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Overview of Teaching at Penn State

Discover the roles of a teacher, researcher, and classroom manager at Penn State. Get valuable tips and a Top 10 list for success in your teaching endeavors. Learn from experienced professor James Sellers.

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Overview of Teaching at Penn State

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  1. Overview of Teaching at Penn State James Sellers sellersj@math.psu.edu

  2. First Things First • Welcome! • Who is this guy?

  3. James Sellers • PhD, 1992, Penn State University • 1992 – 2001: Mathematics Professor at Cedarville University (Ohio) • 2001 – Present: Director of UG Mathematics and Associate Professor, Penn State University

  4. James Sellers • Research: number theory (related to partitions), combinatorics • Teaching (at Cedarville): precalculus, calculus, differential equations, combinatorics, elementary number theory, “math for liberal arts majors”

  5. James Sellers • Teaching (at Penn State): first year seminar, “math for liberal arts majors,” elementary combinatorics, elementary number theory • Extracurricular: racquetball, basketball, church activities, time with my wife and kids

  6. Your Roles at Penn State • Student • This is familiar territory • Researcher • Member of a team • You are a colleague in the department, especially in your role as teacher

  7. Your Roles at Penn State • Teacher • An integral part of the department! • Our department services the entire university (engineering, business, liberal arts, etc.) • We offer the second most credit hours on campus (behind the English Department). • Teaching mathematics is an extremely important endeavor; it should be viewed as a primary task while you are here.

  8. Your Roles at Penn State • Teacher • There will be many tasks to juggle as you teach in our department • Much of this semester’s training will focus on this • We value teaching (awards, recognition, etc.) • We provide a great deal of support (Mentoring Program, GTA Oversight Committee)

  9. Your Roles at Penn State • Classroom Manager • Next semester, you will probably be in charge of a classroom full of students. For many of you, this will be a first! • In a number of our sessions this semester, we will strive to get you ready for this.

  10. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Know your audience and know the goals of your course • Aim the content correctly • Always go to your class prepared (to teach, to return graded materials, etc.) • This takes time outside of class • Again, we will give you lots of advice this semester

  11. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Always conduct yourself in a professional manner in class • Never go to class looking or acting like you just got out of bed • “TA came to class in pajamas” • Remember that students call parents and parents will get involved. (“I pay lots …”)

  12. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Never demean your students or colleagues • “No such thing as a bad question” • We will talk more about this later this semester • Always contact your coordinator or me if you have any questions about your class!

  13. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Always give students the opportunity to see their quizzes, midterms, and final exam after grading • Remove as much uncertainty as possible • Try to give students as much detailed information throughout a course as you can • Exception? Don’t give too much information about specific exam problems during review

  14. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Never ignore student requests for meetings or clarification on grades • Return emails or phone calls! • If you don’t know the answer, direct them to your course coordinator; just don’t ignore them

  15. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • Always strive to find a substitute for a class rather than canceling class (again, student focus on tuition lost, etc.) • Again, you are a member of a team, and many in the department are willing to help

  16. A “Top 10” List For Your Consideration • And my all-time favorite: Never say “Wow, that was a hard exam” or “Wow, am I glad I did not have to take that exam” to your own class! • This really happened • This really got the parents calling me

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