Innovative Teaching

Dr Carol Robinson Director

Mathematics Education Centre

2

Overview

Background Teaching Innovations

Electronic voting systems Recording lectures

Motivating students Role of Programme Reps Future Aspirations

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Background - me

Mathematician

University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Nottingham UniversityBirmingham Polytechnic Open University

Director, Mathematics Education Centre

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Mathematics Education Centre

Established in 2002 Mathematics Learning

Support Centre Teaching of mathematics to

engineering undergraduates Track record of innovation Research in teaching and learning

of Mathematics in HE

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Use of New Technologies

Electronic Voting Systems

Handset and dongle

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Electronic Voting Systems - Literature

The single, most important benefit of EVS use, identified from literature review, is its capacity to enhance, catalyse or increase student engagement during lectures. (Cue (1998) , Hake (1998))

I have used voting systems at Loughborough University

7

Yes N

o

0%0%

1. Yes

2. No

8

My birthday lies in the months

Sep

t – M

arch

April

– A

ugust

0%0%

1. Sept – March

2. April – August

9

The value of 7 – 3 x 4 + 6 is

40 1 22 -11

Don’t

know

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 40

2. 1

3. 22

4. -11

5. Don’t know

10

20 20

20 20

20 20

20 20

20 20

Don’t know

-11

22

1

40

The value of 7 – 3 x 4 + 6 is

Sept – March April – Aug...

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Benefits - Students

80% of students said they found EVS ‘useful’ or ‘very useful’. 15% were neutral 5% found EVS either ‘not at all useful’ or ‘not very useful’.

Importance of feedback highlighted in table. (King, S.O. and Robinson (2009))

Position Benefits 1st (most important)

Checks whether I’m understanding course material as I thought I was

2nd Allow learners to identify problem areas 3rd It makes lectures more interactive 4th Makes me think more about the course material during lectures 5th Gives me an idea of how well everyone else is doing 6th Allows me to answer privately without others knowing how I voted 7th It’s fun

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Research Findings - Staff

Key Requirements for Effective Use

The selection and use of good questions with appropriate distractors

Allocation of adequate time for student response and/or subsequent discussion

Need to use EVS for stimulating thought and reflection and not just to test memory

Not overusing the technology

(King, S.O. et al. 2008)

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Questions seeking opinions

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Courts should only be used as a last resort?

Yes N

o

Don’t

know

72%

4%

24%1. Agree

2. Disagree

3. Don’t know

K.Pond

15

Where a bank is owed a debt by a customer who has failed to repay it the bank should ALWAYS sue via the courts

2%

23%

7%

47%

21%

1. I strongly agree

2. I agree

3. I am neutral

4. I disagree

5. I strongly disagree

K.Pond

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Questions involving Calculations

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Students given sketch below and then required to find the function f(t).

C.Robinson

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12%

28% 28%

10%10%11%

The given triangular wave can be represented by

0,1

0,1)(

tt

tt

tf

1.

0,1

0,1)(

tt

tt

tf

2.

2,1

0,1)(

tt

tt

tf

3.

2,1

0,1)(

tt

tt

tf

4.

None of the above5.

Don’t know6.

C.Robinson

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What are the advantages of the handset technology?

Kep

t me

awak

e

Mad

e m

e th

ink

Lec

ture

did

n’t d

rag

Tes

ted m

y kn

owle

dge

Hel

ped m

e to

unde

r...

Mad

e m

e par

ticip

ate

14%

23%

13%

18%19%

13%

Select the THREE most important to you

1. Kept me awake2. Made me think3. Lecture didn’t drag4. Tested my knowledge5. Helped me to

understand6. Made me participate

K.Pond

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Audio Recording and Web Delivery

Tablet PCs

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Mimio screen capture software (Dr Joe Ward)

Tablet PCs

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Podcasts

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New Technologies in Teaching - Feedback

Student Feedback “.. the lectures were interactive

helping with concentration and focus.

“Lecture notes and commentary online was extremely helpful for revision purposes”

“The ability to look through the actual notes on line is amazing, this means we can concentrate more on what is being said, rather than having to write it all down”

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Complementary Research

Key aims To develop pedagogic research to underpin

teaching and learning activities To identify and promote evidence-based practice

Research questions What is the impact of new technologies on

teaching and learning? Is student learning & understanding enhanced?

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Motivating Students - Teaching Mathematics in Context

Loughborough Univ. Top sports scholars Study sports related

courses Introduced sports- based

Mathematics projects

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Sports-based Projects

Role of Programme Representatives

What can you do? You can drive change Ask questions Raise awareness of issues Introduction of higher fees – demands from

students Staff will listen to feedback from staff-

student committees and programme reps

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Future Aspirations

Best student experience – in the lecture hall and outwith

Both staff and students have a

role to play

Student charter