Maths Standards - No More Passing the Buck

Date:Wednesday 22 October 2008

Time:09:30 - 16:00

Venue: Brunel University

“Senior Managers need to acknowledge the importance of Maths in its own right, and as a tool that supports almost every other subject.”
National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics

Widening Participation has been part of the educational “wallpaper” for several decades. However, the practical ramifications of the policy have not been fully addressed.

The South and West London Lifelong Learning Networks have organised Maths Standards – No More Passing the Buck to investigate why vocational learners arrive at university with an inadequate level of maths, stats or general numeracy for their main course (eg students with BTEC National Diplomas).

The evidence indicates that these students are more likely to fail than ‘traditional’ students with A-levels.

Consequently, the responsibility for the success of the student has moved from the institution that prepares the student for the next stage to the institution that provides the next stage.

Agenda

9.15 Registration (refreshments provided)

9.45 Theme – Admitting Maths Illiteracy!
Keynote Speaker: Fiona Allan, Regional Co-ordinator (SE), National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics
Why is it acceptable to admit to maths illiteracy? A culture has developed where it is common and even acceptable to say “I never got the hang of maths”. The same people would never dream of saying “I never got the hang of reading”.

Click here to download her powerpoint presentation.

10.00 Sessions

Group A: The Challenge of Widening Participation
Colin Everest

It is difficult to find hard data concerning the HE careers of vocational learners as opposed to those with more conventional A-level/IB qualifications. Anecdotal evidence suggests students with non A-level qualifications fare less well and are more likely to drop out in their first year in HE.

The purpose of this workshop is to give participants a chance to express their views on some of the issues surrounding WP in the context of the mathematical demands of non-mathematics HE courses. We will be drawing on the experiences of those present to examine 3 main questions:

1. Is there a problem related to mathematical aspects of the curriculum which affects you and your courses?
2. If so, what is the exact nature of the problem and where is it located?
3. What is the most appropriate form of action to take?

Click here to download his powerpoint presentation.

Group B: Support Strategies for the Struggling Student
Colin Lomas, ILT and Professional Development Staff Trainer, Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College.

This session will explore alternative support strategies that have been proven and tested in HE.

Often the solution to the problem is to the give the student (who is already missing classes and not completing work), extra sessions to attend and more assignments! An effective strategy to help the struggling student is to look for methods within the group, within the regular lessons, and NOT separating the struggling students from their peers. The responsibility is on everybody’s desk – not just the maths support person, not just the lecturer who needs the maths, not just the personal tutor, not just the head of the team… but everybody. This requires support mechanisms to be built into the whole course.

Click here to download his powerpoint presentation.

11.05 Coffee break

11.30 Sessions repeated

Group A: The challenge of widening participation
Group B: Support Strategies for the Struggling Student

12.35 Lunch and networking

13.35 Session (both groups): Remedial Mathematics – How to avoid ‘more of the same’

Graeme Moran, Programme Manager ICT, Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College

This session will present new techniques, methods and teaching ideas to help students on any university course where their level of maths represents a problem.

Click here to download his powerpoint presentation.

14.45 Coffee break

15.00 Plenary session discussion and closing comments
An outline of Maths Café at Brunel is to be followed by a discussion and summary of different approaches to bridging maths for vocational learners. Includes a Case Study for Kingston University (Engineering); Maths Café at Brunel; and Key Statistical Skills Surgeries at TVU.

Click here to download the powerpoint presentation.

Click here to download the notes from the day.

16.00 End of conference