Teaching coordination

 

To ensure the necessary teaching coordination for the Degree in Mathematics, the following bodies and agents are available: Degree Committee, module coordinators, course coordinators, subject coordinators, and the Coordinator of Quality and Teaching Innovation.

  • Title Commission (Vertical coordination). Coordination between the different courses in the Degree in Mathematics is carried out within this committee.

At the Mathematics Section Meeting held on December 16, 2022, the current composition was approved: in addition to the vice-dean responsible for the Degree in Mathematics, the Vice-Dean for Quality and POAT of the Faculty of Sciences, as well as other coordinators specific to the degree (Quality, TFG, External Internships, and POAT), professors representing the areas of knowledge with the most teaching in the Degree (Algebra, Mathematical Analysis, Statistics and Operations Research, Geometry and Topology, and Applied Mathematics), and a representative of the PTGAS, the number of student representatives increased from 2 to 4, specifically the 4 course representatives and, acting as substitutes, the sub-delegates. The group of coordinators includes the mobility coordinator for the Degree in Mathematics; and the group representing the teaching and research staff includes the 4 Course Coordinators. In addition to improving contact and information with students and being able to assess deficiencies and possible solutions regarding the proposed guidance and support, the relationship between horizontal coordination (by course) and the vertical coordination carried out by the Degree Committee is strengthened.

Its functions are outlined in the Faculty of Science's Internal Regulations. Specifically, the Degree Committee is responsible for:

  1. The definition, approval, and coordination of actions related to teaching. In this regard, it is responsible for:
  • Conduct a continuous review of the teaching-learning process to update and improve the degree program. If appropriate, propose working groups to analyze the situation.
  • Analyze in depth any potential overlaps or shortcomings detected in the different subject programs, in consultation with the module, course, and/or subject coordinators, in order to correct the situation.
  • Monitor the curriculum.
  • Participate in the analysis, evolution, reflection, and proposal of actions based on the results of academic performance and degree satisfaction in order to make decisions aimed at improvement.
  1. The organization of courses leading to the academic qualifications outlined in the curriculum. In this regard, it addresses, among other things, the following:
  • The development of proposals for theory groups, classroom problems, laboratory practices, seminars, etc., for each academic year, taking into account the expected number of enrolled students, the teaching staff available in the Departments assigned to the degree program, and the space available to carry out these activities.
  • The preparation of the proposed schedules, as well as the corresponding agenda for each semester and academic year.
  • The preparation of the proposed examination schedule for each of the calls.
  1. Approval of the teaching guides for the degree subjects.
  2. The determination of the standards for the implementation and development of the study plans.
  • Module coordination (Vertical Subject Coordination). The subjects comprising the curriculum are grouped into modules, thematic blocks of subjects that constitute an organizational unit within the curriculum. They have been defined based on the coordination developed during the modification process for the Degree in Mathematics, which began in 2016, following the first accreditation, and culminated in 2019 with its approval. The concept of the module has changed to make it more operational and effective, and the Departments' areas of knowledge will vertically coordinate the teaching-learning methodology and assessment criteria, ensuring that there are no redundancies or gaps in the syllabi of the different subjects in the module. They will submit their assessment to the Coordinator of Quality and Educational Innovation and/or the Degree Committee, or, if the situation requires it, through the corresponding procedure for the management and review of incidents, complaints, and suggestions of the SGIC. It should be noted that for the Mathematics for Teaching Module, which consists of a single elective subject, coordination will be carried out at the subject level. The two modules, Final Degree Project and External Internships, each have a coordinator, supported by a specific committee responsible for all processes related to their management: the Final Degree Project Committee and the Mathematics External Internship Committee.
  • Horizontal or course coordinationEach of the four courses in the Degree in Mathematics has a Coordinator, a professor who coordinates one of the subjects they teach in the course in question. Their appointment will be ratified at the first Section or Faculty Meeting of the course. They chair the Course Coordination Committee, made up of the other subject coordinators for that course, to coordinate the activities carried out in the different courses. The objectives of this Committee are, among others, to avoid overlapping activities that represent a greater workload for students by completing the agendas for both semesters with the distribution of the different training activities: theoretical classes, practical classroom problem-solving, computer lab, follow-up sessions, seminars, etc., before the corresponding semester begins and publicizing them, updated, on the Degree in Mathematics website. They are also responsible for assigning students to the different groups that arise and analyzing the partial results that emerge from the continuous learning assessment.

Continuous and formative assessment will be implemented in each semester and in each subject, in a realistic manner and integrated into the teaching and learning activities. Course coordinators will manage a viable agenda so that students can attend to the proposed activities in a reasonable manner.

Each degree course also has a collaborative environment on the University of La Laguna's virtual campus, which includes all the faculty and the corresponding course coordinator, as well as the Mathematics Teaching Quality and Innovation Coordinator.

In the particular case of the fourth year, the coordinators of the annual subjects Final Degree Project and External Internships are also members.

  • Subject Coordinator. This person is responsible for preparing the course's teaching guide and for its organizational aspects. The Departmental Council involved in teaching the course is responsible for approving their appointment, except in the case of the Final Degree Project and Internship Coordinators, whose appointment is approved by the Section and/or Faculty Board and submitted to the Rectorate of the University of La Laguna. The Course Coordinator is the point of contact for managing any problems that may arise throughout the course, reporting them to the Department Director and/or Vice-Dean of the Mathematics Section. They are responsible for coordinating theory, practical groups, tests, course assessment criteria, reviewing teaching materials, and attending any meetings convened by the Course Coordinator.

Virtual environments for teaching coordination (restricted access)