Learning and Teaching in Mathematical Sciences
We asked Dr Matthew Lewis, Lecturer in Mathematics, about the excellent support for learning and teaching in the School of Mathematical Sciences. Read on for information about Learning Café and other resources available to support student learning.
Dr Matthew Lewis receiving his Faculty of Science & Engineering Education Excellence Award
You recently won an Education Award for your exceptional contributions to student support and teaching. Could you tell us a bit more about this?
Certainly! I was delighted (and very honoured) to be awarded the QMUL Faculty of Science & Engineering's Student Experience and Education Excellence Award. Over the past couple of years, I have been helping to develop an initiative called the Learning Café, which provides an open and accessible alternative to traditional Office Hours.
It occurred to me that when I was an undergraduate, I would have dreaded of braving the labyrinth of staff office corridors to find help with my studies. It seems silly now, of course. As a staff member, I'd be delighted to help anyone who came by. But I have no doubt that it can be intimidating.
The Learning Café helps mitigate this feeling by hosting support hours in our School Social Hub, which is an environment that SMS students will know well. Our hours are 11:00–14:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, students are encouraged to ask individual module organisers for their specific slots if they wish to speak to them.
What is your favourite thing about teaching in the School of Mathematical Sciences?
It's hard to pick just one thing! I've already mentioned how great the community is. I like that I'm given the opportunity to try new teaching methods, both through my own lecture courses, and with other School-wide initiatives in general. I also like that I get to be involved in other people's ideas, and that we always have groups of people working together to build something great.
What academic support is available for students both in SMS and the wider university?
Great question! The most overlooked avenue of support is our advisors. Every student enrolled here has an advisor, and nearly all members of academic staff have advisees. There is an expectation that everyone meets with their advisors at least once a semester, but the reality is that it should perhaps happen a lot more.
Personally, I love meeting with my advisees. They remind me of what it's like to be an undergraduate, something which (despite my best efforts) is in my increasingly distant past. They also give me a perspective on what it's like to be an undergraduate in the here and now. There are increasing challenges that we face on both sides: the cost of living crisis, the rapid rise of AI, proliferation of misinformation on social media. These all have an impact in what goes on student learning, and the only way we can all be supported is if everyone talks to each other.
As for other avenues of support, there is of course the Learning Café! The Learning Café is open to all SMS students, and there's no need to book: just pop in, grab a seat, and see who's there. We even have free snacks!
More generally, throughout the entire university, I would recommend the Careers & Enterprise Service for anyone who is anxious about entering the job market. Studying for a university course can be stressful enough, I think many people don't want to add to this stress by considering their next steps. Of course, the truth is, the only way to move past these worries is to address them head on. The Careers & Enterprise Service can provide fantastic support and resources to help people prepare for their post-graduation steps.
How would you describe the learning community in the School of Mathematical Sciences?
First and foremost, everyone is exceptionally friendly. This was the first thing I noticed when I arrived here four years ago. I was initially on a one year contract, and had imagined that people might not want to deal with me for the sake of twelve short months! The reality was far from that, and I was delighted how supportive and inclusive everyone here was. I think those words really sum up the School. People here are very caring, regardless of who you are or how long you're going to be here. I'm now three years past that one year contract, and hope to be here for much longer still!
I would also say we're ambitious. I frequently attend meetings in which we discuss new and exciting approaches to teaching. We have many exceptionally talented educators here, but none of them is willing to rest on their laurels. The fact of the matter is, we know that there's always something that can be improved (and we'll always accept feedback).
How is innovation being embedded in teaching?
Necessity is famously the mother of invention, and we base our new teaching techniques around how the social climate is changing. For instance, lectures were traditionally outlets for academics to monologue while students took notes. This is outdated. If I wished to hear someone talk about linear algebra for 50 minutes, I could now do that without leaving the house (I'm referring to online resources, rather than just me mumbling the Cayley-Hamilton Theorem to myself).
We're now encouraging staff to develop interactive exercises in lectures, allowing classes to be an open dialogue between learners. We are seeing a rise in mid-lecture quizzes, we're adopting multimedia approaches that allow us to view elaborate demonstrations in real time, and we're hosting surveys to collect student feedback that will allow us to improve course delivery while the modules are still running.