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Dr Andrew Potter

SFHEA

Profile summary

  • Regional Academic Staff
  • Staff Tutor in Mathematics and Statistics
  • Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
  • School of Mathematics & Statistics
  • andrew.potter

Professional biography

Andrew completed his BSc degree in Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh in 2006, and went on to study a PhD in algorithmic number theory at the University of Bristol, under the supervision of Prof Jonathan Pila. He graduated in 2010, with a thesis entitled Computing the factors of the cyclotomic polynomial.

He then went on to study a PGDE in Secondary Education at the University of Edinburgh, and taught mathematics in secondary school for 3 years, and then in further education for a further 4 years.

Andrew joined the Open University in 2014 as an Associate Lecturer (AL). During his time as an AL, he has taught at all levels: on MU123, MST124, MST125, MST224, M337, M823 and M836.

Andrew became a Staff Tutor in 2018, and Deputy Associate Dean (Academic Excellence) in 2021. He is currently the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead for the School of Mathematics & Statistics, and maintains a strong interest in External Engagement and Outreach.

Research interests

Andrew is interested in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in STEM, and, in particular, in mathematics and its history in society. His interests in the scholarship of teaching and learning include:

  • an inclusive STEM curriculum
  • virtual internships for underrepresented students
  • blended/hybrid synchronous learning (simultaneous face-to-face and online events)
  • student perceptions of the usefulness of mathematics
  • bilingual Welsh/English teaching and learning
  • the development of Good Mathematical Communication skills

Teaching interests

Andrew has been a member of the following module teams:

  • MU123 Discovering mathematics
  • M337 Complex analysis
  • M836 Coding theory

Impact and engagement

Andrew contributes regularly to outreach and external engagement activities such as Maths Week Scotland. He particularly enjoys running workshops and designing activities on codebreaking and cryptography.

Publications

Virtual internships in open and distance learning contexts: Improving access, participation, and success for underrepresented students (2023-05-14)
Butler, Diane; Reid, Kristen; Comfort, Catherine and Potter, Andrew
Distance Education ((Early Access))

Blended Tutorials: Blended Synchronous Learning in Mathematics (2022)
Potter, Andrew David James and Blundell, J. Colin
MSOR Connections, 20(2) (pp. 60-68)

Inclusive Frameworks in Online STEM Teaching and Learning (2023-08-18)
Veuger, Stephany Jane; Butler, Diane; Wood, Peter and Potter, Andrew
In: Keengwe, Jared ed. Handbook of Research on Innovative Frameworks and Inclusive Models for Online Learning (pp. 28-51)
ISBN : 9781668490723 | Publisher : IGI Global

Developing “use value mindsets” to enhance undergraduates’ perceptions of learning mathematics in a first-year service mathematics environment (2020)
Potter, Andrew D. J. and Golding, Gerry
In : BSRLM Proceedings (Satuday 9 Nov 2019, Queen's University, Belfast)