Mathematics modules for engineering students are often poorly attended and results correspondingly poor. We report on two initiatives, the first with Sports Technology and the second with Materials Engineering students, that have used or will use assessed small group projects to motivate and engage students. The first of these has shown positive gains in attendance and performance. The second, which is planned for the coming academic year, will use developmental research to document outcomes and promote a developmental process. We describe the initiatives briefly and what we learn, or expect to learn from them.
Introduction
The Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University oversees the development and delivery of the teaching of mathematics to the majority of engineering students at Loughborough University. In 2003-4 a new initiative was introduced in the teaching of mathematics to students of Sports Technology. This included the introduction of small group projects. There was much success associated with the initiative and there has been a marked and sustained improvement in attendance, engagement and results over the intervening years. However, until very recently, and for a variety of reasons, this approach had not been used with other student groups. This paper will report on the work with Sports Technology students. It will then describe the implementation of a similar initiative with Materials Engineering students. Finally the paper will report on the research project which has commenced to research the work with Materials Engineering students…
Mathematics modules for engineering students are often poorly attended and results correspondingly poor. We report on two initiatives, the first with Sports Technology and the second with Materials Engineering students, that have used or will use assessed small group projects to motivate and engage students. The first of these has shown positive gains in attendance and performance. The second, which is planned for the coming academic year, will use developmental research to document outcomes and promote a developmental process. We describe the initiatives briefly and what we learn, or expect to learn from them.
Introduction
The Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University oversees the development and delivery of the teaching of mathematics to the majority of engineering students at Loughborough University. In 2003-4 a new initiative was introduced in the teaching of mathematics to students of Sports Technology. This included the introduction of small group projects. There was much success associated with the initiative and there has been a marked and sustained improvement in attendance, engagement and results over the intervening years. However, until very recently, and for a variety of reasons, this approach had not been used with other student groups. This paper will report on the work with Sports Technology students. It will then describe the implementation of a similar initiative with Materials Engineering students. Finally the paper will report on the research project which has commenced to research the work with Materials Engineering students…
