3.6 peer mentoring for maths learning at level 4: engaging and collaborative learning

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Peer Mentoring for maths learning at level

4: engaging and collaborative learning

This work is a collaboration between the School of Maritime Science and

Engineering and Employability and Enterprise

Janet Bonar, Simon SaggersDesislava Andonova and Liz George


Introduction How we teach maths, and to whom What we monitor and how we assess How are the student doing? How and why mentoring? Has it worked?What are we going to do next?

Overview


• Engineering is important for UK economy• Mathematics underlies engineering• Educating engineers requires education

in maths• Maths not popular subject!• Fundamentals of mathematics unchanged

since Euclid’s time…• Is our way of teaching maths at Solent

current best practice?

www.solent.ac.ukBonar and Saggers


Who and how we teach maths:

• Maths unit taught at level 4, embedded at levels 5 and 6.

• One hour lecture• Two hour tutorial (quiz, problem set, HW)• Maths Peer Mentor programme (new in

2015-16)www.solent.ac.ukBonar and Saggers

Unit Degree students Accreditation?

EMS400 BEng 41 Accredited by IET

EMS401 BSc, HNC 17 BSc not accredited (new course)


Monitoring and assessment:

• Engagement data: Attendance, attempts at HW, weekly quiz score• Phase Tests covering single topic (pre-calculus,

complex numbers, linear algebra, calculus and applications of calculus) • Best 4 phase tests contribute 40% to unit result• Exam covering all topics at year end, contributes

60% to unit result• Minimum of 30% in each assessment (required

by IET accreditation)www.solent.ac.ukBonar and Saggers

Overview


• Assessment results for phase tests and exam


1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 60

0.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.9

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phase tests and exam

avg 2013-14avg 2014-15pass14-15 exam13-14 exam

Results


• Unit pass rates

• What happened in 2014-15?

• Cohort issue!• What else can we do?


2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

BEng 49% 70% 54%

BSc /HNC 61% 75%

2014-15 BEEF BMEENFunit pass 54% 71% 33%unit avg 47% 53% 39%unit sd 24% 24% 23%

Results


Peer mentoring!• Guided by PAL at Leeds (Pugh*)• Collaboration with Employability and

Enterprise • Aim is for level 5 students to work with

level 4 students toShare experiencesAct as a role model Build confidence in menteesHelp with specific topics in maths

*Dr Samantha Pugh, Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, www.solent.ac.ukBonar andSaggers


How we did it…• Recruited 3 volunteers in May 2015• Training sessions for mentors by maths

tutor and by E&E• Mentoring sessions timetabled every two

weeks, starting in week 3• Mentors ran sessions with students• Mentors met tutor and Student

Employability Advisor every two weeks



How did it go?• Initial sessions had very high attendance

(65%), and peaks ahead of phase tests

www.solent.ac.ukBonar and Saggers 1 5 - O c t 2 9 - O c t 1 2 - N o v 2 6 -N o v 1 0 - D e c 2 4 - D e c 7 - J a n 2 1 - J a n 4 - F e b 1 8 - F e b

30

20

15

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12 12

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number in session


As a result of the mentoring • Students reported their confidence,

enjoyment and ability in the topic increased• From the questionnaire:“I attended almost all the sessions because I found it very useful”“Having someone who I can ask for help who isn't in authority”“They gave their experience and could advise on a more personal advice”



The mentoring sessions benefitted the mentors as well! • Mentors reported increases in their

confidence, leadership skills and presentation skills• Mentors also reported their understanding

of the topics increased!• Despite being busy students, the mentors

were happy to volunteer their time every week

www.solent.ac.ukBonar and


• How about student achievement?


1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 60

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

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phase tests and exam

PT 13-14PT 14-15passexam 14-15exam 13-14PT 15-16exam 15-16


• Overall results:

• Cohorts more equal


2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

BEng 49% 70% 54% 83%

BSc/HNC 61% 75% 67%

2015-16 BEEF BMEEN

unit pass 83% 89% 81%

unit avg 56% 55% 56%

unit sd 21% 15% 23%


What next?

• Enthusiastic group of 5 students volunteered for 2016-17• Have confirmed biweekly good interval• Suggested “peer mentoring” rather than

“peer mentoring for maths”• Link to Engineering Society activities• Mentors will present prizes during

Induction Week competition



Was the pilot successful?

• Significantly improved results this year, but low correlation with attendance at mentoring sessions


0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.20

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2

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5

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8

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R² = 0.10598599135342

unit mark and mpm

unit mark

men

torin

g se

ssio

ns


Was the pilot successful?

• Significantly improved results this year, but low correlation with attendance at mentoring sessions• Broadening remit to engineering

mentoring extremely valuable for engagement• What about the other maths unit?



What about the other maths unit?

• Full time BSc (Hons) Engineering Design and Manufacture and part time HNC students • P/T students are working full time and

attend Solent one day/week• P/T students well engaged!


2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

BEng 49% 70% 54% 83%

BSc/HNC 61% 75% 67%


Cohort details

• unit results track with cohort split


p/t % pass rate avg std dev f/t % pass rate avg std dev

2013-14 55% 82% 63% 26% 45% 31% 32% 25%

2014-15 65% 92% 73% 18% 35% 43% 42% 28%

2015-16 33% 100% 61% 17% 67% 50% 43% 26%

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

BSc/HNC 61% 75% 67%


Based on cohort analysis,

• Need to improve the experience for F/T BSc students• Engagement• Is this the right maths?• Get involved in mentoring!



Any questions?

http://www.geckoandfly.com/810/maths-will-make-you-mad/

3.6 peer mentoring for maths learning at level 4: engaging and collaborative learning

Education