class: middle, centre background-image: url(uglibrary1.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[An Introduction on Teaching Mathematics at University] #.smalltext[Chak Hei (Hugo) Lo] #.smalltext[IMA Early Career Mathematicians’ Conference Spring 2018] --- background-image: url(mt.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Acknowledgement] --- background-image: url(feynman.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Who teach at university?] --- # Who is a lecturer? For half of their working time: * Teach undergraduate and postgraduate students * Give out lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical demonstrations * Classes that tend to be bigger than an average classroom * Teach the theories and applications needed before students work --- # Why teach maths at university? Because... * We love reseraching * We love teaching * We love mathematics * It is cool to be Professors * Stable jobs * relatively low salary but good pension scheme (not anymore?) --- background-image: url(apple.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[What do you need to teach?] --- # List of lecturer qualities (Teaching side) * Verbal and written communication * Creativity * Confidence * Patience * Control * Commitment --- # (Everyday) Responsibilities * Delivering lectures, seminars & practical demonstrations * Preparing for classes, creating activities * Implementing new ways of teaching * Assessing work * Setting, preparing and marking examinations --- background-image: url(university.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[What are the differences from school?] --- # Differences from school .smalltext[ .left-column[ .center[**School**] * Daily routine pretty prescribed * Nag students to complete tasks * Repeat lessons until students get it * Emphasis on learning specific skills needed to answer questions on exam * Teach students specific way of writing solutions * Dedicated to teaching same material 100% of the time ] .right-column[ .center[**University**] * Up to students to balance work with outside interests * Students are responsible for meeting deadlines * Lectures move on to new topics constantly. Students must work outside lectures to master things they don't understand at first * Emphasis on understanding concepts deeply which can be used to answer unseen questions * Teach students how to write precise logical arguments * Engaged in active research as well as research-led teaching ] ] --- # Some funny conversations * Lecturer: “Start accessible to everybody and end accessible to nobody” * Lecturer: “This may not make any sense on you, but it should!” * Lecturer: “I had a colleague who wrote an entire PhD’s thesis on this, but we’ll do it really quick” * Lecturer: “If you have seen it, show it to your friends. If you have not seen it, get a friend!” * Student: “Are we supposed to understand that?” Teacher: “Well, you are supposed to believe…” --- background-image: url(workflow.png) background-size: contain --- # Lectures * Big class size: From 40 to 400 students * Many different styles of lectures .smalltext[ * Mostly "chalk and talk" ] .smalltext[ * Sometimes use slides/transparencies ] .smalltext[ * Sometimes hand out notes (with/without blanks) ] * Lectures move much faster than lessons - no expectation that the students understand in real time * Need preparation * Do not panic if you make a mistake --- # Aim of Lectures * Offer an overview of a topic * Deliver detailed information on a topic * Introduce definitions * Give theorems and proofs * Suggest a structure to study the subject --- background-image: url(tutorials.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Tutorials] --- # Tutorials * Tutorial groups taught by lecturers or postgraduate students * Small groups of about 10-12 students * Can be given in different styles .smalltext[ * Tutor lets you get on with solving problems but walks around giving one-to-one assistance ] .smalltext[ * Tutor asks students to come to board to do problem ] .smalltext[ * Tutor does problem on board but asks students to help ] .smalltext[ * Students work in groups either at board, or present results on board ] --- # Aim of tutorials * Maths is best learnt by doing * Clarify misconceptions and deepen understanding of material through an **interactive conversation involving the whole group** * Encourage communication and presentation skills * Go around the room! --- background-image: url(supportclasses.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Can you teach in University?] --- # Am I up to it? * **Do not be under-confident** * Teaching maths is a challenge but there is lots of support to help you * But first of all, * A Maths Ph.D. is the main qualification you need to achieve to become a full-time lecturer --- background-image: url(deathstarprogress.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Career progression?] --- # Career progression Ph.D. Student * At an entry level, you will have some opportunity to gain experience in teaching. * You may choose to do some ... * tutorials * supporting classes * homework marking --- # Career progression Next step * Research fellow (Postdoc)? Temporary Lecturer? Teaching Fellow? * Career pathways: Research, Research and teaching, Teaching * Any opportunity to lecture a bigger classes or orgainze a module? --- # Career progression * Senior positions * Professor * Pedagogic research? --- # Salary * Ph.D. Student – (From -£4,000 to -£20,000) + £10 per hour? * Postdoc – From £22,000 * Lecturer – From £33,000 * Senior Lecturer – From £40,000 * Highly Experienced Lecturer? – From £55,000 * Professor – From £??? .smalltext[(Source: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/higher-education-lecturer#salary)] --- background-image: url(stuck.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Still not sure?] --- background-image: url(padawans.jpg) background-size: cover .center[.white[**Remember: Teaching is not about right or wrong, it is about effort and passion.**]] --- background-image: url(questions.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Questions?] --- background-image: url(party.jpg) background-size: cover .bigtext[Thank you & good luck!!!]