Position/Status

Associate Teaching Professor in Mathematics Education

E-mail Address

md437@cam.ac.uk

Phone

+ 44 (0)1223 767600

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) in Mathematics (University of Oxford)
• PGCE (King’s College, London)
• MEd (University of Cambridge)

Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations

• ATM - Association for Teachers of Mathematics
• MA - Mathematical Association
• BSRLM - British Society for Research into the Learning of Mathematics
• Member of the Royal Society Secondary Mathematics Advisory Group
• Member of the Chartered College of Teaching

Profile

Mark has taught mathematics at Comberton Village College since 1996. During that time he has been Head of Mathematics, Assistant Head of Year, Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) and a Specialist Leader in Education (SLE).

In his various roles Mark has supported departments and individual teachers in schools across Cambridgeshire, working with heads of department and teachers to carry out strategic planning, the development of schemes of work and to support teaching and learning. With the NCETM he has been an Ambassador and currently holds the NCETM Professional Development Lead qualification.

One particular focus for Mark’s work is ‘thinking strategies’ in mathematics, including problem solving work with NRICH and developmental work with the team behind CAME (Cognitive Acceleration in Mathematics Education).

A second major area has been the effective use of ICT in mathematics teaching and learning.

A third area is supporting colleagues in working together in local networks. Over the past few years Mark has been seconded to be Deputy Lead for the Cambridge Maths Hub and seconded to be Area Coordinator for the Advanced Maths Support Programme. He also coordinates meetings of the local Post-16 Mathematics Teacher Group and the local Heads of Maths meetings.

Course involvement

• PGCE Secondary mathematics
• MEd/ MPhil

Principal and Recent Publications

Watson, S., Dawes, M., & Marschall, G. (2024). The role of mentoring when learning through experience. In R. Archer, S. Morgan, D. Swanson, C. Clemmet, & S. Sullivan. Mentoring Mathematics Teachers in the Secondary School: A Practical Guide. Routledge: Oxford.

Dawes, M., Matthews, R., Roberts, A., & Thwaites, G. (2018). Cambridge International AS and A Level Thinking Skills Coursebook (3rd edition). Cambridge University Press.

Watson, S., & Dawes, M. (2016). Learning mathematics: a cognitive focus. In S. Johnston-Wilder, C. Lee, & D. Pimm (Eds.), Learning to teach mathematics in the secondary school: a companion to school experience (4th ed.) (pp. 32-51). Routledge: London

Steel, T., Thomas, C., Dawes, M., & Watson, S. (2015). GCSE Mathematics for AQA/Edexcel/OCR Higher/Foundation problem-solving book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lavicza, Z., Hohenwarter, M., Jones, K., Lu, A., & Dawes, M. (2010). Establishing a professional development network around dynamic mathematics software in England. International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education. 17. 177-182.

Jones, K., Lavicza, Z., Hohenwarter, M., Lu, A., Dawes, M., Parish, A., & Borcherds, M. (2009). BSRLM geometry working group: establishing a professional development network to support teachers using dynamic mathematics software GeoGebra. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 29 (1), 97-102.

Bowker, A., Hennessy, S., Dawes, M., & Deaney, R. (2009). Supporting professional development for ICT use in mathematics using the T-MEDIA multimedia resource. In Joubert, M. (Ed.) Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics, 29(1), 19-24.

Hennessy, S., Deaney, R., Dawes, M., & Bowker, A. (March 2008). Supporting professional development for ICT use in the secondary classroom using a multimedia resource: A Report to NCETM.