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Math 5000: Mathematical Pedagogy Enrollment Information

Math 5000, Mathematical Pedagogy, is a mandatory course for all new graduate students of the mathematics department who are supported as TAs in the Fall semester, or hope to be supported as TAs in the Spring semester. This includes new graduate students who have not passed the English proficiency tests and therefore do not teach in the Fall semester, but hope to pass the test and teach in the Spring semester.

The course is offered every Fall semester, and covers basic pedagogical skills, as well as basic knowledge of the department computer resource. It starts in the New TA Orientation Week-- the week before the beginning of the Fall semester. The New TA Orientation Schedule, posted on this website, and also mailed to new TAs before arrival on campus, specifies the time and place for the first pedagogy lesson: Pedagogy Lunch and Teaching Practice; and also for the first Computer Information lesson. In addition, as part of the pedagogy course, new TAs need to attend during orientation week the sessions for Webassign instructions, and the first-time meeting with their Course Coordinator. Afterwards, Math 5000 meets twice a week for eight weeks of the semester on the following schedule:

  • Mathematical Pedagogy: Monday 4:15 - 5:45, MSB 118. 
  • Computer Information: Wednesday 4:15 - 5:45, MSB 203.
For the last six weeks of the semester the class is divided into pairs, and guided through the process of videotaping and critiquing their own and their pair-mate videotaped lesson. Upon completion students receive one credit, and a grade based on the work done for the Mathematical Pedagogy part of the course.

The mathematics department schedules graduate courses and seminars likely to be attended by new graduate students at times that do not conflict with Math 5000's schedule. On occasion, there might be a few minutes intersection between courses, that will prevent a student from enrolling. Such cases can be accommodated by late arrival or early departure from one or both courses. Please contact Sarah Glaz and the instructor of the conflicting graduate course to make the necessary adjustments and bypass the PeopleSoft block of your enrollment in both courses.

Please note that Sarah Glaz is on sabbatical during the 2009-2010 academic year. To resolve a conflict with enrolment in Math 5000 contact the instructor of Math 5000 and the instructor of the conflicting course.

  mathemagician                                                        


  "Teaching and research are
   mutually supporting activities"
                -- The Mathemagician