Department of Mathematical Sciences: Teaching Ideas

This page contains examples of teaching "good practice", mostly collated from peer reviews of lectures. Its intention is not prescriptive, but simply to make teaching ideas which have proved useful for some lecturers available to others. The page will be updated each semester after the peer review process. Any contributions and suggestions would be very welcome: send them to Toby Hall.

  1. General advice for lectures (particularly for new lecturers)

  2. Strategies for controlling noise in lectures

  3. Optimal use of blackboards on the first and second floors of the Mathematical Sciences Building

  4. Electronic submission of homework

  5. Fortnightly homeworks: the advantages

  6. Using a Surface Pro/tablet for delivery of lectures

  7. Blackboard cleaning the German way

  8. Using Maple in homeworks to help students' understanding

  9. Getting students to reflect on the theoretical content of lectures

  10. Homework solutions as podcasts

  11. Two-part homeworks: reducing 'waiting time' in tutorials

  12. Optional homework submission in groups

  13. Using students' smart phones as clickers for interactive activities in class

  14. Sticky notes

  15. Prize quizzes to reinforce concepts which students find difficult

  16. Demonstrations and practical activities

  17. Blending lectures and tutorials in small classes

  18. Lecture notes with blanks and "daggers"

  19. Including a presentation on applications of module material

  20. Generic feedback on class tests or homework

  21. Using the data projector in lectures

  22. Advice on core module tutorials

  23. Mini-questionnaires

  24. VITAL discussion forums for exam revision in large classes, and more generally

  25. Enrolling Teaching assistants in VITAL

  26. Use of the library's 'Reading lists' with promotional video

  27. Meeting agendas for project students

  28. Using Matlab in lectures