We are a group of 21 female mathematics instrctors from Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University who teach a range of first-year mathematics courses for all different majors (Law, Business, Engineering, IT, Computer Science and Interior Design/Architecture). These courses include pre-university algebra (foundation algebra and pre-calculus), first year university-level finite mathematics (discrete math), calculus and statistics. The enrolment in pre-uni maths courses is around 600 students, and in the first-year uni-level maths courses there are around 900 students in our female campus with similar numbers on the male campus.
Our female instructors are from different academic background backgrounds. We are from at least ten different countries across the five continents – a truly international group! Almost all of us have had learning experiences and teaching experiences worldwide. For example, an instructor may have done her undergraduate degree in her home country, postgraduate degree/s in Europe/US and taught in other countries. This makes our experiences rich and varied, and because of this, we are constantly sharing our ideas on student and teacher expectations, and the most successful teaching styles and strategies for the best learning outcomes.
We have now begun research on sharing our experiences in the classroom and collecting information on assumed knowledge and attitudes of our students, as well as research on linking maths with natural sciences. We are keen to connect with other educators and compare experiences. We hope we can add an international perspective to the group particularly in areas such as teaching to English Language Learners and teaching maths to students with limited mathematical skills. If you would like more information, please contact Dr. Lucia Ganendran at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University.
