Dr Peter James Rowlett CMath, FIMA, SFHEA

Peter Rowlett has degrees in maths and computing, including maths education. He teaches mathematics and history of mathematics to mathematics and engineering students.

Prior to arriving at Sheffield Hallam University, Peter taught at Nottingham Trent University and Keele University. Outside of teaching roles, he worked for the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, coordinated the HE curriculum activity under the Mathematical Sciences Strand of the National HE STEM Programme, and worked in learning technology for mathematics and statistics at school- and university-level.

Peter is a Chartered Mathematician, a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Subject area

Mathematics

BSc (Hons) Mathematics

• Mathematical Modelling 1
• Mathematical Modelling 2
• Mathematical Technology
• Programming with Mathematical Applications
• Game Theory and Recreational Mathematics
• Explorations in Mathematics (History of Mathematics)

Research group: Mathematics, Statistics and Mathematics Education Research Group (MSME).

Peter is a researcher in higher education mathematics education. He is an editor of MSOR Connections, a peer-reviewed journal that welcomes articles, case studies and opinion pieces relating to innovative learning, teaching, assessment and support practice in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research in HE. Peter coordinates HE mathematics education research activity for the Mathematics Subject Group, including a research seminar series.

Peter's research is in teaching, learning and assessment in higher education. His interest is from a practical point of view, seeing this research as an opportunity to improve his practice and that of others. Particular areas of interest are

• graduate and employability skills in mathematical sciences and STEM subjects
• learning technology and e-assessment in mathematical sciences and STEM subjects
• puzzle-based learning, problem-solving and mathematical thinking
• history of mathematics in maths teaching
• effective practice in maths outreach and public engagement
• disability and access technology in mathematical sciences

Journal articles

Rowlett, P., Webster, K., Bradshaw, N.-.A., & Hind, J. (2019). Evaluation of the Maths Arcade initiative at five U.K. universities. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 16 (1). http://scholarworks.umt.edu/tme/

Russell, E., & Rowlett, P. (2018). Professional skills development for mathematics undergraduates. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. http://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-01-2018-0010

Winberg, C., Bramhall, M., Greenfield, D., Johnson, P., Lewis, O., Rowlett, P., ... Wolff, K.E. (2018). Developing employability in engineering education: a systematic review of the literature. European Journal of Engineering Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2018.1534086

Rowlett, P. (2018). Review a legacy resource: a new feature in MSOR Connections to aid discovery of hidden gems. MSOR Connections, 16 (3), 55-57. http://doi.org/10.21100/msor.v16i3.813

Waldock, J., Rowlett, P., Cornock, C., Robinson, M., & Bartholomew, H. (2017). The role of informal learning spaces in enhancing student engagement with mathematical sciences. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 48 (4), 587-602. http://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2016.1262470

Rowlett, P. (2015). Effective Outreach in Mathematics. Mathematics Today, 51, 260-260

Rowlett, P. (2013). Stories of the Unplanned Impact of Mathematics. Mathematics Today, 49, 61-61

Webster, K., & Rowlett, P. (2013). A Maths Arcade at Nottingham Trent University. Mathematics Today, 49 (3), 120

Rowlett, P. (2012). Developing graduate mathematicians. Mathematics Today, 48 (5), 213-215

Rowlett, P. (2012). HE Curriculum Innovation: Supporting Sector Priorities and Fostering New Ideas. LMS Newsletter, 415, 14-15. http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk//415/415_issue.pdf#8

Rowlett, P. (2012). Resources from the Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project. Inside O.R, 500, 11-11

Rowlett, P. (2012). Special issue of Maths, Stats and OR Network newsletter. HESTEMnews, 31-31

Rowlett, P., Steckles, K., Loch, B., Szetey, K., & Kelly, A. (2012). Maths Jam: playing with maths in pubs, an international movement. Australian Mathematical Society Gazette, 39 (3), 115-118. http://www.austms.org.au/Publ/Gazette/2012/Jul12/CommsMathsJam.pdf

Rowlett, P. (2012). Early Career Mathematicians’ Conference Autumn 2012. Mathematics Today, 48, 191-191

Rowlett, P. (2012). Major work arising from the HE Mathematics Curriculum Summit. HESTEMnews, 9-9

Rowlett, P. (2012). HE Curriculum Innovation Project: Final few months. LMS Newsletter, 414, 15-16. http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk//414/414_issue.pdf#9

Rowlett, P. (2012). HE Curriculum Innovation: Supporting Sector Priorities and Fostering New Ideas. Mathematics Today, 48, 118-118

Croucher, M., Rowlett, P., & Lewis, H. (2012). Smartphone apps for mathematics. Mathematics Teaching, 227, 36-37. http://www.atm.org.uk/journal/archive/mt227files/ATM-MT227-36-37.pdf

Rowlett, P. (2012). Resources for the HE curriculum. RSS News, 40, 8-8

Rowlett, P. (2012). Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project: Final Update. MSOR Connections, 12 (2), 56-56. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2012.12020056

Rowlett, P. (2012). Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project Update. MSOR Connections, 12 (1), 48-48. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2012.12010048

Rowlett, P. (2011). Upcoming workshops in Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation. Mathematics Today, 47, 81-81

Rowlett, P. (2011). A Year with the National HE STEM Programme. Mathematics Today, 47, 177-177

Rowlett, P. (2011). IMA Virtual Branch Talk. Mathematics Today, 47, 124-124

Rowlett, P. (2011). Mathematics HE Summit. Mathematics Today, 47, 80-80

Rowlett, P. (2011). Mathematics HE Summit Report. LMS Newsletter, 401, 9-9. http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk/401/401_issue.pdf#5

Rowlett, P. (2011). Mathematics HE Summit. RSS News, 39, 8-8

Rowlett, P. (2011). Views of HE curriculum from 'Young Researchers in Mathematics'. MSOR Connections, 11 (3), 20-21. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2011.11030020

Rowlett, P. (2011). Maths ambassador video competition. MSOR Connections, 11 (3), 53-53. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2011.11030053

Rowlett, P., McCartney, M., Mann, T., Hoare, G., Harriss, E., Parrondo, J., ... Linton, C. (2011). The unplanned impact of mathematics. Nature, 475 (7355), 166-169. http://doi.org/10.1038/475166a

Rowlett, P. (2010). The science of chance. iSquared Magazine, 12, 23-27. http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/resource/10116/isquared-magazine-issue-12

Rowlett, P. (2010). Now this is not the end. Mathematics Today, 46, 184-184. http://aperiodical.com/2010/07/mathematics-today-august-2010-university-liaison-officers-report/

Rowlett, P. (2010). 10 ’rules’ for a successful Careers Fair for mathematicians. Mathematics Today, 46, 19-20. http://aperiodical.com/2010/01/mathematics-today-february-2010-university-liaison-officers-report/

Rowlett, P. (2010). IMA Small Grant Report: E-Learning in Mathematical Subjects. Mathematics Today, 46, 287-288

Rowlett, P. (2010). Introducing the Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project. MSOR Connections, 10 (3), 51-51. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2010.10030051

Rowlett, P. (2009). IMA Prize Winners. Mathematics Today, 45, 17-18. http://aperiodical.com/2009/01/mathematics-today-february-university-liaison-officers-report/

Rowlett, P. (2009). Careers resources. Mathematics Today, 45, 108-109. http://aperiodical.com/2009/06/mathematics-today-june-university-liaison-officers-report/

Rowlett, P.J. (2009). Recent ELMS videos available online. MSOR Connections, 9 (2), 29-30. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2009.09020029

Rowlett, P. (2008). University Liaison Officer’s Report. Mathematics Today, 44, 64-65. http://aperiodical.com/2008/03/mathematics-today-april-university-liaison-officers-report-2/

Rowlett, P. (2008). University Liaison Officer’s Report. Mathematics Today, 44, 153-154. http://aperiodical.com/2008/07/mathematics-today-august-university-liaison-officers-report-2/

Wright, E.J., & Rowlett, P.J. (2006). Introducing the Supporting Students with Disabilities Series: disability legislation update. MSOR Connections, 6 (4), 24-26. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2006.06040024

Rowlett, P.J. (2005). Mathematics teaching & learning and XML. MSOR Connections, 5 (1), 35-38. https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/msor.5.1s.pdf

Hibberd, S., Litton, C., Chambers, C., & Rowlett, P. (2003). MELEES - e-support or mayhem? MSOR Connections, 3 (3), 29-34. http://doi.org/10.11120/msor.2003.03030029

Conference papers

Rowlett, P. (2014). Brass for brain: Lord Kelvin and tide prediction. In BSHM Bulletin, 29 (3), 211-213. http://doi.org/10.1080/17498430.2014.916114

(2012). Proceedings of the CETL-MSOR Conference 2012, University of Sheffield, 12th-13th July. Maths, Stats and OR Network

Book chapters

Rowlett, P. (2017). Recording small group interaction to encourage reflection on group work. In Rowlett, P., & Waldock, J. (Eds.) Employability development for HE mathematics and statistics: case studies of successful practice (pp. 42-43). Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University: . http://www.sigma-network.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Employability-Development-booklet.pdf#page=46

Rowlett, P. (2014). Development and evaluation of a partially-automated approach to the assessment of undergraduate mathematics. In Pope, S. (Ed.) British Congress of Mathematics Education : BCME-8 (pp. 295-302). British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics: . http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BCME8-38.pdf

Rowlett, P. (2012). Using social media to engage students : report of a workshop which took place on 16th April 2012 at the University of Birmingham. In Robinson, C. (Ed.) Student-centred approaches in mathematics - case studies of innovative practice (pp. 49-54). Birmingham, U.K: Maths, Stats and OR Network: . http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/Studentcentered.pdf

Feinstein, J., & Rowlett, P. (2012). Recording mathematics lectures at Nottingham. In Rowlett, P. (Ed.) Media enhanced teaching and learning: case studies and evidence of effective use (pp. 13-14). Birmingham, U.K: Maths, Stats and OR Network: . http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/metalbooklet.pdf#page=15

Rowlett, P. (2011). The Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project. In Peer Assisted Learning: in and beyond the classroom Briefing Document 2 (pp. 6-6). Bournemouth University

Rowlett, P. (2011). Using art gallery problems to develop mathematical and employability skills in a higher education group project. In Waldock, J. (Ed.) Developing graduate skills in HE mathematics programmes - case studies of successful practice (pp. 30-31). Birmingham, U.K: Maths, Stats and OR Network: . http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/gradskills.pdf#page=32

Books

Rowlett, P., & Waldock, J. (Eds.). (2017). Employability development for HE mathematics and statistics: case studies of successful practice. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University: http://www.sigma-network.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Employability-Development-booklet.pdf#page=46

Rowlett, P. (Ed.). (2012). Media Enhanced Teaching and Learning: case studies and evidence of effective use. Maths, Stats and OR Network: http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/metalbooklet.pdf

Rowlett, P. (Ed.). (2012). Summary of work in mathematical sciences HE curriculum innovation. Maths, Stats and OR Network: http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/hestemoverview.pdf

Waldock, J., & Rowlett, P. (Eds.). (2012). Employer engagement in undergraduate mathematics. Birmingham, U.K: Maths, Stats and OR Network: http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/employerengagement.pdf

Rowlett, P. (Ed.). (2011). HE mathematics curriculum summit : a report on the summit held at the University of Birmingham 12 January 2011. Birmingham, U.K: Maths, Stats and OR Network: http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/summitreport.pdf

Presentations

Rowlett, P. (2012). Developing graduate skills and engaging with employers. Presented at: CETL-MSOR Conference 2012, University of Sheffield, 31 December 2012

• External examiner, BSc Mathematics and MMath, Keele University
• IMA representative, Royal Society STEMM Disability Advisory Committee
• External examiner, BSc Mathematics, University of Worcester
• Editor, MSOR Connections
• Member, Greenwich Maths Centre Advisory Board
• Committee member, London Mathematical Society Education Public Engagement Sub-Committee
• Member, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Communications Committee

Doctoral supervision

• Director of Studies for Ellen Marshall, 'Statistics anxiety: effectiveness of strategies in reducing the impact on student achievement'.
• Supervisor for Siavosh Haghighi Movahed, 'An innovative approach in teaching laboratory activities within a computer networking curriculum'.
• Director of Studies for Alex Crombie, 'The contribution of multi-disciplinary problem-solving interventions to undergraduate employability skills development'.