Support Classes Information 25/26
The Department requires well qualified teachers in order to provide a suitable level of support and so a broad familiarity with the subject is essential, which must usually be demonstrated by being an existing postgraduate (research) student. We will, in exceptional cases, also accept applications from postgraduate (taught) students in the Mathematics Department and other applications if the applicant can demonstrate the necessary background.
Please contact Mark Cummings, m.s.cummings@warwick.ac.uk, if you have any queries.
Graduate students form an essential and respected part of the undergraduate teaching force at Warwick. Our students are of the highest calibre: most have 3 or 4 A’s at A-level and STEP. They expect and deserve good teaching. They also need the support and encouragement of people who vividly remember how challenging undergraduate mathematics can be.
What do supervisors do?
Supervisors meet groups of 5 first year students to answer questions, discuss assignment problems, and stimulate participation and debate. You will typically be asked to mark three assignments per student per week. This must be done responsibly and promptly, as in most subjects assessed work is worth 15% of the final mark. At the end of each term you will be expected to complete a student report form on each of your students.
What would I teach in supervisions?
2022/23 saw the introduction of the New Curriculum Framework for 1st year undergraduates. Since then supervisors teach first year maths students who take courses in Foundations, Analysis, Algebra I (similar to Introduction to Abstract Algebra from 2021/22), Methods of Mathematical Modelling I (similar to Differential Equations from 2021/22), Methods of Mathematical Modelling II (similar to Geometry and Motion from 2021/22) and Algebra II (similar to Linear Algebra from 2021/22). For joint degree students, Sets and Numbers takes place instead of Foundations, Mathematical Analysis or Calculus instead of Analysis, and Vectors and Matrices or Linear Algebra in place of Algebra II (there will be no requirement to support Mathematical Modelling I or II). Exactly which modules you will support will depend on whether your group is maths students or joint degree students and their option choices.
Some revision supervisions, or supervisions for students who need extra help, may be arranged at the discretion of the Supervisions Coordinator (currently Mark Cummings m.s.cummings@warwick.ac.uk).
How much will I teach?
For supervisions there is a menu on the form for you to specify your preferred number of (contact) hours a week. Under current plans you would have two contact hours per week per maths group and one contact hour per week for each group of joint-degree students. You should remember that there is marking on top of this. Preparation/admin/marking payments are normally at 3 hours per group per week for maths group and two hours per week for joint degree students (the differences are due to differences in the number of modules covered).
Likewise you can state the number of contact hours you can provide for support classes on the form. If given a support class you are most likely to have one or two support classes for a module each week but you should factor in preparation time (usually at one hour per class), and time for marking if there is any (you get paid extra if there is marking).
How do I know how to teach?
There is a compulsory training session for new supervisors and a separate training session for new Support Class TAs during the first week of term to go through the basics (both the logistics of giving supervisions/classes and guidance on teaching). This session is compulsory for postgrads who are new to teaching for the department in order to be placed on a GTA contract (it also looks good on your CV!).
What’s in it for me?
• The rate per hour for postgraduate GTAs starts at approximately £17 (there are increments with experience). This applies to contact hours and to prep/admin/marking hours.
• In supervisions there are normally two contact hours per week for each maths group and one contact hour per week for each non-maths group.
• Preparation/admin/marking payments for supervisions are normally at 3 hours per group per week for maths group and two hours per week for joint degree students (the differences are due to differences in the number of modules covered).
• Support class rates depend on class size and marking. For delivering a single one-hour support class per week you are paid for that contact hour plus an additional hour for preparation. If you deliver the same class more than once per week then your preparation hours increase but not in proportion with the contact hours. Marking payments are dealt with separately and depend on the number of students registered on the module when registrations close around the end of the third week of each term.
• You gain teaching experience and some valuable lines on your CV.
• You have the satisfaction of helping others learn a subject you love.
• You learn while you teach – not just about teaching, but about mathematics too.
Module Arrangements
For most modules there will be a support class each week, in weeks 2-10. Larger modules may have multiple support classes each week; students are expected to attend one of these each week, and they should cover similar content (this may vary depending on the class leader, or the needs/wishes of the students).
For most modules with assessed work, there will be four assignments through the term. Marking will be divided between the TAs for the module.
Modules With Unusual Arrangements
MA124 Maths by Computer
Runs through Terms 1 and 2; TAs will generally attend a 2-hour drop-in computer lab session each week.
There are three (short) assignments to be marked around the end of Term 1, and group projects at the end of Term 2.
MA240 Modelling Nature's Nonlinearity
Details tbc (check back later if interested)
MA265 Methods of Mathematical Modelling 3 / MA268 Algebra 3 / MA270 Analysis 3
These three second-year core modules will mainly be supported through the MathXChange drop-in sessions, although there will be a couple of "normal" support classes running alongside this. Most of the support teaching will be handled by the department's Teaching Fellows, but there will be some capacity for GTAs to be involved as well.
There are marking-only roles available for these modules, as the assignments will be marked by GTAs.
MA2K3 Consolidation
We are exploring a new format for second-year Consolidation in 2025/26; the current plan is for there to be two two-hour classes, in which the class leader (either Richard Lissaman or another Teaching Fellow) will be assisted by TAs. There is no marking for this module.
This module is intended to help students who struggled in their first year (or are returning from a temporary withdrawal) to cover key material from the first-year curriculum.
MA397 Consolidation
Third-year Consolidation is intended to help students who struggled in their second-year (or are returning from a temporary withdrawal), and covers key material from the first two years.
Students are assigned a TA who meets with them individually for an hour each week, and who marks their assignment (seven through the term)
MA3L3 Communicating Mathematics
Assessed entirely through assignments; details tbc
MA4N1 Theorem Proving With Lean
Has one group project assessed through several stages; marking hours (and associated preparation) comparable to other modules.