Duncan Lawson

1

• Duncan Lawson
• Coventry Director
• Sigma

2
Overview

• Some background
• Some foundations
• Some information about sigma

3
Some Background

• Mathematics and statistics are unique in the way
  that they underpin so many disciplines from
  engineering to psychology to business to nursing
• Pre-university mathematics education in some flux
  in recent years

4
During the 90s

• HE maths community has voiced concerns about
  competence of new undergraduates
• Series of reports by professional bodies
• The Changing Mathematical Background of
  Undergraduate Engineers
• Tackling the Maths Problem
• Measuring the Maths Problem
• Engineering Mathematics Matters

5
Evidence of the problem

• Data drawn from a 50 question diagnostic test
  used at Coventry University since 1991
• Test remained unchanged over this period
• Covers arithmetic, algebra, lines curves,
  trigonometry and basic calculus

6
Grade D cohort

• Average performance of Grade D student declined
  from 37.6 (out of 50) in 1991 to 29.1 in 2001.

7
Comparison of 2 cohorts

• Which is the unknown cohort from 1999?

8
York data
9
Mathematics Support Centres

• One strategy adopted to address problems at
  school/university interface
• 2001 survey showed 50 of UK universities had
  some maths support provision further centres
  have opened since then
• Offer support additional to normal lectures and
  tutorials range of resources and some
  one-to-one help

10
Coventry and Loughborough

• BP Mathematics Centre opened at Coventry in 1991
  with funding from BP Engineering Education Fund
• Mathematics Learning Support Centre opened in 1996

11
UK Virtual Support Centre

• LTSN Generic Fund Project to establish an on-line
  mathematics support centre
• For students to access directly
• For staff to download resources separately or in
  bundles
• www.mathcentre.ac.uk

12
FDTL4 Project

• Supporting the transition from school to
  university mathematics
• Collaboration between Leeds, Loughborough and
  Coventry universities and EBS Trust
• Produced mathtutor a series of DVD-ROMs
• Now available at http//www.ebst.co.uk/algebra/con
  tainer.html

13
sigma

• A Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
  for University-wide Mathematics and Statistics
  Support
• A collaboration between Coventry and Loughborough
  Universities building on 20 years activity
• Keys university-wide and support

14
Initial Targets

• Increase usage of drop-in centres
• Provide proactive support for at risk students
• Additional support
• Small group teaching
• Statistics Advisory Service
• Students with special needs blind, partially
  sighted, dyslexic, dyscalculic

15
Disseminate

• Set up three centres at other HEIs during 5 year
  funding period
• Leeds to be first of these
• Second centre in year 3, third in year 5
• Arrange workshops, conferences, networks, etc
• Work with MSOR Network of the Higher Education
  Academy, Engineering Subject Centre, etc.

16
Research

• Explore use of new and emerging technologies eg
  PDAs and mobile phones in maths support
• Evaluate supportive programmes through
  qualitative and quantitative measures
• Employ Research Fellow and fund PhD studentships

17
External Involvement

• Looking for collaboration from staff who are
  working in areas similar to those of the CETL
• Possibility of secondments (with some funding)
• See www.sigma-cetl.ac.uk
• Subscribe to our electronic newsletter

18
Conclusion

• sigma is in early stages
• Activities will increase as more staff are
  recruited
• Focus is on non-specialists
• Ethos is to collaborate and share resources
  across sector