Dr Amir Asghari
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Email: A.H.Asghari@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 8082
I grew up in Tehran, Iran, where I completed my BSc and MSc degree in Mathematics. Meanwhile, I taught mathematics at different levels, ranging from primary school to university, always advocating students’ learning-by-doing. My own interpretation of “doing mathematically” and the tasks that I designed in this direction brought me the award of a grant to study for a doctoral degree in Mathematics Education at the University of Warwick where I did my PhD thesis under supervision of Prof. David Tall and Mr Adrian Simpson.
In my work, research and practice are closely related to each other. This is well reflected in:
My doctoral study where I started by devising tasks to get students to construct the standard definition of equivalence relations, but I ended with a wide-ranging and highly integrated phenomenographical analysis of conceptions of equivalence in student learning, historical development, educational research, and practice;
My paper entitled, "Moore and Less", that is the story of a multivariable calculus course I ran based on my own modification of the Moore Method (Enquiry Based Learning); while offering a phenomenographical foundation for student-centred teaching, it breaks the commonly believed boundaries of such teaching as regards to class size and diversity of students’ ability and motivation.
My books, written for children, that are based on my research in early number learning.
My historical comic strips, written for middle school students and teachers, that are based on a personal blend of the history of mathematics and cognitive aspects of mathematics learning.
My current research in algebraic thinking in which together with two Ph.D students we use the notion of “specularity”, a theoretical construct of my own, to cultivate algebraic thinking in preschool children at pre-alphanumeric age and to develop algebraic awareness in middle school students while learning negative numbers.
Languages
Persian
Degrees
2006, University of Warwick, United Kingdom, PhD. Mathematics Education
1999, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran, Islamic Republic of, MSc. Mathematics
1996, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, BSc. Mathematics
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Education Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, 2014 - present
Invited Lecturer, Mathematics, Sharif University of Technology, 2007 - 2013
Assistant Professor in Mathematics Education, Mathematics, Shahid Beheshti University, 2006 - 2014
Teaching Assistant, Mathematics, University of Warwick, 2003 - 2005
Journal article
Asghari AH. 2024. Mirza Nezam de Gaffary: The Loneliest Mathematician Mathematical Culture and Thought, 42 :221-263 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Asghari AH. 2019. Signed numbers and signed letters in algebra For the Learning of Mathematics: an international journal of mathematics education, 39 :13-16 Publisher Url Public Url
Asghari AH. 2018. Equivalence: an attempt at a history of the idea Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science, 196 :4657-4677 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Asghari A, khosroshahi L. 2017. Making Associativity Operational International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15 :1559-1577 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Asghari A, khosroshahi L. 2016. Appropriate Contexts for Algebraization in Primary School With a Content Analysis of Iranian Mathematics Textbooks (in Farsi) Quarterly Journal of Educational Innovations, 59
Asghari AH, Khosroshahi L. 2016. Using untouchables to make arithmetic structures touchable Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom,
Asghari AH. 2012. Specularity in algebra For the Learning of Mathematics, 32 :34-38
Asghari AH. 2012. Moore and less! PRIMUS, 22 :509-524 DOI Publisher Url
Asghari AH. 2010. A mad dictator partitions his country Research in Mathematics Education, 7 :33-45 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Asghari AH. 2009. Experiencing equivalence but organizing order EDUCATIONAL STUDIES IN MATHEMATICS, 71 :219-234 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Conference publication
Asghari AH, Dastjerdi S, Adeli M. 2016. Moving from operational view to relational view on the hundred grid 13 International congress on mathematics education
Asghari AH, Khosroshahi L. 2013. Symbols in Early Algebra: To Be or Not to Be? 37th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education
Asghari AH. 2007. EXAMPLES, A MISSING LINK The Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education Author Url
Asghari AH, Tall D. 2005. STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE OF EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS A PHENOMENOGRAPHIC APPROACH The Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of M athematics Education
Asghari AH. 2004. ORGANIZING WITH A FOCUS ON DEFINING A PHENOMENOGRAPHIC APPROACH The 28th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education