Dr Robert Ward-Penny
Professional biography
I joined the Mathematics Education team at the Open University in January 2023, having previously gained my PhD in Education from the University of Warwick. Alongside my academic work, I have had the pleasure of teaching secondary mathematics in schools in London, the Midlands, and the United States, and have also contributed to a number of textbook series and books for teachers.
Research interests
My research interests include the philosophy and politics of mathematics education, the potential for cross-curricular teaching and learning in the mathematics classroom, and finding new ways to get pupils excited about and engaged with mathematics.
Teaching interests
I am currently involved in the production and delivery of ME322, Learning and Doing Algebra.
Publications
Journal articles
Agency and Fidelity in Primary Teachers’ Efforts to Develop Mathematical Resilience (2022)
Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert
Teacher Development, 26(1) (pp. 75-93)
Student perceptions of decision mathematics and legitimate mathematical practice (2017)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Teaching Mathematics and its Applications: An International Journal of the IMA, 37(1) (pp. 37-52)
A Complex Christmas (2015-05)
Ward-Penny, Robert and Noy, Jim
Mathematics in School, 44 (pp. 37-39)
Discussing perception, determining provision: teachers' perspectives on the applied options of A-level mathematics (2013-03)
Ward-Penny, R.; Johnston-Wilder, S. and Johnston-Wilder, P.
Teaching Mathematics and its Applications, 32(1) (pp. 1-18)
Memes and Mathematics Education (2011-12)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Philosophy of Mathematics Education Journal, 26
Exit interviews: undergraduates who leave mathematics behind (2011-07)
Ward-Penny, Robert; Johnston-Wilder, Sue and Lee, Clare
For the Learning of Mathematics, 31(2) (pp. 21-26)
Geared Up: Exploring Families of Curves with Autograph (2010-06)
Ward-Penny, Robert and Butler, Douglas
Mathematics Teaching Interactive, 218
Otherwise Engaged (2010-03)
Ingram, Jenni and Ward-Penny, Robert
Mathematics Teaching, 217 (p 18)
Context or Con? How Might We Better Represent the 'Real-World' in the Classroom? (2010-01)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Mathematics in School, 39 (pp. 10-12)
Mathematical Haikus (2010)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Mathematics in School, 39 (p 9)
Making a Meal out of Mathematics (2010)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Mathematics Teaching, 219 (pp. 22-23)
The Performing Arts in the Mathematics Classroom (2008-01)
Ward-Penny, Robert
Mathematics in School, 37
Authored books
Cross-Curricular Teaching and Learning in the Secondary School: Mathematics (2011)
Ward-Penny, Robert
ISBN : 978-0-415-57203-3 (hbk) | Publisher : Routledge
Book chapters
Planning mathematics lessons (2019-05-09)
Ward-Penny, Robert and Lee, Clare
In: Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert eds. A Practical Guide to Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School Second Edition (pp. 3-14)
ISBN : 9781138481206 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon, Oxon
ICT from the front of the class (2019)
Boote, Ian and Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert eds. A Practical Guide to Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School (Second Edition) (pp. 27-37)
Publisher : Routledge
Using ICT safely and effectively (2019)
Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert eds. A Practical Guide to Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School (Second Edition) (pp. 23-26)
Publisher : Routledge
Perspectives and Practices in the Mathematics Classroom (2017)
Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Johnston-Wilder, Sue; Lee, Clare and Pimm, David eds. Learning to Teach Mathematics in the Secondary School (Fourth Edition) (pp. 192-207)
ISBN : 9781315672175 | Publisher : Routledge
Mathematics in the National Curriculum (2017)
Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Johnston-Wilder, Sue; Lee, Clare and Pimm, David eds. Learning to Teach Mathematics in the Secondary School (Fourth Edition) (pp. 13-31)
ISBN : 9781315672175 | Publisher : Routledge
Why Do We Teach Mathematics? (2017)
Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Johnston-Wilder, Sue; Lee, Clare and Pimm, David eds. Learning to Teach Mathematics in the Secondary School (Fourth Edition) (pp. 1-12)
ISBN : 9781315672175 | Publisher : Routledge
Planning mathematics lessons (2012-11-16)
Ward-Penny, Robert and Lee, Clare
In: Lee, Clare; Johnston-Wilder, Sue and Ward-Penny, Robert eds. A Practical Guide to Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School. Routledge Teaching Guides (pp. 3-12)
ISBN : 978-0-415-50820-9 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon
Mathematics in the National Curriculum (2011-09-13)
Westwell, John and Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Johnston-Wilder, Sue; Johnston-Wilder, Peter; Lee, Clare and Pimm, David eds. Learning to Teach Mathematics in the Secondary School (Third Edition) (pp. 16-35)
Publisher : Routledge
Mathematics in context (2010-08-09)
Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert
In: Johnston-Wilder, Sue; Johnston-Wilder, Peter; Pimm, David and Lee, Clare eds. Learning to Teach Mathematics in the Secondary School: a companion to school experience, 3rd edition. Learning to teach subjects in the secondary school (pp. 206-224)
ISBN : 9780415565585 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon
Edited books
A practical guide to teaching mathematics in the secondary school. 2nd edition (2019-05-09)
Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert eds.
Routledge Teaching Guides
ISBN : 9781138481206 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London
A Practical Guide to Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School (2012-11-16)
Lee, Clare; Johnston-Wilder, Sue and Ward-Penny, Robert eds.
Routledge Teaching Guides
ISBN : 978-0-415-50820-9 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon
Conference items
Teachers’ Accounts of Developing Mathematical Resilience in the Classroom (2017)
Lee, Clare and Ward-Penny, Robert
In : The Second International Conference on Mathematical Resilience (3-4 Mar 2017, The Open University)
What Might We Learn From the Prodigals? Exploring the Decisions and Experiences of Adults Returning to Mathematics (2009-11-01)
Ward-Penny, Robert
In : BSRLM Vol 29 (3) (Nov 2009)
Other
Mathematical and Data Literacy: Competencies and curriculum implications at the intersection of mathematics, data science, statistics and computing (2023)
Smith, Cathy; Kathotia, Vinay; Ward-Penny, Robert; Howson, Oli and Wermelinger, Michel
The Royal Society
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