Maths for distance-learning Maths for distance-learning science studentsscience students

Sally JordanSally Jordan

The Open UniversityThe Open University

14th September 200514th September 2005

Background informationBackground information

Open University Science Faculty students Open University Science Faculty students come from a very wide range of mathematical come from a very wide range of mathematical

backgrounds;backgrounds; may not have studied maths for a long time;may not have studied maths for a long time; are often very lacking in confidence in their are often very lacking in confidence in their

mathematical abilities.mathematical abilities.

Maths for Science Maths for Science is a 10 CATs point Level 1is a 10 CATs point Level 1

course, designed to be studied before our Level 2course, designed to be studied before our Level 2

science courses.science courses.

Maths for Science Maths for Science contentcontent

Starting points (includes arithmetic, Starting points (includes arithmetic, negative numbers, fractions, powers)negative numbers, fractions, powers)

Measurement in science (includes SI Measurement in science (includes SI units, scientific notation, significant figures)units, scientific notation, significant figures)

Calculating in scienceCalculating in scienceAlgebraAlgebraUsing graphsUsing graphs

Maths for Science Maths for Science content cont.content cont.

Angles and trigonometryAngles and trigonometryLogarithmsLogarithmsProbability and descriptive statisticsProbability and descriptive statisticsStatistical hypothesis testingStatistical hypothesis testingDifferentiationDifferentiationAppendix: Resolving vectorsAppendix: Resolving vectors

Maths for ScienceMaths for Science

Teaching material is in course book, CD-Teaching material is in course book, CD-ROM, supplementary materialROM, supplementary material

Supported by telephone advice line and Supported by telephone advice line and computer conferencecomputer conference

Maths is taught in the context of ScienceMaths is taught in the context of ScienceMany worked examples and questionsMany worked examples and questions

Maths for ScienceMaths for Science

The course runs 4 times a year and lasts The course runs 4 times a year and lasts 10 weeks or 4 months10 weeks or 4 months

About 4500 OU students have studied the About 4500 OU students have studied the course since September 2002course since September 2002

The Course Book is available as a hyper-The Course Book is available as a hyper-linked eBook as part of the PPLATO linked eBook as part of the PPLATO project project ((http://www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/sp/PPLATO/publish/)http://www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/sp/PPLATO/publish/)

Maths for ScienceMaths for Science

Student quote: ‘I found Student quote: ‘I found ‘Maths for Science’‘Maths for Science’ an an excellent course - I used to sit and practically excellent course - I used to sit and practically cry when I got things right, which I would cry when I got things right, which I would never have imagined, in a million years, ever never have imagined, in a million years, ever being able to do. It gave me so much being able to do. It gave me so much confidence - one of the best things I have ever confidence - one of the best things I have ever done.’done.’

Students are more likely to complete L2 Students are more likely to complete L2 Science courses if they have taken Science courses if they have taken Maths for Maths for ScienceScience previously. previously.

Maths for ScienceMaths for Science assessment assessment

We wanted to provide feedback that was:We wanted to provide feedback that was:RapidRapidTargetedTargetedDetailedDetailed

We wanted to do this for both formative and We wanted to do this for both formative and summative assessment.summative assessment.

Each End of Course Assessment Each End of Course Assessment

is web-basedis web-based is available to students for the final 5 is available to students for the final 5

weeks of the presentationweeks of the presentationcan be attempted in as many sittings as a can be attempted in as many sittings as a

student wants, with no time limitstudent wants, with no time limithas only about 25% of questions which has only about 25% of questions which

are multiple choice.are multiple choice.

Answering questionsAnswering questions

Students are given three attempts at each Students are given three attempts at each question.question.

Feedback increases after each attempt Feedback increases after each attempt and the marks awarded decrease in line and the marks awarded decrease in line with this.with this.

When a student gives the correct answer, When a student gives the correct answer, or after three incorrect attempts, the full or after three incorrect attempts, the full answer is given.answer is given.

What have we learnt?What have we learnt?

The most badly answered question on The most badly answered question on every assessment is of the type…..every assessment is of the type…..

Why is this question so poorly Why is this question so poorly answered?answered?

Many students give incorrect unitsMany students give incorrect unitsMany students give incorrect significant Many students give incorrect significant

figuresfiguresMany students’ understanding of Many students’ understanding of

precedence is weak; they findprecedence is weak; they find

bca

F

LF

L

4not

4

Taking the work forwardTaking the work forward

We are continuing to analyse the data We are continuing to analyse the data from the from the Maths for Science Maths for Science assessments assessments in order to investigate students’ in order to investigate students’ mathematical misunderstandings.mathematical misunderstandings.

This is leading to improvements to the This is leading to improvements to the questions and to the course itself and also questions and to the course itself and also contributing to our understanding of contributing to our understanding of whywhy so many students struggle with maths.so many students struggle with maths.