Education Thematic Meeting: New Approaches in Mathematics Teaching in Higher Education

About

Faculty of Science Teaching and Learning Centre

Education Thematic Meeting

New Approaches in Mathematics Teaching in Higher Education

Date: December 6, 14.00-17.00
Location: Science Park 904, room B1.25

The Faculty of Science Teaching and Learning Centre organizes an international thematic meeting about university mathematics education welcoming two renowned guests: prof. Barbara Jaworski (Loughborough University, UK) and prof. Simon Goodchild (University of Agder, Norway).
The guest lectures will address new approaches in university mathematics teaching in particular for non-mathematicians and tackling mathematics learning problems. After the presentations of the guests (see the abstracts of their talks below), there will be opportunity for open discussion with the guests.

Programme

13.45-14.00: Welcome in the room

14.00-14.05: Opening

14:05-14.15: André Heck PLATINUM project - teaching and learning of mathematics in Higher Education

14.15-15.00: Simon Goodchild
Tackling the problem of poor performance in mathematics at the University of Agder, Norway.

15.00-15.45: Barbara Jaworski
An innovation in mathematics teaching and what we learned from it

15.45-16.00: Break

16.15-17.00: Discussion
Inquiry based mathematics in Higher Education

_______________

Abstracts

André Heck: PLATINUM project - teaching and learning of mathematics in HE
PLATINUM project (Partnership for Learning and Teaching in University Mathematics) is a European project of 8 universities aiming to contribute to a culture change towards inquiry based mathematics education and to improve the balance between procedural and conceptual learning for a variety of higher educational practices. I will give a short presentation of what the goals of PLATINUM are and show one example what we are doing in its context for learning and teaching of mathematics in the courses at the Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam.
Website PLATINUM project: https://platinum.uia.no/

Simon Goodchild: Tackling the problem of poor performance in mathematics at the University of Agder, Norway.
MatRIC, Centre for Research, Innovation and Coordination of Mathematics Teaching is a Norwegian Centre for Excellence in (higher) Education. In this presentation I will introduce the Centre and briefly explain MatRIC’s foundation and mission (local and national). I will describe a number of actions the Centre is leading at the University of Agder and our attempts to stimulate the transformation and improvement of mathematics teaching nationally. I will explain the relationship between MatRIC and PLATINUM and how the latter is aligned with MatRIC’s vision and goals.
https://www.uia.no/en/kk/profile/simong

Barbara Jaworski: An innovation in mathematics teaching and what we learned from it
Three teacher-researchers collaborated to prepare and teach a mathematics module, for first year engineering students, with an inquiry-based focus. The main aim was to encourage students’ more conceptual understanding of mathematics. The innovation had four new elements: inquiry-based questions, a computer environment for exploration, small groups of students in tutorials and a small-group assessed project. A research associate observed teaching, collected data and contributed to analysis. I will present some details of the design and the teaching, some feedback from students and will reflect on our learning from the project.
References
•  Jaworski B, Robinson, C., Matthews J. & Croft, A. C. (2012). An activity theory analysis of teaching goals versus student epistemological positions. The International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education. 19, 4, 147-152
•  Jaworski B, Matthews J. (2011). Developing teaching of mathematics to first year engineering students. Teaching Mathematics and its Applications 30(4):178-185 2011
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/mec/staff/barbara-jaworski/