MATH 599: Mathematics Teaching Techniques
When: MWF 12:00 noon–1:00 pm
Where: Mathematics 102
Textbook: Stephen G. Krantz, How to Teach Mathematics: A personal perspective (American Mathematical Society)—can be obtained from the instructor
Instructor: Prof. Greg Martin
Office: Mathematics 212
Email address: gerg@math.ubc.ca
Phone number: 822-4371
Office hours: Tuesdays 10:00–11:30 am, and Wednesdays 2:30–4:00 pm
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide students with
training to help them become more effective teachers, and also to give the
mathematics department a means for evaluating the suitability of students
to teach undergraduate courses in mathematics. Virtually everybody is capable
of becoming a competent and skillful instructor, but virtually nobody would
do well if made to teach a course without preparation or forethought about
effective teaching practices. Structuring a course, preparing lectures, delivering
information, responding to questions, assigning homework, dealing with problem
students, and so on are all areas where a little consideration of certain
guidelines can vastly improve a teacher's performance. Much of what
comprises excellent teaching is quite different from individual to individual;
most of what comprises bad teaching, on the other hand, is universal yet
easily avoided with some experience.
Evaluation: The course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Passing the course is based on the following criteria:
- Attendance at class discussions and presentations
- Participation in discussion of assigned reading
- Completion of two teaching presentations
Students will give two presentations during the semester, one of length 20
minutes and one of length 50 minutes. Students will teach typical topics
from first-year calculus as if the audience were actually a first-year calculus
class, after which they will receive feedback from the rest of the class
and the instructor. Clearly, the focus of the class will be not on
the final grade but rather on thinking about issues of teaching and course
management and giving and receiving constructive feedback on our skills in
the classroom.
You can also download this course outline
in PDF format.
The list of topics and the schedule for the long teaching presentations
is now online.
The list of topics and the schedule for the short teaching presentations
is still online.
Reading assignments
- for Friday, September 6: Krantz, Preface (pages vii–x) and Chapter 1 (pages 1–28)
- for Monday, September 9: Krantz, Sections 2.1–2.15 (pages 29–50)
- for Friday, September 13: Krantz, Sections 2.16–2.20 (pages 51–56) and Chapter 3 (pages 57–70)