Dr Peter Samuels

Senior Lecturer in Research Practice

Birmingham City Business School

Email:: peter.samuels@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:: +44 (0)121 331 6962

Peter obtained a BA in Mathematics from Cambridge University in 1987 (converted to an MA in 1991). In the first 10 years of his career, he worked as a researcher, lecturer and educational developer in mathematics and mathematics education for the University of Reading, the Numerical Algorithms Group Ltd., Reading College, Brunel University and the University of Newcastle.

In 2000, Peter obtained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Reading on “An account of research into an area of analytical fluid mechanics”. He then had a career break for about five years before becoming an IT lecturer and branch manager of a private FE college in Birmingham.

In 2006, Peter was appointed Senior Research Fellow for the sigma Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Support at Coventry University. In 2007, he also became leader of their Serious Games and Virtual Worlds Applied Research Group at the University.

In 2010, Peter was appointed an Academic Skills tutor at Birmingham City University. In 2011, he obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics Support and Dyslexia/Dyscalculia in Further and Higher Education from Loughborough University. In 2017 he was promoted to the role of Senior Lecturer. In 2018, he was transferred to the Business School where he works as a Senior Lecturer in Research Practice. He has been teaching dissertation writing and research methods for over 12 years. He is responsible for teaching and coordinating over 1,000 masters project students every year.

He has been leading the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice for Doctor of Business Administration students for over 5 years and was recently appointed Programme Director of the Doctor of Business Administration.

Peter currently supervises three doctoral students. He also trains doctoral students and staff in research software and facilitates writing retreats. He recently had a book published on proposal writing for business research projects.

Peter has been undertaking voluntary teaching in East Africa since 2016. Between 2017 and 2019 he led an Erasmus+ project working with the University of Rwanda. From 2020 to 2023 he led an Erasmus+ project with the Technical University of Kenya.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Samuels, P. C. (2023) Proposal Writing for Business Research Projects. London: Taylor and Francis.

Samuels, P. C. (2020) A critical review of Integrating Ubunifu, informal science, and community innovations in science classrooms in East Africa. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 15(1), pp. 303-305, available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-019-09935-w.

Samuels, P. C. and Poppa, S. (2017) Developing extended real and virtual robotics enhancement classes with years 10-13. In: M. Merdan, W. Lepuschitz, G. Koppensteiner and R. Balogh, eds. Robotics in Education: Research and practices for robotics in STEM education. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 457. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, pp. 69-81.

Haapasalo, L. and Samuels, P. C. (2016) Reappraising learning technologies from the viewpoint of the learning of mathematics. Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science, 14(2), pp. 221-246, available through: http://tmcs.math.unideb.hu/contents.php?szam=14.

Samuels, P. C. (2016) Developing extended real and virtual robotics enhancement classes with years 10-13. In: L. Eronen and B. Zimmermann, eds. Mathematics and Education – Learning, Technology and Assessment: Festschrift in honour of Lenni Haapasalo. Münster: WTM, pp. 101-115.

Samuels, P. C. (2014) Techniques for Capturing Critical Thinking in the Creation and Composition of Advanced Mathematical Knowledge. Double Helix, 2: Critical thinking and writing in the STEM disciplines, available at: https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/double-helix/v2/samuels.pdf.

Samuels, P. C. (2013) Promoting Learning Development as an Academic Discipline. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 5, available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=146.

Samuels, P. C. (2012) Capturing and communicating advanced mathematical behaviour. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, Special Edition: Developing Writing in STEM Disciplines, available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=181.

Goodband, J., Solomon, Y., Samuels, P. C., Lawson, D. A. and Bhakta, R. (2012) Limits and potentials of social networking in academia: Case study of the evolution of a mathematics Facebook community. Learning Media and Technology, 37(3), pp. 236-252.

Samuels, P. C., Deane, M. and Griffin, J. (2012) Report on postgraduate training event in science education writing. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 4, available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?.journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=134.

Samuels, P. C. and Haapasalo, L. (2012) Real and virtual robotics in mathematics education at the school-university transition. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 43(3), pp. 285-301.

Rae, A. and Samuels, P. C. (2011) Web-based Personalised System of Instruction: An effective approach for diverse cohorts with virtual learning environments? Computers & Education, 57(4), pp. 2423-2431.

Haapasalo, L. and Samuels, P. C. (2011) Responding to the Challenges of Instrumental Orchestration through Physical and Virtual Robotics. Computers & Education, 57(2), pp. 1484–1492.

Samuels, P. C. and Deane, M. (2011) Writing for Mathematics Education at Doctorate Level. In M. Deane and P. O’Neill, eds. Writing in the Disciplines, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 140-154.

Samuels, P. C. (2010) Motivating mathematics learning through an integrated technology enhanced learning environment. International Journal of Technology in Mathematics Education, 17(4), pp. 197-203.

Samuels, P. C. and Patel, C. (2010) Scholarship in Mathematics Support Services. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 2, available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=44.

Goodband, J. and Samuels, P. C. (2009) Can Facebook be used to improve mathematics student’s learning experience at university? In N. Robinson, N. Challis and M. Thomlinson, eds. Maths at University, Southend-on-Sea: More Maths Grads, pp. 97-99.

Appleby, J. C., Samuels, P. C. and Treasure-Jones, T. (1997) Diagnosys – a knowledge-based diagnostic test of basic mathematical skills. Computers & Education, 28(2), pp. 113-131.

Samuels, P. C. (1994) Hypertext for computational mathematics. In J. H. Johnson, S. McKee and A. D. Vella, eds. Artificial Intelligence in Mathematics. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 251-262.

Other Edited or Peer Reviewed Publications

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Chi-Squared Test for Two-Way Tables. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Descriptive Statistics – Measures of Middle Value. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Descriptive Statistics – Measures of Spread. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Independent Samples t-test. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) One-Way ANOVA – Additional material. 2 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Paired Samples t-test. 3 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Pearson Correlation. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Simple Linear Regression. 4 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Simple Linear Regression – Additional information. 3 pages.

Gilchrist, M. and Samuels, P. C. (2014) Statistical Hypothesis Testing. 3 pages.

Samuels, P. C. (2014) Questionnaire Appraisal Form. 2 pages.

Samuels, P. C. (2014) Using PivotTables in Excel. 4 pages.

Samuels, P. C. and Gibson, M. (2013) Developing a statistical advisory service through effective partnerships. In D. Sands, ed. Proceedings of 2^ndHEA STEM Learning and Teaching Conference. Birmingham, UK, 5 pages.

Samuels, P. C. and Maitland, K. (2012) Redefining maths learning technologies: Putting the curriculum into the fun. In Proceedings of 1^st HEA STEM Annual Conference. London, 9 pages.

Owen, A., Samuels, P. C., Wrightham, M., Leckenby, B. and Gilchrist, M. (2011) A Pilot for a Shared Online Statistics Advisory Service. MSOR Connections, 11(3), pp. 35-36.

Dunwell, I., Petridis, P., Protopsaltis, A., de Freitas, S., Panzoli, D. and Samuels, P. C. (2010) Automating Content Generation for Large-Scale Virtual Learning Environments using Semantic Web Services. In Proceedings of the 5^th International Workshop on Semantic Wikis, ESWC2010, Hersonissos, 15 pages.

Samuels, P. C. (2010) Approaching Numeracy as an Adult. 2 pages.

Samuels, P. C. and Williams, G. R. (2010) Developing students’ self-efficacy through mathematical study skills resources. MSOR Connections, 10(2), pp. 26-30.

Fletcher, L. R., Milne, S., Samuels, P. C. and Sangwin, C. J. (2010) Update on HEA/JISC OER Project: FETLAR. MSOR Connections, 10(1), pp. 40-42.

Deane, M., Samuels, P. C. and Williams, G. R. (2009) Developing Students’ Academic Literacy and Mathematical Self-Efficacy through Multi-media Learning Resources. LDHEN ’09, Bournemouth, 15 pages.

Fletcher, L. R., Milne, S., Samuels, P. C. and Sangwin, C. J. (2009) HEA/JISC Open Education Resources Project: Finding Electronic Teaching, Learning and Assessment Resources (FETLAR). MSOR Connections, 9(3), pp. 31-33.

Goodband, J., Samuels, P. C., Solomon, Y., Lawson, D. A. and Bhakta, R. (2009) From ‘Anarchy’ to Establishment: A case study in the evolution of a mathematics social networking community. iPED 2009, Coventry, pp. 134-141.

Samuels, P. C. (2009) Action Research into the First Year Experience of Activity Led Learning across an Engineering and Computing Faculty. STEM PRM 2009 Symposium, Loughborough, 2 pages.

Samuels, P. C. (2009) Design of a Mobile Mathematics Creativity Laboratory for Contemporary Learners. IEEE VS-Games ’09, Coventry, pp. 194-197.

Samuels, P. C. (2009) Development of a self-paced discrete mathematics intervention for ‘at risk’ first year computer science students. HEA ICS 10^th Annual Conference, Canterbury, pp. 40-44.

Samuels, P. C. (2008) Case study of reusing and developing an e-learning based mathematics module. iPED Newsletter, 3 pages.

Samuels, P. C. and Deane, M. (2008) Academic writing training for mathematics education PhD students. MSOR Connections, 8(3), pp. 41-44.

Samuels, P. C. (2008) Appreciating and encouraging excellence in mathematics support through collaborative research. MSOR Connections, 8(1), pp. 17-18.

Samuels, P. C. and Patel, C. (2008) Scholarship in mathematics support services. The London Scholarship of Teaching & Learning 7^th International Conference, London: City University, pp. 47-57.

Hu, C. and Samuels, P. C. (2007) Computer games and mobile technologies: Motivating students towards mathematics learning. In D. Green, ed. CETL-MSOR Conference, Loughborough, HEA Maths, Stats & OR Network, pp. 60-67.

Samuels, P. C. (2007) Report on JISC Next Generation Environments Conference. MSOR Connections, 7(4), pp. 26-29.

Samuels, P. C. (2007) Mathematics support and new technologies. MSOR Connections, 7(1), pp. 10-13.

Samuels, P. C. (2007) Mathematics support as a practical discipline. In: D. Green, ed. CETL-MSOR Conference, Birmingham, HEA Maths, Stats & OR Network, pp. 107-112.

Lawson D. A., Samuels, P. C. and Symonds, R. J. (2006) Proactive interventions in mathematics and statistics support. In D. Green, ed. CETL-MSOR Conference, Loughborough, HEA Maths, Stats & OR Network, pp. 102-107.

Samuels, P. C. (2006) Introducing the SIGMA mathematics support research programme. MSOR Connections, 6(4), pp. 12-13.

Samuels, P. C. (2006) Mathematics support research. MSOR Connections, 6(3), pp. 33-35.

Samuels, P. C. (2006) Improving university-wide mathematics and statistics support, ELATE 06, Coventry, 15 pages.

Samuels, P. C. (1996) Basic maths resources handbook. Mathematics Support Association Newsletter, 4 & 5, p. 18.

Samuels, P. C. (1995) Maths support handbook. Mathematics Support Association Newsletter, 3, pp. 22-23.

Appleby, J. C. and Samuels, P. C. (1995) Diagnostic assessment. Mathematics Support Association Newsletter, 3, pp. 8-9.

Appleby, J. C., Treasure-Jones, T., Samuels, P. C., Sice, P., Anderson, A. and Gorial, B. (1995) Managing the transition to University education: Computer-based diagnostic testing of background knowledge. International Congress of Engineering Deans and Industry Leaders, Monash, Australia.

Samuels, P. C. (1994) Psychometric assessment in mathematics and computer science education: position statement. Mathematics Support Association Newsletter, 2, p. 10, 19.

Samuels, P. C. (1994) A short account of the mathematical processes involved in trying to write up part of my PhD thesis. How Mathematicians Work Newsletter, 5, pp. 5-13.

Samuels, P. C. (1994) Experiences with problem solving. How Mathematicians Work Newsletter, 4, pp. 11-14.

Samuels, P. C. (1993) A case self-study of how mathematicians work. How Mathematicians Work Newsletter, 3, pp. 6-11.

Samuels, P. C. (1989) Foundations for the Study of Systems of Conservation Laws with Limiting Diffusion. Reading: Mathematics Department, University of Reading (10/89).

Samuels, P. C. (1989) Shock Behaviour and Diffusion. Reading: Mathematics Department, University of Reading (12/89).

Samuels, P. C. (1988) An Analysis of Properties of the Shock Tip in Two-dimensional Steady Compressible Flow. Reading: Mathematics Department, University of Reading (7/88).

Samuels, P. C. (1988) Weak Non-symmetric Shocks in One Dimension. Reading: Mathematics Department, University of Reading (4/88).