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Encouraging students to practice basic mathematics: The problems of a non-accredited course

Encouraging students to practice basic mathematics: The problems of a non-accredited course. Hazel Corradi Department of Biology and Biochemistry. Overview. Background to Maths Workshop The initial challenge What I tried to improve Current thoughts. Background to Maths Workshop.

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Encouraging students to practice basic mathematics: The problems of a non-accredited course

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  1. Encouraging students to practice basic mathematics:The problems of a non-accredited course Hazel Corradi Department of Biology and Biochemistry

  2. Overview • Background to Maths Workshop • The initial challenge • What I tried to improve • Current thoughts

  3. Background to Maths Workshop • Intake of ~60 Biochemists and Molecular Cell Biologists (MCBs) • No requirement for A level maths, and some MCBs do not have A level Chemistry • Run a weekly workshop Wide range of mathematics ability

  4. The beginning…

  5. Outcomes… Who attended? What I taught Outcome

  6. What I did… Student motivation Setting learning outcomes Managing different standards Monitoring student engagement Assessment

  7. Setting learning outcomes • What maths is required for the course? • How should it be taught? • Use of Moodle?

  8. Monitoring student engagement

  9. Managing different standards

  10. Motivating students

  11. Exam design • Required mark =100% • Repeat questions until they are correct • Requesting and training invigilators • Monitoring finishing times • Need correct answers • Password and IP protected • Calculators and attendance slips • Room booking and timetables

  12. 2009-2010Student test performance 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 R A

  13. How is it going now?

  14. 0 1 2 3 4 Number of worksheets accessed by students without A level maths with low evaluation scores

  15. Current thoughts What do I do about those students who haven’t engaged? What do I do about those students who have very low ability? Should I make the exam harder? Should I provide more examples and worksheets?

  16. A bit of research • Survey the students on their opinion • Survey the staff on maths requirements for later courses • Read some books, look for available resources • New textbooks • Online

  17. Plan • Be more enthusiastic • Linking the material to biochemistry • Providing more resources online • Reintroducing preliminary assessment • Introducing informal assessment and group work

  18. Student test performance • 59 out of 70 completed the test within 2 hours. • 9 out of 11 failures did not have A or AS level maths • 4 out of the 11 were MCBs.

  19. What I did… 1 Who attended? What I taught Outcome

  20. What I did… 2 Who attended? What I taught Outcome

  21. What I did… 3 Who attended? What I taught Outcome

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