teaching mathematics and statistics to business students: challenges and expierences in a german...

Teaching mathematics and statistics to business

students: Challenges and experiences in a German

University of Applied Sciences

Teresa Melo

Saarland University of Applied Sciences

Business School

Institute for Supply Chain and Operations Management (ISCOM)

Saarbrücken, Germany

2

German Higher Education System

Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar)

Business School

Degree programmes

Teaching challenges

Learning problems

Supporting activities in maths & statistics

Outlook

Outline

MetaMath/MathGeAr Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014

3

German Higher Education System


2.5 Mio. students (2013)

47.6% female, 52.4% male

61% public higher education institutions, 39% private

Responsibility for education federal states

Common basic principles, different organisation (e.g. tuition fees charged

in Lower Saxony)

UniversitiesUniversities of Applied Sciences

Colleges of Art / Music

392

30.9% 54.8% 14.3%

German Rector‘s Conference, www.hrk.de

4

Role of Higher Education Institutions


Access to higher education: 12/13 years of schooling

‘Abitur’ or ‘Fachabitur’ certification

Universities

Universities of Applied Sciences


Wide range of academic disciplines

Theoretical and research-oriented studies

Application-oriented studies and research

Studies integrated in industry, companies

Studies in fine arts, performing arts and music

5

Degrees at German Universities


9,204 undergraduate degree programmes

6,940 postgraduate degree programmes

Bologna Process (European Union):

Bachelor’s degree, 3 - 4 years

Master’s degree, 1 - 2 years

Degree programme

Institution Bachelor Master Doctoral

Universities

Universities of Applied Sciences

(in cooperationwith a university)


6

Saarland University of Applied Sciences I


History

1807 École pratique des mines

(mining school)

1971 School of Engineering +

Business School (Fachhochschule)

1991 Saarland University of Applied

Sciences (Hochschule für Technik

und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes)

Current figures

~5,700 students (37% female)

~120 professors

5 campuses

4 faculties

School of Engineering

School of Social Sciences

Business School

School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

7

Saarland University of Applied Sciences II


Practical experience through mandatory practical work in all degree

programmes

Intensive cooperation with companies: internships, invited lectures by

CEOs, exkursions, research partnerships

Cooperation (teaching & research) with more than 50 universities abroad:

Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Latvia, Luxemburg,

Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA, …

Member of the European University Association (EUA)

Top position in R&D among the German Universities of

Applied Sciences (DFG statistics)

School of Engineering School of Social Sciences

Business SchoolSchool of Architecture and Civil Engineering

8

Business School


Students > 2,200

Professors 45

Assistant lecturers 22

Admin. staff 17

Invited lecturers (industry, etc.)

> 80

Some impressions of Campus Rotenbühl

9

Business School – Degree Programmes


Bachelor programmes Master programmes

Aviation Business and Piloting*

Business Administration*

Marketing Science

Accounting and Finance

Supply Chain Management

International Business Administration

International Management

International Tourism Management Leisure, Sports and Tourism

Cultural Management

Industrial Engineering* Industrial Engineering

DFHI Programmes**: Business Administration, Logistics

DFHI-Programme Management Sciences**

**) Franco-German Institute of Higher Education: Joint degree programmes in cooperation with University of Lorraine, Metz (F)

*)

full-t

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Business School – Maths & Statistics


3 professors, 4 assistant lecturers

Scope of courses dependent on degree programme, e.g.

Business Administration (Bachelor): 3 courses, 15 ECTS

International Business Administration (Bachelor): 2 courses, 10 ECTS

Industrial Engineering (Bachelor): 4 courses, 15 + 2.5 ECTS

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System: 1 ECTS = 28 h

Mathematics Statistics Quantitative Methods

calculus descriptive stat operations research

algebra probability theory logistics

geometry inference statmarketing & accounting

financial maths multivariate stat simulation

software (computer algebra system, excel, SPSS, …)

11

Challenges Posed by Business Students


Low motivation to learn maths

Low/medium achievement at high school

Understanding: Mathematics = Arithmetic

No deep understanding of basic concepts

Generation Y (70’s – mid-90’s) and Generation Z (>mid-90’s):

use of communication and media technology

Internet, smartphones, instant

messaging, MP3 players,

social media (facebook, etc.), …

Response to loud and quick

visuals, audio, and music

Short attention span and lack of

concentration and application

Instant gratification

Easily frustrated

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Learning Problems I


Learned Helplessness a student who experiences

continuous failure in math expects to fail

Passive Learner student does not actively make

connections between what he/she already knows and

what he/she is presently learning

Memory Problems `information storage problem’

Attention Problems important pieces of information are often missed

during teaching

Cognitive/Metacognitive Thinking Deficits students lack the ability to

monitor learning:

Evaluating whether they are learning

Employing strategies when needed

Knowing whether a strategy is successful

Making changes when needed

13

Learning Problems II


Low Level of Academic Achievement lack of basic math skills

Math Anxiety ‘math time’ is often an anxiety-ridden experience

What is the solution to these problems?

Increase motivation, decrease frustration

Provide success

Realise the need for mathematical thinking

14

Teaching Maths & Stat at the Business School


Small groups (< 40 students)

Lectures

Combination of traditional channels with new technology

Applications, case studies & assignments

Tutorials (some in addition to course schedule)

Weekly exercise sheets (without solutions), newsletters (with solutions)

Mock examinations assess learning progress

Revision courses (‘Repetitorium’) every semester

Courses in German, some in English

Library, large choice of e-books

15

Using Technology


e-Learning platform: CLIX

Virtual classrooms (part-time study programmes)

Session recording (lectures)

Software tools for applications (CAS, excel, SPSS, …)

16

Additional Support I


Maths Café

2 sessions every week (2 x 4 h)

supervision by tutors (students) and 1 assistant lecturer

informal atmosphere

Long Night of Mathematics / Long Night of Statistics

every semester (Fridays, after 6 pm)

supervision by tutors, assistant lecturers, professors

Additional exercises

17

Additional Support II


Preparatory courses

4 weeks (> 700 students in 2013)

‘refresh’ basic maths concepts

close ‘gaps’

groups built depending on level (based on initial test)

course contents aligned with degree programmes

courses given by maths students (Saarland University)

interactive web-based e-learning MathCoach

high school htw saar

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Cooperation with High Schools


Project Mathe-MAX

Annual conference with high schools in Saarland (2013, 2014)

Preparatory meetings (working group)

Goal: identification of minimum skills in maths required for higher

education

Further training for academic staff at htw saar

mathematics (in cooperation with prof. A. Lambert, Saarland University)

seminars, workshops on teaching

high school htw saar

19

Outlook


Strong commitment to support students

Gradual assessment of supporting activities

Development & implementation of additional activities,

e.g. continuous assessment

Long road ahead …

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Thank you for your attention!

contact: [email protected]