Mathematics support materials – free for all ! Dr Sarah Carpenter and Dr Tony Croft

Overview  UK support framework  Maths support materials for students  Maths support materials for staff  Facts and Figures

UK Support Structure  UK Mathematics Learning Support Centre  Website  Pilot launched October 2003  Funded by the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN)  Sister project to mathtutor – funded by the HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England)

Subjects covered  Biosciences  Business, Management & Accountancy  Economics  Engineering  Health Sciences & Practice  Materials  Mathematics & Statistics  Physical Sciences

Topics Covered

What’s Available? Free resources for staff and students  Quick reference leaflets  provide easily accessible support on key topics  Teach-yourself booklets  give a more in-depth treatment of important topics and include theory, worked examples and exercises  Practice and revision booklets  contain hundreds of practice exercises and answers

What’s Available?  On-line exercises  allow students to test themselves or practice basic techniques  Video tutorials  offer a face to students to guide them step-by-step through the key topics

Resources for Staff  Many of the student resources are packaged into convenient blocks for single download  Booklets to help staff:  Good Practice in the Provision of Mathematics Support Centres  Diagnostic Testing for Mathematics  Maths Support for Students  Maths for Engineering and Science  Facts and Formulae Leaflets

mathcentre resources Quick reference leaflets140 Teach yourself booklets 85 Refresher Booklets 6 Online exercises164 Videos 85 Staff resources 68 Third party resources 4

Growth of interest

Resource activity

User feedback Feedback has been very positive… “mathcentre is really the best website about maths” “I think the whole collection is excellent…” “Can I really use these materials with my students for free?”

Conclusions  mathcentre and mathtutor provide direct access to skilled teaching and high quality learning resources  allowing students to revise and refresh basic mathematical techniques before arrival and whilst at university  The establishment or enhancement of local provision has been stimulated thanks to the available resources  in an efficient and cost-effective way

Contacts Dr Sarah Carpenter Assistant Director sigma - Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics Support Dr Tony Croft Director Mathematics Education Centre Loughborough University, UK