2025 Spring Teaching in Higher Education - Mathematics 8985.001

Course Title:

Teaching in Higher Education

Course Credits:

1

Course Mode:

In person

Course Days and Time:

Fridays, 9:30 - 10:20am

Course Room:

Wachman 617

Instructor Office:

Wachman 628

Instructor Phone:

215-313-6016

Office Hours:

Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:30 or by appointment

Course Materials:

All course materials will be provided through Canvas. Most of the readings will be recent and current articles and chapters on research and theory, and suggestions for practice informed by these.  Readings will also come from the following books: 

 

  • Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. Jossey-Bass. 
  •  
  • Bain, Ken. What the best college teachers do. Harvard University Press, 2004. 
  •  
  • Felder, R., Brent, R., (2016).  Teaching and Learning STEM, Jossey-Bass. 
  •  
  • MAA’s Instructional Practice Guide 
Course grading scheme:
  • Weekly responses to readings: 25%. You will have weekly readings and learning activities that will advance your knowledge and prepare you for class.   
  • Attendance and participation in class activities: 25%. Learning from your peers and from the discussions held during class are essential. 
  • Microteaching: 25%. This assignment is an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned in class and apply this knowledge to teaching a portion of a lesson with your peers acting as your students. 
  • Draft of teaching philosophy: 25%. You will write a first draft of this essential component of most academic employment portfolios. 
Course prerequisites:

None

Course goals:

Students will gain enough knowledge and practice to feel comfortable planning and executing lessons that:

 

  • leverage knowledge of how students think and learn to improve outcomes; 
  • create a supportive, inclusive classroom environment; and 
  • incorporate active learning techniques. 

 

This 1-credit course is also the first step in earning Temple University’s Teaching in Higher Education certificate. 

https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/teaching-in-higher-education-certificate-graduate-ed-tche-gradhttps://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/teaching-in-higher-education-certificate-graduate-ed-tche-g

Topics covered:
  1. Nuts and bolts of teaching at Temple
  2. Overview of research on how people learn
  3. Creating an inclusive classroom environment
  4. Active learning techniques
  5.  
Exam dates:

There are no exams, but microteaching sessions will be conducted by students on April 11th and 18th.

Attendance policy:

Two absences, excused or unexcused, will have no impact on the grade. Each further absence will reduce the grade by 10%, unless there are extenuating circumstances that are communicated to the instructor.

Technology Specifications for this Course:
Students may find it useful to bring a tablet or laptop to class sometimes. No technology is required.
Attendance and Your Health:

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person  classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

Expectations for Class Conduct :

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. 

Disability Statement:

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Academic Freedom:

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).

Add/Drop Policy:

Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

 

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

AI Policy:

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.

Incomplete Policy:

The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Student Support Services:

The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window): 
    The Math Consulting Center 
    Student Success Center 
    University Libraries 
    Undergraduate Research Support 
    Career Center 
    Tuttleman Counseling Services 
    Disability Resources and Services 
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

Year
Semester
Course
Section
Course Extra
Title
Attendance and Your Health
Description

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person  classes or activities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

Title
Expectations for Class Conduct
Description

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. 

Title
Disability Statement
Description

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Title
Academic Freedom
Description

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).

Title
Add/Drop Policy
Description

Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

 

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Title
AI Policy
Description

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) is not permitted in this class unless specifically announced for a particular assignment; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University's Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of zero on the assignment; a second offense will be reported to the Student Conduct Board.

Title
Incomplete Policy
Description

The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Title
Student Support Services
Description

The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window): 
    The Math Consulting Center 
    Student Success Center 
    University Libraries 
    Undergraduate Research Support 
    Career Center 
    Tuttleman Counseling Services 
    Disability Resources and Services 
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

Course title

Teaching in Higher Education

Course credits

1

Course mode

In person

Course Days and Time

Fridays, 9:30 - 10:20am

Course room

Wachman 617

Your office

Wachman 628

Your office hours

Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:30 or by appointment

Course materials

All course materials will be provided through Canvas. Most of the readings will be recent and current articles and chapters on research and theory, and suggestions for practice informed by these.  Readings will also come from the following books: 

 

  • Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. Jossey-Bass. 
  •  
  • Bain, Ken. What the best college teachers do. Harvard University Press, 2004. 
  •  
  • Felder, R., Brent, R., (2016).  Teaching and Learning STEM, Jossey-Bass. 
  •  
  • MAA’s Instructional Practice Guide 
Course grading scheme
  • Weekly responses to readings: 25%. You will have weekly readings and learning activities that will advance your knowledge and prepare you for class.   
  • Attendance and participation in class activities: 25%. Learning from your peers and from the discussions held during class are essential. 
  • Microteaching: 25%. This assignment is an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned in class and apply this knowledge to teaching a portion of a lesson with your peers acting as your students. 
  • Draft of teaching philosophy: 25%. You will write a first draft of this essential component of most academic employment portfolios. 
Course prerequisites

None

Course goals

Students will gain enough knowledge and practice to feel comfortable planning and executing lessons that:

 

  • leverage knowledge of how students think and learn to improve outcomes; 
  • create a supportive, inclusive classroom environment; and 
  • incorporate active learning techniques. 

 

This 1-credit course is also the first step in earning Temple University’s Teaching in Higher Education certificate. 

https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/teaching-in-higher-education-certificate-graduate-ed-tche-gradhttps://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/teaching-in-higher-education-certificate-graduate-ed-tche-g

Description of topics covered
  1. Nuts and bolts of teaching at Temple
  2. Overview of research on how people learn
  3. Creating an inclusive classroom environment
  4. Active learning techniques
  5.  
Exam dates

There are no exams, but microteaching sessions will be conducted by students on April 11th and 18th.

Attendance Policy

Two absences, excused or unexcused, will have no impact on the grade. Each further absence will reduce the grade by 10%, unless there are extenuating circumstances that are communicated to the instructor.

Technology Specifications for this Course
Students may find it useful to bring a tablet or laptop to class sometimes. No technology is required.