LTSN Engineering and PROGRESS Project Workshop

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LTSN Engineering and PROGRESSProject Workshop
Improving Retention through Mathematics Support

• 17th December 2003
• Sarah Parsons
• Learning Support Tutor and Visiting Lecturer

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Past Problems

• Students difficulties with Maths
• Poor Maths exam results
• Pre-entry and first year (despite correct
  qualifications)
• High withdrawal rates
• 1999/2000 HND engineers only 5/12 pass
• Maths often the reason for student withdrawals
• Failure Cycles

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Maths Failure / Success Cycles
Failure Cycle in Maths
Success Cycle in Maths
Failure
Negative Attitudes
Positive Attitudes
Success
Avoiding Maths
More Effort
Ernest, 2000
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Changes Implemented - 1
Four main changes were implemented from 2001/2

• Diagnostic Testing
• College screening (10 minutes)
• Engineering Maths (1 hr)
• Marks not published but used to
• identify weaker students
• who are encouraged to do Extra Maths

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Changes Implemented - 2

• Lectures redesigned
• Lower and slower starting point
• Revise essential GCSE topics
• Handouts theory, examples, exercises
• Increase difficulty and speed as year progresses
• Achieve same end objectives with success

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Changes Implemented - 3

• Maths Support - Extra Maths
• Regular Group times for HND and BSc
• Individual appointments
• Revision sessions
• Friendly, patient, unshockable
• Fractions cause particular difficulty
• Use of Maths in other modules also supported

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Changes Implemented - 4

• Assessment
• Four 1 hour phase tests
• Percentage Improvement from 1999 to 2002
• Semester 1 HND 30.5 BSc
  36.9 M/BEng 48.2
• Semester 2 HND 89.9 BSc 46.3
  M/BEng 54.3

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Current Success Details

• High Exam marks
• Many As and Distinctions
• Very few Maths failures
• Success Cycles Student progression
• Greatly improved student retention
• Positive Student Feedback

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Student Feedback
Maths Support was very useful, without I dont
believe I would have passed this module, but now
Im getting A grades in my exams (BSc
engineering student, 2003)
Student Survey Q. Did you find the Extra Maths
useful ? Response (1-5) M/BEng 5 BSc 4.7
HND 4.5
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Mathematics Support

• Is NEEDED
• It WORKS
• It makes a DIFFERENCE

Sarah Parsons 17.12.03