Broadening the scope of a Maths module for student Technology

teachers

Sue Milne, Sarah Honeychurch & Niall BarrUniversity of Glasgow

sue.milne@glasgow.ac.uksarah.honeychurch@glasgow.ac.uk

niall.barr@glasgow.ac.uk

Maths Module

• For student Technology teachers

• Varied Maths background

• Used CALMAT software for 15 years

• Revision of Scottish Higher, sufficient for course

Why rebuild this module? 1

• 10 topic tests

• Attendance mandatory until tests competed

• Race to finish!

Why rebuild this module? 2

Low motivation:

• Done this already...

• Relevance to teaching?

• Relevance to Technology?

• Relevance to teaching Technology?

Why rebuild this module? 3

Technology!

• CALMAT software is server based

• CALMAT now obsolescent/obsolete

– Only runs on old Windows machines

– Doesn’t run on phones, etc.

– Not available off-campus

• Can’t use it via Moodle

• Awkward administration

Stage 1 - Ensuring access

• Moodle 2 course – News forum – Course info,...

• Topic format– Online resources linked from Moodle– Learning resources uploaded

• ...but what about assessment?• CALMAT has

– Mathematical input– Randomised maths expressions– Multi-part questions

• Can we replicate that?

Stage 1 – Sustainable Assessment

Questions and tests rewritten

• Sustainable format QTI 2.1

• External Tools using LTI

• Formative assessment

– Single randomised questions

– Randomised Mock Tests

• Summative assessment

– Topic Tests with random parameters

• Results in gradebook – easy access for everyone

Stage 2 – Motivation 1

Topics forum

• Intention:

– Discuss the hard bits

– Notify about bugs in questions (and the fixes)

• Reality:

– Bug log!

– “New features” messages

Stage 2 – Motivation 2

Topics Wiki

• Intention:

– Contribute ideas

– Alternative explanations

– Examples in context

Stage 2 – Motivation 2

Topics Wiki

• Reality – year 1:

– ...blank page effect!

• Reality – year 2:

– Topics “seeded”

– Groups assigned to topics

– Worthwhile contributions!

Wiki Contributions 1

Fractions –alternative explanation of addition and subtraction

Wiki Contributions 2

Powers -using links to external materials

Wiki Contributions 3

Pythagoras – recognising background and applications

Project

4 groups of 6 students

Relate Maths to

• Other course modules

• Teaching

Project Outputs

• Presentation

• Resources –

– Shared with rest of class via Moodle forum

– For classroom use, out in schools

• …added to e-portfolio

Stage 2 – Motivation 3

“Quirky Maths”

• Links to sites exploring aspects of Maths

– Related to design

– Humorous

– Unexpected applications

(Jim Connor)

Mahara

Introduced at the start, linked within Moodle...

...used as wrap up at the end