Making maths more meaningful:successful support structures for struggling students
Ní Fhloinn, EabhnatORCID: 0000-0002-3840-2115
(2006)
Making maths more meaningful:successful support structures for struggling students.
In: Adults Learning Mathematics (ALM 13), 16-20 July 2006, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
ISBN 0-9552717-1-1
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Students’ Maths Learning Centre (SMLC) is a new initiative that aims to provide mathematical support in a relaxed, non-judgemental environment to any DIT student whose programme contains a mathematical element. DIT is a multi-level institute, with over 21,000 students registered on more than 400 programmes at apprenticeship, certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate level. The range of mathematics studied within these programmes is vast and many students find that they need additional support in this area. However, because the institute is split into numerous campuses, it has proved necessary to develop a two-fold approach, incorporating one-to-one tuition, through the form of drop-in sessions, alongside an extensive e-learning support system, so as to provide the optimum learning environment. We explore the challenges of developing this system for such a diverse student population and take a detailed look at the most common mathematical difficulties encountered by students using the service. We also consider the effectiveness of the e-learning approach when contrasted with more traditional face-to-face learning techniques and highlight the type of students who are likely to reap the most benefit from each approach.
Seabright, Valerie and Seabright, Ian, (eds.)
Proceedings of the 13th International Conference of Adult Learning Mathematics (ALM).
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Adults Learning Mathematics (ALM). ISBN 0-9552717-1-1