Synopsis for N1b: Undergraduate Ambassador's Scheme

[This course is no longer available as a half-unit it must be taken alongside N1a mathematics Education]

Method of Assessment: Journal of activities, Oral presentation, Course report and project, Teacher report.

Quota: There will be a quota of approximately 10 students for this course.

Co-ordinator: Dr Griffiths

Option available to Mathematics, Mathematics & Statistics, Mathematics & Philosophy students.

Learning Outcomes

The Undergraduate Ambassadors' Scheme (UAS) was begun by Simon Singh in 2002 to give university undergraduates a chance to experience assisting and, to some extent, teaching in schools, and to be credited for this. The option focuses on improving students' communication, presentation, cooperation and organizational skills and sensitivity to others' learning difficulties.

Course Description and Timing:

The Oxford UAS option, N1, is a half-unit, mainly run in Hilary Term. A quota will be in place, of approximately 10 students, and so applicants for the UAS option will be asked to name a second alternative half-unit. The course is appropriate for all students, whether or not they are interested in teaching subsequently.

A student on the course will be assigned to a mathematics teacher in a local secondary school (in the Oxford, Kidlington, Wheatley area) for half a day per week during Hilary Term. Students will be expected to keep a journal of their activities, which will begin by assisting in the class, but may widen to include teaching the whole class for a part of a period, or working separately with a smaller group of the class. Students will be required at one point to give a presentation to one of their school classes relating to a topic from university mathematics, and will also run a small project based on some aspect of mathematics education with advice from the course co-ordinator and teacher/s. Final credit will be based on the journal (20 
Short interviews will take place on Thursday or Friday of 0th week in Michaelmas term to select students for this course. The interview (of roughly 15 minutes) will include a presentation by the student on an aspect of mathematics of their choosing. Students will be chosen on the basis of their ability to communicate mathematics, and two references will be sought from college tutors on these qualities. Applicants will be quickly notified of the decision.

Those on the course will also need to fill in a CRB form, or to have done so already. By the end of Michaelmas term students will have been assigned to a teacher and have made a first, introductory, visit to their school. The course will begin properly in Hilary term with students helping in schools for half a day each week. Funds are available to cover travel expenses. Support classes will be provided throughout Hilary for feedback and to discuss issues such as the planning of the project. The deadline for the journal and report will be noon on Friday of 0th week of Trinity term.

Any further questions on the UAS option should be passed on to the option's co-ordinator, Martin Griffiths (martin.griffiths@maths.ox.ac.uk).

Clare Tickly, Anne Watson, Candia Morgan, Teaching School Subjects: Mathematics (Routledge Falmer, 2004).