Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

My overall approach to the courses that I teach and the curriculum that I are guided by my teaching beliefs: I strive to foster the habits of mind, knowledge, curiosity, and skills that students need to be enlightened and engaged citizens in a society that needs students to have these characteristics. These beliefs guide my consistent efforts to 1) foster a student-centered learning environment, 2) cultivate critical thinking skills and curiosity among students, 3) offer frequent feedback to students through formative and summative assessments, and 4) to strive for the continuous improvement of the courses I teach. My efforts to continually improve my courses and the experiences of my students are guided by through informal evaluation, research, and reflective processes. These efforts help me address the individual learning needs of my students, help them become aware of their own knowledge gaps, and guide them towards a path of being independent learners and enlightened citizens that seek to understand the world through a mathematical lens.

Recent Course Syllabi

Some of my former students ask for syllabi when they apply for transfer credit or other things they are applying to, so here are a few syllabi from recent semesters: 

Teaching Appointments

Georgia Institute of Technology

Teaching is of Dr. Mayer’s primary roles in the School of Math at Georgia Tech.

* denotes additional assignment to coordinate multi-section course

SemesterCourseCourse NameEnrollmentFormat
2025 SpringMATH 2551Multivariable Calculus1,140Online
2024 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra1,160Online
2024 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations36In person
2024 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations43In person
2024 SpringMATH 2551Multivariable Calculus759Online
2023 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra767Online
2023 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations25In person
2023 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations27In person
2023 SpringMATH 2551Multivariable Calculus637Online
2022 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra647Online
2022 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations139Online
2022 SpringMATH 2551Multivariable Calculus540Online
2021 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra544Online
2021 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations165Online
2021 SpringMATH 2552Differential Equations50Online
2021 SpringMATH 1554Linear Algebra188Online
2020 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra577Online
2020 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations155Online
2020 SpringMATH 2552Differential Equations54Online
2020 SpringMATH 1554Linear Algebra*86In person
2019 FallGT 1000First Year Seminar31In person
2019 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra*377Blended
2019 SummerMATH 2552Differential Equations128Blended
2019 SpringMATH 1554Linear Algebra*113In person
2018 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra*369Blended
2018 FallGT 1000First Year Seminar36In person
2018 SpringMATH 2552Differential Equations86In person
2017 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra*269Blended
2017 FallGT 1000First Year Seminar39In person
2017 SpringMATH 1553Introduction to Linear Algebra56In person
2017 SpringMATH 1551Differential Calculus86In person
2016 FallMATH 1554Linear Algebra279Blended
2016 FallGT 1000First Year Seminar32In person
2016 SummerMATH 2550Intro to Multivariable Calculus14In person
2016 SpringMATH 2550Intro to Multivariable Calculus*83In person
2015 FallMATH 1502Calculus II250Blended

Teaching Appointments on EdX

I teach a series of four linear algebra courses on EdX with support from Georgia Tech Professional Education. Each of these courses have been offered several times.

Course: Linear Algebra 1 – Linear Systems

Offer DatesApproximate Enrollment
08/2024 – 12/20242,500
05/2024 – 08/20242,200
01/2024- 05/20242,700
08/2023 – 12/20233,250
05/2023 – 08/20232,600
01/2023 – 05/20232,600
08/2022 – 12/20223,800
05/2022 – 08/20224,050
01/2022 – 05/20223,800
08/2021 – 12/20214,700
09/2020 – 02/20216,700

Course: Linear Algebra 2 – Matrix Algebra

Offer DatesApproximate Enrollment
08/2024 – 12/2024780
05/2024 – 08/2024740
01/2024 – 05/2024760
08/2023 – 12/2023900
05/2023 – 08/2023775
01/2023 – 05/2023650
08/2022 – 12/20221,050
05/2022 – 08/20221,200
01/2022 – 05/20221,000
08/2021 – 12/20211,500
09/2020 – 02/20212,300

Course: Linear Algebra 3 – Determinants and Eigenvalues

Offer DatesApproximate Enrollment
08/2024 – 12/2024560
05/2024 – 08/2024460
01/2024 – 05/2024430
08/2023 – 12/2023560
05/2023 – 08/2023530
01/2023 – 05/2023430
08/2022 – 12/2022650
05/2022 – 08/2022850
01/2022 – 05/2022750
08/2021 – 12/20211,050
09/2020 – 02/20211,700

Course: Linear Algebra 4 – Orthogonality, Symmetric Matrices, the SVD

Offer DatesApproximate Enrollment
08/2024 – 12/2024380
05/2024 – 08/2024320
01/2024 – 05/2024310
08/2023 – 12/2023400
05/2023 – 08/2023360
01/2023 – 05/2023290
08/2022 – 12/2022450
05/2022 – 08/2022700
01/2022 – 05/2022550
08/2021 – 12/2021700
09/2020 – 02/20211,250

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

Multivariable Calculus
July 2021 – May 2022
Taught 9 students in an individually paced online course for advanced high school students.

The University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

SemesterCourseCourse NameEnrollmentFormat
2010 FallMATH 250Introduction to Differential Equations201Face-to-face
2009 FallMATH 116Calculus I for Engineers85Face-to-face
2009 WinterMATH 228Differential Equations13Face-to-face
2008 FallMATH 117Calculus I for Engineers125Face-to-face
2007 FallMATH 116Calculus I for Engineers67Face-to-face
2006 FallMATH 116Calculus I for Engineers105Face-to-face