innovative teaching
DESCRIPTION
Innovative Teaching. Dr Carol Robinson Director Mathematics Education Centre. Overview. Background Teaching Innovations Electronic voting systems Recording lectures Motivating students Role of Programme Reps Future Aspirations. Background - me. Mathematician - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
3
Background - me
Mathematician
University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Nottingham UniversityBirmingham Polytechnic Open University
Director, Mathematics Education Centre
4
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
5
Use of New Technologies
Electronic Voting Systems
Handset and dongle
6
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...
11
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
12
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)
13
Questions seeking opinions
14
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
16
Questions involving Calculations
17
Students given sketch below and then required to find the function f(t).
C.Robinson
18
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
19
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
20
Audio Recording and Web Delivery
Tablet PCs
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Mimio screen capture software (Dr Joe Ward)
Tablet PCs
22
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?
25
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
27
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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