Maung Min-oo

"It is better to be
approximately right
than exactly wrong"

"It's better to be used than become useless"

"It is more important to know how to ride a bike than to know the definition of a bike or watch someone else ride a bike"

"It's called outcome based learning and not income based teaching"

"Those who know don't teach and those who teach don't know" (that's why I teach a lot!)

"I don't like to dwell on the trivial" (a student said that about me!)

"I prefer to teach good students" (you can be more honest when you write reference letters for them)

Is teaching a privilege or a punishment? ;)

examples of MOOC's = Min-Oo's Outlandish Outrageous Comments

Teaching

Some teachers might fear the worst, but I expect the very best from my students!

Here is my advice to all my students: (a learning portfolio good even for your next life)

1. be honest (don't ever think of cheating or lying!)
2. be brave (get up if you fall down!)
3. be smart (think outside the box, but don't outsmart yourself!)
(in that order!)

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I have decided to retire on June 30th 2015, mainly because of the heavy teaching load. I was scheduled to teach the following six undergraduate courses in 2015/16, none of them related to Geometry, my area of expertise, most of them not even for Mathematics students, and two of which I have never taught before. Perhaps only seasoned polymath instructors with "proven blended experiential teaching skills" are given such an interesting variety of 5 or more undergraduate courses to teach per year but I don't feel like I am up to that kind of challenge any more!

STATS 2D03: Introduction to Probability, June to August 2015

MATH 2L03:   Basic Math for students in Business and Social Sciences,   September to December 2015

MATH 3D03: Mathematical Physics II,   January to April 2016

MATH 3Z03: Inquiry: History of Mathematics, January to April 2016
MATH 1K03: High School Math for students in Humanities and Social Sciences, May to June 2016
STATS 2D03: Introduction to Probability, June to August 2016 ____________________________________________________________

My last sabbatical was in 2005/06 almost a decade ago, and the last time I taught a graduate course in my area of expertise was in 2010/11, five years ago.

I taught the following undergraduate courses in 2014/15

MATH 3D03:   Mathematical Physics II,   Term 2 (35 students)

MATH 3Z03:    Inquiry: History of Mathematics, Term 2 (20 students)

MATH 4B03:    Calculus on Manifolds,   Term1 (9 students)

__________________________________________________________________

I taught the following six undergraduate courses (3 of which I've never taught before) in 2013/14:

MATH 3D03: Mathematical Physics II,   Term 2 (80 students)

STATS 3U03: Stochastic Processes, Term 2   (20 students)

ARTS&SCI 2R03   Applied Statistical Inference, Term 2 (circa 60 students)

ISCI 4A12: Integrated Science IV, Terms 1 and 2 (2 students)

MATH 3C03:    Mathematical Physics I,   Term 1    (85 students)

MATH 3GP3: Geometric Ideas in Physics, Term 1 (7 students)

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Since the University administration denied me my Research Leave (sabbatical), I happily (and willingly ;) taught the following courses in 2012/13:

MATH 3D03:    Mathematical Physics II,   Term 2   (70 students)

MATH 799:      Graduate Reading Course, Term 2 (1 student)

MATH 3C03:    Mathematical Physics I,   Term 1    (90 students)

STATS 2D03: Introduction to Probability, Term 1 (130 students)

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I taught the following five courses in 2011/12

MATH 3D03:    Mathematical Physics II,   Term 2   (75 students)

MATH 3GP3: Geometric Ideas in Physics, Term 2 (9 students)

STATS 2D03: Introduction to Probability, Term 1 (110 students)

MATH 3C03:    Mathematical Physics I,   Term 1 (80 students)

SCIENCE 3EP3 Applied Science Placement, Term 1 and 2 (1 student)

_________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following four courses in 2010/11

MATH 762:    Introduction to Riemannian Geometry (graduate course, 4 students), Term 2

STATS 2D03: Introduction to Probability, Term 1 (112 students)

MATH 4B03/6B03 Calculus on Manifolds,   Term1 (6 students)

PHYSICS 4L03 Literature Review, Term 1 and 2 (1 student) _______________________________________________________________

I taught the following four courses in 2009/10

MATH 3GP3 : Geometric Ideas in Physics, Term 2 (14 students)

MATH 764 :    Topics in Differential Geometry and Global Analysis, Term 2

MATH 2X03:   Advanced Calculus I, Term 1 (95 students)

MATH 4B03 : Calculus on Manifolds, Term 1 (15 students) _________________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in 2008/09

MATH 762 :    Riemannian Geometry (Introductory graduate course), Term 2

MATH 2A03:   Calculus III, Term 1 ( 85 students)

MATH 3B03 : Geometry, Term 1    (16 students)
___________________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in 2007/08

MATH 3GP3: Geometric Ideas in Physics, Term 2 ( 18 students)

MATH 2A03: Calculus III, Term 1 ( 110 students )

MATH 3Z03: Inquiry: History of Mathematics, Term1 ( 25 students)
____________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in 2006/07..

MATH 3G03: Problem Solving, Term 2 (20 students)

MATH 762:    Riemannian Geometry, Term 2 (6 students)

MATH 3Z03: Inquiry: History of Mathematics, Term 1 ( 2 sections, 50 students )
_______________________________________________________________________

I was on research leave during Term 2, 2005/06. ________________________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses during Term 1 of 2005/06..

MATH 3Z03 : Inquiry: History of Mathematics , Term 1 (26 students)
MATH 4B03: Calculus on Manifolds (Differential Geometry) , Term 1 (15 students)
MATH 4W03: Topics in Mathematics (reading course), Term 1

I taught the following courses during the academic year 2004/05.

MATH 2AB3: Introduction to Real Analysis, Term 2 (Co-ordinator of 2 sections, 92 students)
MATH 3Z03 : History of Mathematics, Term 2 (Co-ordinator of 2 sections, 45 students)
MATH 795 : Graduate Student Seminar, Terms 1 & 2
MATH 4W03: Topics in Mathematics (reading course), Terms 1 & 2
MATH 3Z03 : Inquiry: History of Mathematics, Term 1 (25 students)

I taught the following courses during the academic year 2003/04 :

MATH 2AB3 : Introduction to Real Analysis, Term 2 (circa 130 students)
MATH 3Z03 : History of Mathematics, Term 2 (Co-ordinator of 2 sections, 50 students)
MATH 4W03: Topics in Mathematics (reading course), Term 2

MATH 2A03 : Calculus III, Term 1 (Co-ordinator of 3 sections, circa 280 students altogether)

I taught the following courses in 2002/03:

MATH 3Z03 : Inquiry: History of Mathematics, Term 2 (49 students)

MATH 1A03: Calculus I , Term 1 (circa 320 students, first section)
MATH 1A03: Calculus I , Term 1 (circa 320 students, second section)
MATH 2U03: Teaching Mathematics , Term 1 (for undergraduate math T.A's ) (14 students)

_______________________________________________________________________________________

I was on research leave during the academic year of 2001/02.

______________________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in 2000/01:
MATH 3B03 : Geometry Term 1
MATH 1B03: Linear Algebra I , Term 1 (coordinator for 3 sections)

I taught the following courses in 1999/2000:
MATH 3B03: Geometry, Term 1
MATH 2AB3: Introduction to Real Analysis, Term 2
MATH 3J04: Mathematics & Statistics (mostly for Civil Engineering students)
MATH 1N03: Calculus I (for Engineering students, Term 1 (coordinator for 4 sections, circa 700 students)

I taught the following courses in 1998/1999:
MATH 722 : Complex Analysis (introductory graduate course)
MATH 3B03 : Geometry Term 2
MATH 1AA3: Calculus I (special section)

I taught the following courses in 1997/1998:
MATH 4BB3/ 762: Differential Geometry I (cross-listed as a graduate course) , Term 2
MATH 2AA3 : Vector Calculus II , Term 2
MATH 4B03/ 761: Calculus on Manifolds (cross-listed as a graduate course) , Term 1

I taught the following courses in 1996/1997:
MATH MATH 3B03 : Geometry, Term 2
MATH 2A03: Calculus I , Term 1 (first section)
MATH 2A03: Calculus I , Term 1 (second section)

I taught the following courses in 1995/1996:
MATH 762: Differential Geometry (a graduate course) , Term 2
MATH 2A06 : Vector Calculus , Term 1 and Term 2
________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was on research leave during the academic year of 1994/1995
I got a teaching break of one semester, because I turned down a C4-position in Germany with a higher salary and a better pension plan to stay at McMaster and that was all McMaster was able to come up with in return. The Dean said McMaster doesn't have the money to match the German salary but different people get different treatment apparently!

_______________________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in 1993/1994:
MATH 762: Differential Geometry (graduate course) , Term 2
MATH 1AA6: Calculus (a special course for advanced students), Term 1 and Term 2
MATH 3B03 : Geometry, Term 1

I taught the following courses in 1992/1993:
MATH 2A06 : Vector Calculus , Term 1 and Term 2
MATH 1AA6: Calculus (a special course for advanced students), Term 1 and Term 2

I taught the following courses in 1991/1992:
MATH 3FF3 : Introduction to P.D.E's , Term 2
MATH 1AA6: Calculus (a special course for advanced students), Term 1 and Term 2

I taught the following courses in 1990/1991:
MATH 2A6 : Vector Calculus , Term 1 and Term 2
MATH 4B6: Calculus on manifolds and Differential Geometry, Term 1 and Term 2

_________________________________________________________________
I was on research leave during Term 2, 1989/90.
__________________________________________________________________

I taught the following courses in Term 1 of 1989/1990:
MATH 1L03: Probability and Linear Algebra (for students in Business and Social Science), Term 1
MATH 1B03 : Linear Algebra I, Term 1

I taught the following courses in 1988/1989:
MATH 762: Differential Geometry and Morse Theory (graduate course) , Term 2
MATH 761: Calculus on Manifolds and Differential Topology, Term 1
MATH 1B3 : Linear Algebra I, Term 1

I taught the following courses in 1987/1988:
MATH 1A6 : Calculus , Term 1 and Term 2
MATH 4B6: Calculus on Manifolds , Term 1 and Term 2

I taught the following courses in 1986/1987:
MATH 1A6 : Calculus , Term 1 and Term 2
MATH 4B6: Calculus on Manifolds , Term 1 and Term 2

I taught the following courses in 1985/1986:
MATH 1H5 : Mathematics for Engineering students , Term 2
MATH 2O3: Ordinary Differential Equations,Term 2

"It is better to be approximately right than exactly wrong"

"It's better to be used than become useless"

"It is better to be
approximately right
than exactly wrong"