The project is co-financed by the European Union through Hungary-Serbia IPA cross-border...

The project is co-financed by the European Union through Hungary-Serbia IPA cross-border co-operation programme in the frame of the project Teaching Mathematics and Statistics in Sciences, IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/088

Teaching Mathematics and Statistics in Sciences

(conclusions of an EU project from nonstandard point of view)

János Karsai et al.University of Szeged

Árpád Takácsi et al.Universit of Novi Sad

IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/088 - 2010 - 2011


Dangers with such a talk:

•Long lists of dry boring data

•Wide focus (what to pick up?)

•Audience is more expert in this topic than the speaker.

•Everybody knows better what I plan to speak about

•Not easy to formulate the conclusions

IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/088 - 2010 - 2011


The first impression (before writing the application)The first impression (before writing the application)


Then…, when working on it…Then…, when working on it…


When receiving the grant... When receiving the grant...


Shots of implementation…Shots of implementation…


And having completed …And having completed …


Now the problem is:

How to teach Mathematics and Statistics in Sciences?

How to complete a project on it?


Start with some facts:

•General motivation to study or teach Math is low

•Practically NO Math teachers have been graduated in Szeged in the recent years.

•Problems with basic skills in math calculations

•New „surfing” style of study (does not work for Math)


Example: Preliminary test for freshman Prarmacy students:


Results of the test:


Problems with Math in applied sciences

•The main interest of the students is their specific applied fields (physics, biology, etc.)

•Hence: Mathematics is „only” a tool. The students would like to gain maximal benefit with "minimal" mathematical and computer - technical effort.

•Hard calculations, complicated models - no deep knowledge of mathematical theory behind


Immediate consequences •Students and even many researchers are scared of simply hearing the word "Mathematics„•Sometimes Math methods are ignored from the study and research

More general consequences •A common opinion (even of responsible leading persons:

Why to teach it, computer can do! •Math is decreased (or even removed) in the curricula.


What to do?•Students’ motivation must be increased directly and indirectly

•Attitude must be changed at all levels:

• Math and Science teachers

• Math departments, and science departments

• University level

• Governmental level

•Popularity of Math and Sciences in society


… and …

What can a cross-border project do…

That is what we are talking about:


It cannot resolve all the problems,

… but can show a good example


What we need: •Experience

•Good ideas, programme

•Appreciating and involvable target groups

•Some dedicated colleagues

•Good management

•Time and power to complete


Teaching Mathematics and Statistics in Sciences: Modeling and Computer-Aided Approach

IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/0882010 - 2011

www.model.u-szeged.hu

Partners

Bolyai Institute and Department of Medical Physics and InformaticsUniversity of Szeged

andDepartment of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences

University of Novi Sad


•Improvement of computer- and modeling-based mathematics and statistics teaching in science

•Joint efforts to improve creative thinking, problem-solving skills and application-oriented mathematical knowledge

•Improvement of interdisciplinary knowledge of teaching staff via joint multilingual trainings

•Joint improvement of interdisciplinary mathematical-scientific thinking

•Increase the popularity of mathematics and sciences among the young generation

Objectives


•Common communication platform on the web!

•Development of teaching materials for various fields

•Writing an electronic book on interesting math problems in sciences

•Spring Schools

•Organizing interdisciplinary conferences

•Open days for wide audience

•„Meet the professor”

•Competitions

Tasks


Results and Informationwww.model.u-szeged.hu sites.dmi.rs/projects/IPA/


Teaching developments


IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/088 - 2010 - 2011


Special teaching concepts that we follow

•Special didactic methods, topics, language, tools,...

•Introduce each topic by applications and graphical examples, interactive demonstrations

•Study by emphasizing, and preferring, computer - aided experimentation and visual arguments to the formal mathematical methods

•Computer-aided and modeling-based teaching methods

•Different levels of computer aid in our courses


Some examples•Interactive curve fitting

•Interactive study Metapopulation models

•Interactive study of drug dosing

•Interactive study of epidemiological processes

•Virtual flowers



IPA HU-SRB/0901/221/088 - 2010 - 2011


Interesting Mathematical Problems in Sciences and Everyday Life – 2011

Electronic book containing 19 papers

University of Szeged, University of Novi Sad




Collected Electronic Teaching Materialsfor

Various Fields in Mathematics

University of Szeged, University of Novi Sad

2011




And even more pieces of interest…for

Learning, Teaching

Research

And… FUN on




Events



Mathematics and Computer-aided Modeling in SciencesSpring School,

2011University of Szeged, University of Novi Sad

•Interdisciplinary attractive programme•Teachers and their students together•Invited expert and student speakers


Scientific conferences•Modeling in Life sciences series, Szeged

•Cross-border (HU-SRB-RO) Biostatistical Meeting

•ICTLM series, Novi Sad

•Geogebra Conferences, workshops in Novi Sad

•Pannonian Mathematical Modeling International Conference

•Applications in Lattice Theory


Photos from www.model.u-szeged.hu


Interdisciplinary open days•Researcher' nights•Nature and Math lecturing days, Szeged•Physics Day, Szeged, Jan. 29, 2011•University Springs•Science Festivals, Novi Sad

Teacher trainings•Geogebra seminars


Photos from www.model.u-szeged.hu


Mathematical gifts

Activity House


Exhibitions

Real and Virtual Flower - Regular Toroids, Novi Sad

As you have not seen before… Szeged, Novi Sad


„Meet the Prof” in your school


Information and Publicity

•Information table

•Web sites with full documentation of activities

•Photo albums

•Mathematical gifts (polyhedra (2200 copies printed)

•newspaper, radio, tv

•posters


Conclusions


Main result for longer time

The project gave a strong common basis for the further work:

•Web site appreciated internationally

•Common, general design

•New research fields

•Attracting young researchers, students

•The project can mean the basis of an interdisciplinary cross-institutional work-group


Main result for longer time

Making traditions:•Modeling in Life Sciences ccnference series

•Meet the prof

•Interdisciplinary prize in Math Competition

•Spring schools on Math Modeling

•Scientific activity houses

PR Activity:•Very intensive media activity of the partners gave a popularity of the partners


Difficulties

Administration•Economic and financial neighborhood•Very precise and deep administration•EU projects: industry style, strong output focused work and documentation; unusual for science people


Difficulties

Professional difficulties•Harmonization of interests of partner departments (sometimes conflicting)

•Harmonization of interests of the team members (sometimes conflicting)

•Hard regular work load of participants

•Some target groups are partly undermotivated: hard and intensive PR work is needed

•Media is generally uninterested in Hungary

•Uniform style sheets

•Synchronization of work styles


Conclusions by the project manager

•Professionally: successful, provided the results (web, software, actions,...) will be used in the next period.

•Very intensive work - cannot continue for longer time

•Wide spectrum: needed strong coordination and harmonization of work, workstyles, personal attitudes, etc.

•Management: something between a company-style and University department style

•Administration stuff available only in parts, sometimes confilcting

•Strong support from the departments and universities – Thank for that!


Thank you for your attention!

… and …


We are looking forward to the next cooperation with you

in the frame of our new projects!

The project is co-financed by the European Union through Hungary-Serbia IPA cross-border...

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