Teaching a mathematics course involves two components: the content and transferable skills. Below I describe how I facilitate the development of certain skills in my proof-based mathematics courses.
To bolster the education and training of students in mathematics, I have created a classroom environment in which struggle and discovery are valued. I emphasize the development of the mathematical skills of reading (understanding the language of mathematics), writing (formulating logical arguments and using mathematical notation), and speaking (developing vocabulary and using it appropriately).
I want to prepare students for independent thought and problem-solving. This component is the crucial piece that they will carry with them in any setting where they must think and contribute in some way.
Soft skills
- Collaboration: working in groups, showing diplomacy in identifying mistakes in other’s work, developing ethical practices in proof writing
- Communication: writing, presenting, and discussing proofs
- Creativity: problem solving, developing logical arguments, developing creative proofs
- Critical thinking: abstraction, reasoning, analysis, distilling new technical concepts, identifying mistakes in presented work, independence
About 1/3 of the US population has a college degree while about 1/15 of the world’s population does. More astonishingly, a little over 4% (5%) of the US (world) population has a college degree in mathematics. By the time you graduate, you will be part of an elite class of people privileged to have received higher education and completed a postsecondary degree. I want to make sure that we both take your education seriously: you should get as much out of this course as possible and make it count.