Scéim Ambasadóirí Fochéimí
Information For Schools
The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS) module is a five-credit elective module offered by the UCD School of Mathematical Sciences in Semester 2. This module offers Stage 3 or Stage 4 undergraduates who have taken an appropriate level of undergraduate mathematics, the chance to work with mathematics teachers and students in local secondary schools.
What does participation in the UAS module involve?
If you and your school decide to take part in the UAS module you will host a UCD undergraduate in your school for approximately three hours per week for a period of nine to ten weeks from January to April.
- Before the module starts the teacher will meet with the undergraduate to arrange what times and days the undergraduate will spend in the school. The teacher will also brief the undergraduate on the classes that he or she will be assisting with.
- During the module the teacher will be a general support for the undergraduate and a point-of-contact for him or her within the school. The teacher should also brief the undergraduate about what topics he or she needs to prepare in advance of each lesson. <!--[endif]-->
- The teacher will be a point-of-contact within the school for the module coordinator.
- After the module the teacher will be asked to write a few sentences describing the undergraduates’ performance during the placement and assign him or her a mark out of ten.
How does the teacher benefit from the UAS?
The UAS can offer the teacher:
How does the school student benefit from the UAS?
The UAS can offer the school student:
- An enthusiastic role model for pursuing mathematics at school and perhaps at third level.
- The opportunity to avail of individual or small-group assistance.
- The opportunity to find out more about university and in particular, about studying mathematics at university.
How does the undergraduate student benefit from the UAS?
The UAS can offer the undergraduate:
- The opportunity to develop key transferable skills, and in particular, the skill of communicating mathematics.
- The chance to explore what a teaching career might be like.
Does the undergraduate receive any training prior to the placement?
All undergraduates are subject to a selection process, including an interview. They will receive an initial day of training designed to give them an introduction to working with children, conduct in the school environment, and basic teaching methods.
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What type of tasks might the undergraduate undertake in the school?
It is up to the teacher to decide what tasks should be assigned to the undergraduate. The following are some suggestions:
Classroom Observation: The undergraduate can observe the teacher in the classroom situation and in particular observe the level of mathematics being taught, the pace of the teaching, and the level of the class.
Teaching Assistant: The teacher may assign whole-class teaching tasks to the undergraduate. More commonly perhaps, the teacher can ask the undergraduate to provide small-group assistance to students in the class for either end of the ability spectrum.
Special Project: As part of the module assessment, the undergraduate must develop a Special Project. For example, the undergraduate might prepare a mathematics project for use with transition year students.
Extra-Curricular Activities: The undergraduate may assist in after-school homework clubs or in exam revision sessions at lunchtime or after school.
Is my school guaranteed participation in the UAS?
The number of schools that can participate in the module depends on the number of undergraduates who enrol in the module. We do our best to accommodate as many schools as possible, but unfortunately, participation is not guaranteed.
