Post on 20-Dec-2015
On campus or distance? Reducing the gap through technology enhanced learning and teaching of
mathematics
On campus or distance? Reducing the gap through technology enhanced learning and teaching of
mathematics
Birgit Loch
Department of Mathematics and Computing
University of Southern Queensland
Birgit.Loch@usq.edu.au
http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/lochb
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
OverviewOverview
• USQ Context• Fleximode at USQ• Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching• The Tablet PC project
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
University of Southern Queensland - LocationUniversity of Southern Queensland - Location
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
USQ ContextUSQ Context
• USQ - regional, multi-campus, 26,000 students • Large distance student population - 75% of students studying off
campus in over 70 countries (WEB, EXT, ONC)
• Large percentage of students mature age, work full-time, study part-time, live remotely, low socio-economic background. Incarcerated student. “Open” university.
***
• USQ Vision – to provide flexible and inclusive learning experiences. “Fleximode”.
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Fleximode?Fleximode?
• Every course to have an online presence on StudyDesk• Lecturers/tutors to participate in online discussion groups• Electronic assignment submission encouraged• Electronic marking encouraged• Course material available in Integrated Content Environment
(ICE) for web, CD, print delivery
• Equity? Closing the gap between distance and on campus learning?
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching?Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching?
• Electronic writing in lectures• Screen and audio capture of lectures• Electronic communication with students• Online tutorials• Electronic assignment submission • Electronic assignment marking
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching?Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching?
• Electronic writing in lectures• Screen and audio capture of lectures• Electronic communication with students• Online tutorials• Electronic assignment submission • Electronic assignment marking
Tablet PCs!
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
• Keep record of writing in class. Can produce screencast of the whole lecture.– Students can revise. External students can see handwritten
development of solution. Students see how a problem is saved using hand writing
• Electronic communication of mathematical content with distance students
• Electronic marking of assignments
At USQ, 10/14 lecturers teaching into maths/stats/OR courses use a Tablet PC/graphics tablet.
Why are tablets so useful for e-learning in maths?Why are tablets so useful for e-learning in maths?
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Examples of Tablet use at USQExamples of Tablet use at USQMathematics and Statistics• MSN Messenger (with Christine McDonald; others joined later)
– Discrete Mathematics and Data Analysis– Foundation Mathematics
• Web conferencing– Linear Algebra and Calculus– Statistics (Christine McDonald)
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
More examplesMore examples
• Writing electronically in lectures– 1st year Calculus– 1st year Operations Research
• Recording of writing in lectures, assignment marking, student support, iPod/iPhone video files– Operations Research
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
More examplesMore examples
• Statistical software walk-throughs– Data analysis (Christine McDonald)
• Recording of assignment feedback (Linda Galligan)
• Multimodal course material (ICE)– Operations Research
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Tablet PC ProjectTablet PC Project
Staff component: 2009• 20+ existing tablet PCs• 25+ new tablet PCs, 10 new graphics tablets• 50+ new tablet users
Student component: 2010• 20 Digital note pens• 20+ mini tablet PCs
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Student digital pen trialStudent digital pen trial
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Student Tablet PC trialStudent Tablet PC trial
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Some student comments…Some student comments…
• Live lecture screen casts:– makes me feel more like I’m 'at' uni as an external student [EXT]– I wasn’t able to attend all of the lectures so this allowed me to go at
my own pace. [ONC]– To be honest, without these online screencasts, I would not have
understood concepts or passed this course. [EXT]
– I watched the first screencast, but I don’t really find this artificial environment useful to my learning. I require a more personal one on one exchange when learning allowing for feedback and gestures to assist in the message. [ONC]
– A short recording would be better as it could be of a focused topic or problem only [EXT]
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
More student comments…More student comments…• Student support screen casts
– The screencasts I accessed in response to my questions were very helpful as I could see at what point I had begun to get off track.
• Web conferencing– I have really enjoyed my experience with the Elluminate
tutorials and highly recommend it. • Writing in lectures
– Perfect lecture setup, perfect course for that matter. I’ve really enjoyed this subject, each maths subject should have this setup.
• General– I am very impressed with the external learning facilities at
USQ so far.
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Lecturer commentsLecturer comments
2007/2008:• It saved precious time in class• It is cumbersome to switch between the whiteboard and the data
projector. Using the Tablet PC I didn’t need to use the whiteboard at all
• Students themselves were able to suggest corrections on their texts as an added and very useful learning/teaching experience
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Initial results from Tablet PC projectInitial results from Tablet PC project
• Legibility of handwriting an issue• Reliability of tablet PCs• Students are asking for more library classes
• Engages students more (Finance)• Those disciplines with equations and diagrams will benefit most • Far superior to using screenshots with typed texts which are pre-
prepared (library)
I would like to thank Christine McDonald and Linda Galligan for providing examples shown in this presentation
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
PowerPointPowerPoint
Linear Algebra and Calculus. 2006. B.Loch
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Windows JournalWindows Journal
Operations Research. 2008. B.Loch
Back
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations
Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations
• Word DOC files• PPT files• XLS files• PDF files
Operations Research. 2008. B.Loch
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations
Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations
• Word DOC files• PPT files• XLS files• PDF files
Operations Research. 2008. B.Loch
Master thesis edits. 2008. B.Loch
Back
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Student supportStudent support
Back
Operations Research I. 2008. B.Loch
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Web conferencingWeb conferencing Back
Linear Algebra and Calculus. 2006/7. B.Loch
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Recording of assignment feedbackRecording of assignment feedbackBack
The Learning Centre. 2007. L.Galligan
CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009
Operations Research I. 2009. B.Loch
BackScreencast embedded in course materialScreencast embedded in course material