Lara Alcock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lara Alcock
|
|
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Warwick (BSc, MSc, PhD) |
| Awards | National Teaching Fellowship (2015) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematical thinking Proof comprehension Mathematical reading |
| Institutions | Loughborough University Rutgers University Essex University |
| Thesis | Categories, definitions and mathematics : student reasoning about objects in analysis (2001) |
| Doctoral advisor | Adrian Simpson |
Lara Alcock is a British expert in mathematics education. This means she studies how people learn and understand math. She is a professor at Loughborough University in the UK. There, she leads the Mathematics Education Centre. Lara Alcock has also written several helpful books about learning math.
She has won important awards for her work. These include the Selden Prize for her research. In 2021, she also received the first-ever John Blake University Teaching Medal. She is also a National Teaching Fellow. This is a special award for excellent university teachers.
Contents
Her Education Journey
Lara Alcock studied at the University of Warwick. She earned two degrees in mathematics there. These were her bachelor's (BSc) and master's (MSc) degrees.
In 2001, she completed her PhD at Warwick. A PhD is the highest university degree. Her research looked at how students think about math ideas. Her main focus was on how they use definitions in math.
Her Career and Research
After finishing her studies, Lara Alcock worked in the United States. She was an assistant professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. An assistant professor is a university teacher who is starting their career.
Later, she came back to the UK. She worked as a teaching fellow at Essex University. In 2007, she moved to Loughborough University. She has been a professor there ever since.
Books She Has Written
Lara Alcock has written many books to help students and teachers with math. Here are some of them:
- Ideas from Mathematics Education: An Introduction for Mathematicians (2009) – This book helps math experts understand how students learn.
- How to Study for a Mathematics Degree (2013) – This book gives tips for students studying math at university. It was also translated into German.
- How to Think about Analysis (2014) – This book helps students understand a complex area of math called "analysis."
- Mathematics Rebooted: A Fresh Approach to Understanding (2017) – This book offers new ways to think about and understand math.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Lara Alcock has received several awards for her important work:
- In 2012, she won the Annie and John Selden Prize. This award is for research in teaching math to university students. The Mathematical Association of America gives out this prize.
- In 2015, she was named a National Teaching Fellow. This award recognizes excellent teaching in higher education.
- In 2021, she was the first person to win the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications John Blake University Teaching Medal. This award celebrates outstanding teaching in math at universities.
