1 / 48

The University of Oxford

The University of Oxford. Mathematical Institute and Statistics Department Graduate Induction Day 2009. The University of Oxford. Tuesday 6th October 2009 Dr Audrey Curnock, DUGS, Maths Inst Dr Neil Laws, Statistics Department Dr Brian Stewart, Maths Inst. And you are …. UK ? Oxford?

zeroun
Download Presentation

The University of Oxford

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The University of Oxford Mathematical Institute and Statistics DepartmentGraduate Induction Day2009

  2. The University of Oxford Tuesday 6th October 2009 Dr Audrey Curnock, DUGS, Maths Inst Dr Neil Laws, Statistics Department Dr Brian Stewart, Maths Inst

  3. And you are … • UK ? • Oxford? • US ? • European ? • Other ? • Maths? Stats? ComLab? • Teaching Experience ? Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  4. The University of Oxford Skills,Teaching, the CETL project

  5. Skills for Graduates • There is life after the doctorate • in academe or elsewhere • Opportunities for Skills Training • Including teaching • Websites • Institute, Stats Dept, Com Lab • MPLS Division • University Skills Portal Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  6. The CETL Project • Academic Careers • Research---of course! • But teaching is often a criterion • both here and in US • University has project to embed accredited training for teaching at departmental level : the CETL Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  7. Oxford’s strategy for training • Introduction: • Briefing and some experience • Developing Learning & Teaching : • Mentored experience, Reading, Reflection, Seminars, Portfolio, … • Developing Academic Practice: • A la carte programme, …, portfolio • Postgraduate Diploma All accredited for HEA membership.. Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  8. Other reasons to do this … • It’s part of Institute life • You meet the undergrads • You meet more of the faculty • It’s (usually) interesting and fun • ….and we need you! Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  9. The University of Oxford Teaching the Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

  10. Context Matters! No teaching is ever abstract • The overall programme • Outcomes • Pace • The students • Background • Expectations • The assessment regime • Frequency • Risk Level Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  11. The Courses • Mathematics • Mathematics & Philosophy • Mathematics & Statistics • Mathematics & Computer Science • Computer Science Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  12. The Courses All come in two versions: • Three year BA courses • Four year M Math courses Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  13. Shape of the Courses • First four terms : compulsory core • Then increasingly wide choice • In third year some “external” choices • In final years optional dissertation Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  14. The Aim • By the end of the course independent learners • Strategy early individual support later growing independence Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  15. The Students • Able and Motivated • AAAA at A-level • Diverse Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  16. The Size of the Cohort Offers made for October 2009 [approx] : • Maths 182 • Maths & Phil 24 • Maths & Stats 28 • Maths & Comp Sci 20 • Total 176 men 78 women Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  17. Staff • Maths Inst : 110 Faculty 73 CRS • Com Lab: 49 Faculty 79 CRS • Stats Dept: 32 Faculty 17 CRS Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  18. A word about the University • MPLS Division Mathematical Institute Computing Laboratory Statistics Department … other departments • 30+ Colleges Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  19. Shared Responsibility • Division & Department Course Structure and Content Lecture Programme Intercollegiate Classes Assessment • 30+ Colleges Individual student progress Tutorial teaching Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  20. Shape of the Year • 2½ terms of Lectures & Tutorials • ½ term of Revision • 2 short vacations • 4 three-hour papers • 1 long vacation Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  21. Teaching • Lectures: up to 300 … 8 or 10 a week • Tutorials: pairs 2 a week (years 1 and 2) • Classes: 6 to 10 3 a week (years 3 and 4) approx Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  22. Feedback to Students • Ongoing in class or tutorial • End of term reports • End of term exams • Special cases Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  23. Feedback to Teachers • Ongoing in classes • Student Questionnaires • Departmental • College • … personal • Special cases Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  24. Assessment Often not in hands of teacher… • Three hour written papers • Mini projects • Dissertations and Essays • … Others Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  25. The University of Oxford in presenting the Mathematics courses, aims to provide, within the supportive and stimulating environment of the collegiate university, education of excellent quality. Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  26. The University of Oxford Intercollegiate Classes (Structure) Dr Brian Stewart

  27. Intercollegiate Classes- Team Teaching • Course Lecturer: gives the lectures provides Exercise Sheets supplies solutions assigns students to classes sets and marks end-of-year paper • Students: hand in solutions for fortnightly classes Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  28. Intercollegiate Classes • Class Tutors: take class take overall responsibility • Teaching Assistants: mark work help with class enter marks/reports Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  29. Support for TAs • Class Tutor is mentor for TA • Weekly feedback • End of term report • Longstops • Faculty Teaching Adviser • Director of U’grad Studies • Discussion Session • Letter of Completion • National Workshops Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  30. TA task: Feedback to Students • Ongoing in class • Through the database • End of term reports • Special cases Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  31. The University of Oxford Teaching Small Mathematics Classes Dr Audrey Curnock and Dr Neil Laws

  32. Housekeeping 1 • First class – room ok? Students introductions students and staff • Return work – give students a chance to read comments • Tutor needs your input – how did the students do Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  33. Housekeeping 2 • Probably at the end of class – time allowed for individual queries about marking • Always try to send students away feeling positive – challenged but that they can make progress Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  34. Successful mathematics teaching • Three things I found useful • Three I didn’t … • Discuss and then report back! Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  35. Engaging the students to think • Some tutors will start by reviewing topics – drawing this from students • Others will intersperse this at the start of each question • TA and students should be invited to go through a problem they are comfortable with Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  36. Problems • Silent students • Fair treatment for all • Time constraints • Others ? Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  37. The University of Oxford Teaching Mathematics Classes Q&A session Dr Audrey Curnock Dr Neil Laws Dr Brian Stewart

  38. The University of Oxford Tea Break: until 3.30 pm

  39. The University of Oxford Marking Student Work Brian Stewart

  40. Why mark? • Three Good Reasons • Three Bad Reasons Discuss (5 mins) and report back Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  41. A research finding Good feedback >>> Good feedback + Grades >>> Grades “Good” includes “timely” Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  42. How do we mark? • The Intercoll Class protocols • see paperwork! Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  43. Practicalities • Skeleton solution • Crunch points • Mark scheme • How long to spend? • Record keeping and reporting Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  44. Intercollegiate class matters • Pre-meeting • TA • Class Tutor • Database • Marks • Attendance • Emailing Colleges Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  45. Giving good feedback • Helpful feedback • helpful for what? • Helpful/unhelpful? • How much feedback? Discuss and tell us … Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  46. Practice • Mark some of the specimen answers yourself • Discuss in small groups • Report back (in 10 minutes) Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  47. Any questions ? • Yes,any questions for the panel? Audrey Curnock Neil Laws Brian Stewart Mathematical Institute : October 2009

  48. The University of Oxford Good luck and enjoy teaching

More Related