Making the Complex Simple: Transforming Mathematics Education

Can you tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to become a teacher?
I was born in Dyffryn Conwy, and am a former pupil of Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, where I studied Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science in the sixth form. I moved on to study mathematics at Bangor University, and while completing a doctorate at the same University, I had the opportunity to teach one of the mathematics modules. After a few weeks in front of the class, I knew that teaching mathematics was the career I wanted to pursue. I followed a teaching practice course at Bangor University, completing teaching experience at Tryfan and Dyffryn Ogwen schools, before accepting a permanent position at Ysgol y Creuddyn, near Llandudno, to teach mathematics.

What do you love most about your role in education?
I love those periods in class where it is possible to see the penny drop. For me, mathematics is the art of making the complex simple, and it is a pleasure to see learners break a difficult problem down into smaller steps that can be solved. By considering how the memory works, whether it is working memory or long-term memory, it is possible to plan strategies so that the learners in front of you remember the necessary facts and techniques, and use in context.

What do you think is your greatest achievement as a teacher?
At the start of my career, I had finished the work plan early with one class at the end of year 9. I decided to start a project where the class produced a video to put on the YouTube site explaining an aspect of mathematics. The enjoyment of producing the video was an inspiration to film more content to put on the channel, originally for the purposes of Ysgol y Creuddyn learners. But of course YouTube is a public forum, and within a few months comments were arriving thanking us for the content, especially because it was through the medium of Welsh. Over the next decade over 400 videos were added to the channel, to explain the GCSE mathematics course as a whole. Today the channel has thousands of subscribers, and almost a million and a half viewers.

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What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
It is a privilege to work every day in a community of young people and such special colleagues. The school feels like one big family, where (of course) the most important members are the learners we are preparing for. But there is more than learners in a school – from the bus driver who transports the learners to school in the morning, to the cleaner who tidies up the classroom at the end of the day – someone is looking forward to the conversations to be had with these people, and to the friendship that follows. This is a job where it is hard to avoid making friends for life.

Can you share a particular moment or experience that stands out in your teaching career?
March 14th is a special day every year in the mathematical calendar, as the number pi starts with 3.14. Over the years as a department we have done all sorts of fun activities on Pi Day, including running a charity shop selling items for £3.14, designing skyscrapers using the digits of pi ("pi-scrapers"), and writing poetry in the form of pi-ku . It is also an opportunity to remember Wales' connection with the number, as William Jones from Anglesey was the first to use the symbol p to represent the number in the year 1706.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in teaching?
Go for it! This is a job where every day is different, and you will never look at your watch waiting for the end of the day. There are plenty of opportunities for professional development, and opportunities for promotion, all in a host of locations across the country. This is a job where the fruits of your labour can be seen every results day, but more than that can be felt with every smile or "thank you" at the end of a lesson.

What qualities and skills do you think are essential for success in the education sector?
One of the skills I believe is important for a teacher to have is the ability to put themselves in the learner's shoes, and imagine what it's like to learn something new for the first time. It is sometimes tempting to think that what we are learning is basic or easy, and therefore rush through the work without really considering how difficult it is to acquire a new fact or technique. The possible misconceptions must be considered, and be prepared to explain something again - in a different way or at a different time in the future. If you've ever driven somewhere new using your Sat Nav directions, and found yourself turning off the music or radio on route to your destination, then think about why. You will probably do this in order to be able to concentrate better - to focus on just one new thing. Our duty as teachers is to remember that the learners in front of us are introduced to a host of new things every day - if you like a host of new destinations - and our job is to help the learners navigate the way towards their end a journey

In your opinion, what are the key qualities that led to you being awarded Teacher of the Year?
In the world of education, it is very easy in the midst of all the hustle and bustle to focus on the short term, planning only for the next lesson, or the next day. About a decade ago, I decided to go against the grain and start planning for the long term, producing a set of resources to be used over a period of five years, from year 7 to the end of year 11. I believe that' the hard work that went into designing these resources is recognized with the teacher of the year award, and the fact that the resources are now often used across Wales. It must also be recognized that an individual award like this can only be received with the support of others, in the mathematics department and in general within the school. Teamwork is the secret of a successful school, with everyone rowing in the same direction, demonstrating passion, consistency and empathy.

What are your goals for the future as an educator?
I believe that every educator is a learner first. Therefore, you must be prepared to adapt, even if you have experienced success with something in the past! New (and often better) methods of teaching mathematics are being discovered all the time, and it is interesting to trial these in class and tailor them to the purposes of the class in front of you. The advent of technology and social networks has accelerated this process, and it is interesting to discover a new website to try, or to read a message that suggests a different method of teaching a subject. Like the sand on the beach, the teaching process changes all the time, and for me the thrill comes from discovering a new technique and having the opportunity to put it into practice the next day.