The Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) has granted its prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award for 2022 to Dan Wolczuk, a lecturer in the Faculty of Mathematics.
The CMS accolade is bestowed upon a single member of the society each year in recognition of outstanding contributions and commitment to mathematical pedagogy.
Wolczuk is well-known for his work in teaching and learning, having produced a veritable library of books, resources, videos and other materials in support of undergraduate mathematics courses and the advancement of teaching in the Faculty of Math.
Wolczuk said he has always set out to be an innovator, with his teaching and otherwise, and takes a unique approach to math pedagogy.
“Odd as it may sound, I try not to teach math as such,” he said. “What I do is teach students how to learn math for themselves.”
His student-centred approach is grounded in a desire to especially help undergraduate students as they transition from high school into university. He points out that new university students can have a difficult time picking up functional strategies for studying and completing assignments.
“A big reason I feel like I can connect with the students is that, like so many of them, I also struggled in university math courses,” Wolczuk said. “I had to put in a lot of extra work and figure out strategies for learning so I could succeed. That’s exactly what I try to pass on to my students.”
One aspect of learning to deal with difficulties and overcoming challenges he promotes is a growth mindset. He encourages his students to approach assessment as an opportunity to engage with threshold concepts, rather than as a necessary evil to be dreaded and then forgotten as quickly as possible. Wolczuk says it is important that students understand the purpose of specific forms of assessment, and scaffolds his courses so levels of learning unfold progressively and transparently.
“Another thing I’m interested in is developing mathematical thinking,” he continued. “I approach each course not just as a way to teach a specific piece of the curriculum, but also with an eye to developing analytical skills that can carry over into other math courses or other parts of a student’s degree program.”
Asked about the significance of the CMS award, Wolczuk said he is grateful and humbled to receive such recognition from his peers. He mentioned, in particular, some of his colleagues who were previous winners of the same award, including the 2010 winner Jennifer Hyndman, who was his undergraduate mentor, the 2016 winner Ian VanderBurgh, who he says helped immensely during his early career, and the 2007 winner Brian Forrest, his teaching mentor for the last five years.
“It means so much to me, and I have so many people to thank for their guidance and support. The Faculty of Mathematics has such a deep commitment to pedagogy and that runs top to bottom. I want to especially thank the Dean, Mark Giesbrecht, for the ways he continues to support teaching and learning in the Faculty.”
“The CMS award is invigorating and fuels my passion to continue developing math pedagogy in support of my students and colleagues.”
Read more about the CMS Excellence in Teaching Award on the society’s webpage.