On campus or distance? Reducing the gap through technology enhanced learning and teaching of mathematics Birgit Loch Department of Mathematics and Computing University of Southern Queensland CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009

Overview USQ Context Fleximode at USQ Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching The Tablet PC project

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 University of Southern Queensland - Location

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 USQ Context USQ - regional, multi-campus, 26,000 students Large distance student population - 75% of students studying off campus in over 70 countries (WEB, EXT, ONC) Large percentage of students mature age, work full-time, study part-time, live remotely, low socio-economic background. Incarcerated student. “Open” university. *** USQ Vision – to provide flexible and inclusive learning experiences. “Fleximode”.

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Fleximode? Every course to have an online presence on StudyDesk Lecturers/tutors to participate in online discussion groups Electronic assignment submission encouraged Electronic marking encouraged Course material available in Integrated Content Environment (ICE) for web, CD, print delivery Equity? Closing the gap between distance and on campus learning?

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching? Electronic writing in lectures Screen and audio capture of lectures Electronic communication with students Online tutorials Electronic assignment submission Electronic assignment marking

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Fleximode in maths/stats/OR teaching? Electronic writing in lectures Screen and audio capture of lectures Electronic communication with students Online tutorials Electronic assignment submission Electronic assignment marking Tablet PCs!

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Keep record of writing in class. Can produce screencast of the whole lecture. –Students can revise. External students can see handwritten development of solution. Students see how a problem is saved using hand writing Electronic communication of mathematical content with distance students Electronic marking of assignments At USQ, 10/14 lecturers teaching into maths/stats/OR courses use a Tablet PC/graphics tablet. Why are tablets so useful for e-learning in maths?

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Examples of Tablet use at USQ Mathematics and Statistics MSN Messenger (with Christine McDonald; others joined later) –Discrete Mathematics and Data Analysis –Foundation Mathematics Web conferencing –Linear Algebra and Calculus –Statistics (Christine McDonald)

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 More examples Writing electronically in lectures –1 st year Calculus –1 st year Operations Research Recording of writing in lectures, assignment marking, student support, iPod/iPhone video files –Operations Research

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 More examples Statistical software walk-throughs –Data analysis (Christine McDonald) Recording of assignment feedback (Linda Galligan) Multimodal course material (ICE) –Operations Research

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Tablet PC Project Staff component: existing tablet PCs 25+ new tablet PCs, 10 new graphics tablets 50+ new tablet users Student component: Digital note pens 20+ mini tablet PCs

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Student digital pen trial

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Student Tablet PC trial

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Some student comments… Live lecture screen casts: –makes me feel more like I’m 'at' uni as an external student [EXT] –I wasn’t able to attend all of the lectures so this allowed me to go at my own pace. [ONC] –To be honest, without these online screencasts, I would not have understood concepts or passed this course. [EXT] –I watched the first screencast, but I don’t really find this artificial environment useful to my learning. I require a more personal one on one exchange when learning allowing for feedback and gestures to assist in the message. [ONC] –A short recording would be better as it could be of a focused topic or problem only [EXT]

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 More student comments… Student support screen casts –The screencasts I accessed in response to my questions were very helpful as I could see at what point I had begun to get off track. Web conferencing –I have really enjoyed my experience with the Elluminate tutorials and highly recommend it. Writing in lectures –Perfect lecture setup, perfect course for that matter. I’ve really enjoyed this subject, each maths subject should have this setup. General –I am very impressed with the external learning facilities at USQ so far.

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Lecturer comments 2007/2008: It saved precious time in class It is cumbersome to switch between the whiteboard and the data projector. Using the Tablet PC I didn’t need to use the whiteboard at all Students themselves were able to suggest corrections on their texts as an added and very useful learning/teaching experience

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Initial results from Tablet PC project Legibility of handwriting an issue Reliability of tablet PCs Students are asking for more library classes Engages students more (Finance) Those disciplines with equations and diagrams will benefit most Far superior to using screenshots with typed texts which are pre- prepared (library) I would like to thank Christine McDonald and Linda Galligan for providing examples shown in this presentation

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 PowerPoint Linear Algebra and Calculus B.Loch

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Windows Journal Operations Research B.Loch Back

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files Operations Research B.Loch

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Electronic assignment marking with hand written annotations Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files Operations Research B.Loch Master thesis edits B.Loch Back

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Student support Back Operations Research I B.Loch

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Web conferencing Back Linear Algebra and Calculus. 2006/7. B.Loch

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Recording of assignment feedback Back The Learning Centre L.Galligan

CETL-MSOR Conference, Milton Keynes, 7-8 September 2009 Operations Research I B.Loch Back Screencast embedded in course material