Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes
Schedule:
14:00-14:15
Introduction
14:15-14:45
Tutorial class organisation and
preparation
14:45-15:15
Course and tutorial class structure
15:15-15:30
Case studies: exercises
15:30-15:50
Refreshments
15:50-16:20
Case studies: discussion
16:20-16:55
Course assessment and feedback
structure
Dr Vlado Lazarov, Department of Materials
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
TUTORIAL CLASS ORGANISATION AND PREPARATION
Some preparation is needed before the start of each new
year and term to ensure the smooth running of tutorials.
•
•
•
•
•
Course calendars
Organisation at the beginning of each academic year
The first tutorial class
Practical arrangements throughout the term
Beginning of each new term [MMES]
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
The MMES Calendar 2008/2009
Week
0
MT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
HT
Collection
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
TT
Collection
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
R Lecture
Dr. Vlado Lazarov
Dr. Marina Galano
Prof. John Woodhouse
MT weeks 1-8 M, Tu 9:00
MT weeks 4,7 Th, 9:00
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Exam
The PDE&FS Calendar 2008
Week
MT
0
1
2
3
4
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
5
6
Dr. Simon Benjamin
MT weeks 1-4 Tu, W 9:00
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
7
8
Beginning of Each Academic Year
• Expect course and tutorial information by week 0 from coordinator
(the students receive a similar set of instructions)
Preparation
Departmental:
•room booking system
•online teaching material
•WebLearn access
•student timetables
Academic:
•course syllabus & material
•recommended reading
•preliminary problem sheet
•A-level material?
Arrange the first tutorial with students
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
The First Tutorial Class
Some suggestions:
free-form!
• Introductions: ice-breaking
• Reiterate:
 information about the course structure and materials
 advice on effective study
• Advise on preparation for tutorial classes
• Schedule further tutorials and when/how to turn in work
• Discuss course material so far (or preliminary problem sheet)
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Practical Arrangements Throughout the Term
Make sure you are thinking about…
• Room booking (Lyn Richmond or Kazia Fewings)
• Room awareness (facilities & materials available)
• An assessment system (to evaluate the performance
of individual students)
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Beginning of Each New Term [MMES only]
Busy time – make preparations in advance!
• Collections in week 0 of Hilary and Trinity terms:
− additional tutorial or advice?
− last problem sheet and revision questions?
…arrange before the end of previous term.
• Schedule first tutorial class:
• discuss the collection
• arrange tutorial times
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Tutorial Class Organisation and Preparation
Questions and Discussion
•
•
•
•
•
Course calendars
Organisation at the beginning of each academic year
The first tutorial class
Practical arrangements throughout the term
Beginning of each new term [MMES only]
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
TUTORIAL CLASS STRUCTURE
Practical information on…
• The course format
• possible tutorial time table
• Tutorial class structure and content
Advice on…
• Teaching practices
• Marking practices
• Disciplinary or other problems
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
The Course Format
MMES
Michaelmas
(Preliminary problem sheet)
8 problem sheets
Revision problem sheet
Hilary
Collection on MT material
7 problem sheets
Revision problem sheet
Trinity
Collection on HT material
Revision tutorials work
Exam [100% assessment]
PDE&FS
Michaelmas
4 problem sheets
[not directly assessed]
Indirect assessment takes
place through other courses
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Possible MMES Tutorial Calendar 2007/2008
Week
0
MT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Intro. /
PS1
PS1 /
PS2
PS3
PS4
PS5
PS6
PS7
PS8
PS15
HT
Rev. PS
Collection
Collection
PS9
PS10
PS11
PS12
PS13
PS14
TT
Rev. PS
Collection
Collection
Revision
Revision
Revision
Revision
Revision
Exam
Tutorial material
Free-form Tutorials
Evaluation
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Possible PDE&FS Tutorial Calendar 2007/2008
Week
MT
0
1
2
3
4
5
Intro. /
PS1
PS1
PS2
PS3
PS4
6
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
7
8
Tutorial Class Structure and Content
Tutorial class structure is shaped by the
discussion topics…
• Details of the course material:
Vectors,matrices,diffirentals,integration,
ordinary DE
• Teaching resources, textbooks, etc.



Problem sheets: individual problems
Revision and collection problems
Past exam papers
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Teaching Methods
It is essential to convey information to students
Issues to look out for…..
your choice!
• Student behaviour: group and individual
• Encouraging participation and discussion
• Time management
One should maintain the discipline in class,
but still give plenty of encouragement!
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Marking Practices
This is also an individual decision.
Here are some suggestions:
• Problem sheets:
– choose a marking system (numerical or otherwise)
– generate a recording system (spreadsheet?)
– be flexible: alternative approaches to problem solving
– be vigilant: copying and plagiarism
• Collections come with a marking scheme
• Advise students to check marked work
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Any Problems?
Approach
the college tutor
Approach the student
Assess the nature of the problem
Discussion: Examples of problems that arise?
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Tutorial Class Structure
Questions and Discussion
Practical information on…
• The course formats
• Tutorial class structure and content
Advice on…
• Teaching practices
• Marking practices
• Disciplinary or other problems
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
CASE STUDIES AND EXCERCISES
Small groups for exercises
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Explaining Mathematical Concepts
Explain how to find the intersection of a line with:
• Plane
• Sphere
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Refreshments
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Dealing with Group Dynamics
i. How would one handle a weak
student in a stronger group?
ii. How would one handle a quiet
student in an outspoken group?
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Encouraging Student Participation
How does one deal with a bright
2nd year student who is not putting
in any effort into homework and/or
not attending lectures?
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Dealing with Disciplinary Problems
i. How does one handle suspected cheating in
a homework sheet?
ii. How does one deal with an overconfident,
outspoken student in a tutorial?
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
COURSE ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK STRUCTURE
Practical information on…
• Collections [MMES]
• Feedback to the colleges: oxcort
Advice on…
• Trinity revision tutorial classes
• End of the course activities
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Collections [MMES]
Preparation:
• Week 0: Hilary and Trinity term
• Mini exam format: inform the students
• Revision class beforehand?
Marking:
Questions and
solutions from
coordinator in
Week 1
Mark ASAP and
email marks to
coordinator
Return scripts to
students and
discuss
performance
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Go through
collection
questions with
students
Materials Mathematics Coordinator
Vlado Lazarov
vlado.lazarov@materials.ox.ac.uk
• General conduit for information from department and lecturers
• Distributes collection material (copy and solutions) and
collection scripts to tutors
• Acquires collection marks from maths tutors (scripts are
returned to students)
• Distributes marks to college tutors and the department
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
College Payment and Student Report Forms
• Should arrive by week 6, or end of 2nd year course
• Submission deadline: end of week 7
2 types of report expected:
Teaching Hours
(for salary purposes)
•projected tutorial hours
•higher rate
•collections
•read instructions carefully
•two systems of providing the
same information are employed
Student Reports
(assessing individual performance)
•attendance and homework effort
•collection mark
•free-form report
[reports are discussed with students]
Any problems? Contact the college tutor or college office
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Trinity Revision Tutorial Classes [MMES]
Trinity term: revision lectures,
followed by exam in week 7.
(exam set and marked by Dept.)
free-form!
Recommended revision:
• notes and solved examples in notes
• problem sheets and solutions
• revision problem sheets and solutions
• collection papers and solutions
• past exam papers: library and WebLearn
• exam format and time management
Beware of recycling: do not hand out solutions!
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
End of the Course
• Complete the last set of forms (http://www.oxcort.ox.ac.uk/)
• Learn about the exam marks (following year)
Formalise student feedback on tutorial classes?
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Course Assessment and Feedback Structure
Questions and Discussion
Practical information on…
• Dealing with collections [MMES]
• Feedback to the colleges: tutorial feedback forms
Advice on…
• Trinity revision tutorial classes
• End of the course activities
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes
Thank you.
Teaching Skills: Tutoring Maths Classes, 24/10/2008