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2012 and has taught on a range of mathematics education modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Current teaching is focused on doctoral supervision and on the Doctorate in Education. 

Longitudinal evaluation for the England-China maths education innovation research project (Shanghai teacher exchange) (2014-2018), Department for Education

Evaluation of the Further Mathematics Support Programme Phase 6 (2017-2018)

Project in Citizenship and Mathematics (PiCaM) (2017- 2020), Erasmus+

Investigating Happiness and the Doctoral Student Experience  (2016-18)

A study of teacher led curriculum change: the case of SMILE Mathematics, 1972-1990, BA/Leverhulme

Mathematics in the Making (2013-2016), Comenius, European Union

Evaluation of the Further Mathematics Support Programme (2014-16), Mathematics in Education and Industry

'Developing Doctoralness; the student experience of feedback', Sheffield Hallam University

Key Publications

Boylan, M., Adams, G., Willis, B., Coldwell, M., & Demack, S. (2018). Theorising variation in engagement in professional and curriculum development: performativity, capital, systems and purpose. Review of Education, 6 (3), 360-407. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20496613

Adams, G. (2018). A narrative study of the experience of feedback on a professional doctorate: ‘A kind of flowing conversation’. Studies in Continuing Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2018.1526782

Adams, G., & Povey, H. (2018). “Now There’s Everything to Stop You”: Teacher autonomy then and now. In Jurdak, M., & Vithal, R. (Eds.) Socio-political dimensions of mathematics education: Voices from margin to mainstream. (pp. 209-230). Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72610-6_12

Povey, H., & Adams, G. (2018). Possibilities for mathematics education? : Aphoristic fragments from the past. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 15 (1-2), 159-177. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/tme/vol15/iss1/10/

Adams, G. (2017). Using a narrative approach to illuminate teacher professional learning in an era of accountability. Teaching and teacher education, 67, 161-170. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.06.007

Journal articles

Taylor, C.A., Gannon, S., Adams, G., Donaghue, H., Hannam-Swain, S., Harris-Evans, J., ... Moore, P. (2019). Grim tales: Meetings, matterings and moments of silencing and frustration in everyday academic life. International Journal of Educational Research, 99, 101513. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.101513

Povey, H., Boylan, M., & Adams, G. (2019). Regulated time and expansive time in primary school mathematics. Pedagogy, Culture and Society. http://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2019.1692059

Taylor, C., & Adams, G. (2019). Reconceptualizing doctoral students’ journeyings: Possibilities for profound happiness? International Journal of Educational Research. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.04.003

Gannon, S., Taylor, C., Adams, G., Donaghue, H., Hannan-Swain, S., Harris-Evans, J., ... Moore, P. (2019). ‘Working on a rocky shore’: Micro-moments of positive affect in academic work. Emotion, space and society. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2019.04.002

Boylan, M., Adams, G., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., & Demack, S. (2018). Context and Implications Document for: Theorising variation in engagement in professional and curriculum development: Performativity, capital, systems and purpose. Review of Education, 6 (3), 408-410. http://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3152

Povey, H., Adams, G., & Everley, R. (2017). “Its Influence Taints All”: Urban Math-ematics Teachers Resisting Performativity through Engagement with the Past. The Journal of Urban Mathematics Education, 10 (2), 52-65. http://ed-osprey.gsu.edu/ojs/index.php/JUME

Povey, H., Adams, G., & Jackson, C. (2016). “It was all led by them”: opening up opportunities for making mathematics through a children’s exhibition. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 36 (1), 82-87. http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/IPs/ip36-1/BSRLM-CP-36-1-15.pdf

Povey, H., Adams, G., & Jackson, C. (2016). How making for a purpose in mathematics can provoke mathematical meaning making. Philosophy of Mathematics Education Journal, 31. http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/education/research/centres/stem/publications/pmej/pome31/index.html

Williams, L., Nixon, S., Hennessy, C., Mahon, E., & Adams, G. (2016). Inspiring to inspire: developing teaching in Higher Education. Cogent Education, 3, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1154259

Hennessy, C., Adams, G., Mahon, E., Nixon, S., Pratt, A., & Williams, L. (2014). Discovering inspiring teaching: immersive models of staff development. Quality Assurance in Education, 22 (3), 240-254. http://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-01-2013-0006

Adams, G. (2014). 'It doesn't have to be like this': Women mathematics teachers' experience of professional learning. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 34 (1), 1-6. http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/IPs/ip34-1/BSRLM-IP-34-1-01.pdf

Adams, G. (2013). Women teachers' experiences of learning mathematics. Research in Mathematics Education, 15 (1), 87-88. http://doi.org/10.1080/14794802.2013.763607

Starczewska, A., Hodkinson, A., & Adams, G. (2011). Conceptions of inclusion and inclusive education: a critical examination of the perspectives and practices of teachers in Poland. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 12 (3), 162-169. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-3802.2011.01209.x

Conference papers

Chronaki, A., Adams, G., Andrade, M., Bruno, G., Demissie, F., Marcone, R., ... Yolcu, A. (2019). Unfolding global/local policies, practices and/or hybrids in mathematics education worldwide: utopias, pleasures, pressures and conflicts. Proceedings of the Tenth International Mathematics Education and Society Conference. https://www.mescommunity.info/proceedings/MES10.pdf

Povey, H., Adams, G., Demissie, F., & Chronaki, A. (2019). Initial report from the project in citizenship and mathematics (PICAM): moral and political dilemmas. Proceedings of the Tenth International Mathematics Education and Society Conference. https://www.mescommunity.info/proceedings/MES10.pdf

Povey, H., & Adams, G. (2017). Thinking forward : using stories from the recent past in mathematics education in England. In Chronaki, A. (Ed.) Mathematics Education : Proceedings of 9th International Conference of Mathematics Education and Society (MES) Conference, Volos, Greece, April 2017, (pp. 803-811). Thessaly, Greece: International Conference of Mathematics Education and Society (MES): http://mes9.ece.uth.gr/portal/index.php/program-en/conferenceproceedings-en

Povey, H., Adams, G., & Everley, R. (2016). "Its influence taints all": mathematics teachers resisting performativity through engagement with the past. In 13th International Congress on Mathematical Education, Hamburg, 24 July 2016 - 2016.

Adams, G. (2012). Pushing the boundaries : Women teachers’ experiences of learning mathematics. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 32 (2), 5-10. http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/IPs/ip32-2/BSRLM-IP-32-2-01.pdf

Book chapters

Povey, H., Adams, G., & Jackson, C. (2018). Time for work: finding worth-while-ness in making mathematics. In Ernest, P. (Ed.) Philosophy of Mathematics Education Today. (pp. 343-352). Dordrecht: Springer: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-77760-3_22

Starczewska, A., Hodkinson, A., & Adams, G. (2013). Poland, Special education in. In Reynolds, C.R., Vannets, K.J., & Fletcher-Janzen, E. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of special education : reference for the education of children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and other exceptional individuals. John Wiley & Sons, Inc: http://doi.org/10.1002/9781118660584.ese1883

Reports

Demack, S., Reaney-Wood, S., Adams, G., Stiell, B., & Culliney, M. (2019). Participation and Attainment in A level Mathematics & FurtherMathematics.

Boylan, M., Wolstenholme, C., Maxwell, B., Demack, S., Jay, T., Reaney, S., & Adams, G. (2019). Longitudinal evaluation of the Mathematics Teacher Exchange: China-England - Final Report. Department for Education. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-maths-teacher-exchange-china-and-england

Boylan, M., Demack, S., Willis, B., Stevens, A., Adams, G., & Verrier, D. (2015). Multiplicative reasoning professional development programme : evaluation. London: Department for Education. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/436832/RR406A_-_Multiplicative_Reasoning_Professional_Development_Programme.pdf

Presentations

Adams, G., & Povey, H. (2016). Workshop report: Using data from a history of Smile to overcome 'historic loneliness'. Presented at: BSRLM Day conference, Loughborough University, 2016

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2010

Publications Officer and member of British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics

External Examiner: Liverpool Hope University  PG Certificate in Mathematics Education from 2017

External Examiner: University of Brighton PGCE (Mathematics) 2014-2016

Faculty ethics committee representative

I welcome informal contacts from prospective doctoral students interested in teacher professional learning (particularly in mathematics) and socio-historical studies of the mathematics curriculum.

I am supervising the following doctoral students:

Herine Otieno, Improving students’ relationship with mathematics through self-regulated learning in Kenya secondary schools. PhD, Commonwealth scholarship

Ben Kirk, The impact of the primary PE specialist on the delivery of high quality physical education: A case study evaluation, EdD.

Rachel Stone, Critical reflection in higher education teaching, EdD.