Teaching seminar, Spring 2018


Organizers: Thomas Bååth, Gautam Gopal Krishnan

While preparing for the seminar, we primarily used video cases for college mathematical instruction as a primary resource.

Date Speaker Topic Abstract
Feb 7, 2018 Thomas Bååth Processing Student feedback Understanding feedback given to us by our students and how to use it to improve teaching.

Reference: Video case for processing student feedback

Feb 21, 2018 Dylan Peifer Leading whole class discussions Watching a video case on student-centered whole class discussion and discussing strategies to facilitate group discussions in class.

Reference: Video case for leading whole class discussions

Mar 7, 2018 Thomas Bååth Grades and Grading Discussing different approaches to grades and grading.

Reference: Video case for grades and grading

Mar 21, 2018 Ryan McDermott Inside the group How students think when introduced to a new concept. We will watch a video case of the working of a student work group.

Reference: Video case for inside the group

Apr 4, 2018 No seminar - Spring break
Apr 25, 2018 Shay Fuchs Teaching with Your Mouth Shut - Inquiry Based Learning in Upper Level Mathematics Courses In the Fall of 2010 and 2011 I taught an Introduction to Topology course at the University of Toronto Mississauga. The course was taught using the traditional lecture approach. Although I enjoyed delivering the lectures, students were extremely passive, and performed poorly on tests and exams. In 2012, I have decided to re-design the course and deliver it as an IBL (Inquiry Based Learning) course. I hardly lectured, and instead, most of class time was devoted to students’ presentations, followed by class discussions. I have continued to use this method since then. The students reacted very positively to this new approach. They became active and excited about the material, and performed well on tests and exams. Almost all students mentioned on the course evaluations how they prefer this method over traditional lectures. Inquiry Based Learning in Mathematics is based on a wide body of research and has a long track record of success. In this talk I will explain how I run my topology course, and the benefits of Inquiry Based Learning.

References:

  • Academy of Inquiry Based Learning
  • Journal of Inquiry Based Learning in Mathematics
  • Mathematics Learning by Inquiry
  • The Moore Method: A Pathway to Learner-Centered Instruction (by Charles A. Coppin, W. Ted Mahavier, E. Lee May, G. Edgar Parker)
  • Teaching with Your Mouth Shut (by Donald L. Finkel)
    • May 9, 2018

    Panelists:

    Kelly Delp

    Eduard Einstein

    Kelsey Houston-Edwards

    Hossein Lamei Ramandi

    Aliaksandr Patotski

    Ravi Ramakrishna

    Drew Zemke

    		Job panel discussion