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Journals / The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences / 2014 / Volume: 1

AN ANALYSIS OF MATHS LEARNING SUPPORT FOR MATURE STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING: ENGAGEMENT AND EFFECT.

Cormac Breen
Mark Prendergast
Michael Carr
Pages
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Publication Date
2014-09-01
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In addition some quantitative analysis was carried to determine what effect the MLSC had on student’s academic performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The Maths Learning Support Centre (MLSC) in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) provides free mathematical support to all DIT students.
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Key Findings & Data:This support is primarily delivered through a drop-in service, where students can receive one to one tuition in any area of mathematics.  In the first semester of the 2013/14 academic year, a significant proportion of students enrolled in engineering programmes that availed of this drop-in service were mature students (approximately 42%)  This is despite the fact that mature students constitute a relatively small proportion of the total student body (approximately 15%).  This motivated the authors to examine the support offered to these students by the MLSC and also consider their attitudes towards this support.
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Conclusion & Impact:In addition some quantitative analysis was carried to determine what effect the MLSC had on student’s academic performance.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2013 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Mathematics education · mathematics learning support · mature students

Abstract

The Maths Learning Support Centre (MLSC) in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) provides free mathematical support to all DIT students. This support is primarily delivered through a drop-in service, where students can receive one to one tuition in any area of mathematics.  In the first semester of the 2013/14 academic year, a significant proportion of students enrolled in engineering programmes that availed of this drop-in service were mature students (approximately 42%)  This is despite the fact that mature students constitute a relatively small proportion of the total student body (approximately 15%).  This motivated the authors to examine the support offered to these students by the MLSC and also consider their attitudes towards this support. To this end focus groups were conducted in order to ascertain the attitudes of mature students in Engineering towards the MLSC. In addition some quantitative analysis was carried to determine what effect the MLSC had on student’s academic performance.

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Cite This Article

Breen, C., Prendergast, M., Carr, M. (2014). AN ANALYSIS OF MATHS LEARNING SUPPORT FOR MATURE STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING: ENGAGEMENT AND EFFECT.. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, Volume: 1. https://ajindex.com/articles/1550531

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References (25)

  1. Almeida, B.D, Fidalgo, E., Rasteiro C., D.M.L.D., Projeto “ACAM - Avaliação de Competências / Ações de Melhoria”,XIX Colóquio AFIRSE: Revisitar os es tudos Curriculares: onde estamos e para onde vamos ?, 2012.
  2. Carr, M., Bowe, B., & Ní Fhloinn, E. “Core Skills Assessment to improve mathematical competency”, European Journal of Engineering Education, pp.1-12, 2013.
  3. Carr, M., Ni Fhloinn, E., Murphy, E. & Bowe, B. Addressing continuing mathematical deficiencies with advanced mathematical diagnostic testing.Teaching Mathematics Applications (2013) 32 (2): 66-75.
  4. Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (2005). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research¸ USA: Sage Publications Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) [online], (Retrived April 2014 from http://www.dit.ie/study/mature/prospective/)
  5. Expert Group on Future Skılls Needs. (2008) Statement on Raising National Mathematical Achievement. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.skillsireland.ie/media/egfsn090616_statement_on_activity.pdf)
  6. Gill, O., Johnson, P. & O’Donoghue, J. (2008) An Audit of Mathematics Support Provision in Irish Third Level Institutions. CEMTL (Regional Centre For Excellence in Mathematics Teaching and Learning), University of Limerick. Gill, O., O’Donoghue J., Faulkner, F. & Hannigan A. (2010) Trends in performance of science and technology students. International Journal of Maths Education, Science and Technology, 41, 323-339. A Study in Progression in Irish Higher Education, HEA 2010. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files/study_of_progression_in_irish_higher_education_2010.pdf National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, January 2011 Retrived April 2014 from http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files/national_strategy_for_higher_education_2030.pdf
  7. Lawson, D., Croft, T. & Halpın, M. (2001) Evaluating and Enhancing the Effectiveness of Mathematics Support Centres. Final report of a project funded by the LTSN Maths, Stats and OR Network. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.academia.edu/2715644/Evaluating_and_Enhancing_the_Effectiveness_of_Mathematics_Support_Centres
  8. Lawson, D., Croft, A.C. & Halpın, M. (2003) Good practice in the provision of mathematics support centres, learning and teaching in mathematics, statistics and operational research. LTSN Maths, Stats & OR Network, (Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/Good%20Practice%20Guide/goodpractice2E.pdf).
  9. Mac An Bhaırd, C., Fıtzmaurıce, O., Ní Fhloınn, E. & O’Sullıvan, C. (2013) Student non-engagement with mathematics learning supports Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications (2013) 32, 191-205
  10. Macgıllıvray, H. & Croft, A. C. (2011) Understanding evaluation of learning support in mathematics and statistics. Int. J. Math. Educ. Sci. & Tech., 42, 189–212.
  11. Matthews, J., Croft, T., Lawson, D. & Waller, D. (2012) Evaluation of Mathematics Support Centres – A Review of the Literature. sigma, Coventry: Coventry University. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/52487-evaluation-of-msc-7.pdf
  12. Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, San Francisco: Jossey – Bass Publishers. Mathematics Learning Support Centre- Aims [online] Retrieved April 2014 from http://www.maths.dit.ie/mlsc/aims.html Ní Fhloınn, E. (2009) The role of student feedback in evaluating mathematics support centres. CETL-MSOR Conference 2009 Proceedings, 94–98, Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathstore.ac.uk/headocs/Proceedings_2009_Upload_0.pdf Organısatıon For Economıc Co-Operatıon And Development (OECD). (1999) Measuring Student Knowledge and Skills: A New Framework for Assessment. Paris: OECD. Perkın, G. & Croft, T. (2004) Mathematics Support Centres – the extent of current provision. MSOR Connections, 4 (2) 14-18.
  13. Perkın, G., Lawson, D. & Croft, T. (2012) Mathematics Learning Support in Higher Education: the extent of current provision in 2012. sigma, Coventry: Coventry University. (See http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/ uploaded/52789-mls-in-uk.pdf ) Symonds, R. (2008) Evaluating Students’ Engagement with Mathematics Support. PhD Thesis. Loughborough University. Almeida, B.D, Fidalgo, E., Rasteiro C., D.M.L.D., Projeto “ACAM - Avaliação de Competências / Ações de Melhoria”,XIX Colóquio AFIRSE: Revisitar os es tudos Curriculares: onde estamos e para onde vamos ?, 2012.
  14. Carr, M., Bowe, B., & Ní Fhloinn, E. “Core Skills Assessment to improve mathematical competency”, European Journal of Engineering Education, pp.1-12, 2013.
  15. Carr, M., Ni Fhloinn, E., Murphy, E. & Bowe, B. Addressing continuing mathematical deficiencies with advanced mathematical diagnostic testing.Teaching Mathematics Applications (2013) 32 (2): 66-75.
  16. Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (2005). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research¸ USA: Sage Publications Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) [online], (Retrived April 2014 from http://www.dit.ie/study/mature/prospective/)
  17. Expert Group on Future Skılls Needs. (2008) Statement on Raising National Mathematical Achievement. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.skillsireland.ie/media/egfsn090616_statement_on_activity.pdf)
  18. Gill, O., Johnson, P. & O’Donoghue, J. (2008) An Audit of Mathematics Support Provision in Irish Third Level Institutions. CEMTL (Regional Centre For Excellence in Mathematics Teaching and Learning), University of Limerick. Gill, O., O’Donoghue J., Faulkner, F. & Hannigan A. (2010) Trends in performance of science and technology students. International Journal of Maths Education, Science and Technology, 41, 323-339. A Study in Progression in Irish Higher Education, HEA 2010. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files/study_of_progression_in_irish_higher_education_2010.pdf National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, January 2011 Retrived April 2014 from http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files/national_strategy_for_higher_education_2030.pdf
  19. Lawson, D., Croft, T. & Halpın, M. (2001) Evaluating and Enhancing the Effectiveness of Mathematics Support Centres. Final report of a project funded by the LTSN Maths, Stats and OR Network. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.academia.edu/2715644/Evaluating_and_Enhancing_the_Effectiveness_of_Mathematics_Support_Centres
  20. Lawson, D., Croft, A.C. & Halpın, M. (2003) Good practice in the provision of mathematics support centres, learning and teaching in mathematics, statistics and operational research. LTSN Maths, Stats & OR Network, (Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/Good%20Practice%20Guide/goodpractice2E.pdf).
  21. Mac An Bhaırd, C., Fıtzmaurıce, O., Ní Fhloınn, E. & O’Sullıvan, C. (2013) Student non-engagement with mathematics learning supports Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications (2013) 32, 191-205
  22. Macgıllıvray, H. & Croft, A. C. (2011) Understanding evaluation of learning support in mathematics and statistics. Int. J. Math. Educ. Sci. & Tech., 42, 189–212.
  23. Matthews, J., Croft, T., Lawson, D. & Waller, D. (2012) Evaluation of Mathematics Support Centres – A Review of the Literature. sigma, Coventry: Coventry University. Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/uploaded/52487-evaluation-of-msc-7.pdf
  24. Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, San Francisco: Jossey – Bass Publishers. Mathematics Learning Support Centre- Aims [online] Retrieved April 2014 from http://www.maths.dit.ie/mlsc/aims.html Ní Fhloınn, E. (2009) The role of student feedback in evaluating mathematics support centres. CETL-MSOR Conference 2009 Proceedings, 94–98, Retrived April 2014 from http://www.mathstore.ac.uk/headocs/Proceedings_2009_Upload_0.pdf Organısatıon For Economıc Co-Operatıon And Development (OECD). (1999) Measuring Student Knowledge and Skills: A New Framework for Assessment. Paris: OECD. Perkın, G. & Croft, T. (2004) Mathematics Support Centres – the extent of current provision. MSOR Connections, 4 (2) 14-18.
  25. Perkın, G., Lawson, D. & Croft, T. (2012) Mathematics Learning Support in Higher Education: the extent of current provision in 2012. sigma, Coventry: Coventry University. (See http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/ uploaded/52789-mls-in-uk.pdf ) Symonds, R. (2008) Evaluating Students’ Engagement with Mathematics Support. PhD Thesis. Loughborough University.