Technology enhanced mathematics distance education Birgit Loch Department of Mathematics and Computing University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences Swinburne University of Technology

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 USQ and Swinburne

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010Overview USQ Context Pen-based technologies Screencasting OR example AMSI example USQ Tablet PC trial

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 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.

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 How do we differ from the OU (maths perspective)? Both ONC and EXT teaching Students in very remote areas all over the world Aboriginal students No F2F tutorials offered to external students Lecturers expected to do … lecturing, tutoring, marking, course material writing, distance teaching (paper-based) assignments received in central location, then sorted and distributed

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 What is similar to the OU? Still mainly snail mail assignment transport Course material, specifications and exam papers to be prepared well in advance Need to explore technologies focus on tablet PCs

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Technologies for what purpose? Capture lectures/tutorials Student support Electronic marking Enhancement of study material Electronic communication Enable students to communicate

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Capturing lectures/tutorials: Calculus

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Operations Research

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Recording lectures Web/iPod/iPhone video files

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Statistics: Christine McDonald

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 New Camtasia software for lecture recording Beta trial in 2008 Faculty trial in S Roll out across USQ in S For ALL computers that can connect to the USQ server USQ first Australian University to adopt Relay Portable recorder

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Hardware alternatives Pen-enabled screens (LTPF Project) Reduces need for tablet PCs in class

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Student support via screencasts Operations Research

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Enhancement of study material Screencasts to address stuck places Short snippets for course material Create a bank of resources Linda Galligan

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Screencast embedded in Nursing mathematics course material

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Screencast embedded in OR course material

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 The Improving Mathematics Education in School (TIMES) Project AMSI (Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute)

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 The Improving Mathematics Education in School (TIMES) Project AMSI (Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute)

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Current screencasting projects AMSI: Secondary/tertiary maths teachers USQ: 1 st year engineering students James Cook: 1 st year sciences students MSOR mini-project: Master level maths students

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Recording of assignment feedback The Learning Centre. Linda Galligan

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Other hardware options for marking? Ebook readers Faculty of Business trial

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Electronic communication Ink chat tutorials MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger)

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Example: OR

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Example: Algebra and Calculus

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Tablet PC Project Staff component: 2009 Approx 5,500 students taught in S All faculties, plus library Student component: 2009/ Digital note pens 30 mini tablet PCs

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Issues encountered at USQ Lecturers not confident and not using stylus Readiness for change? Convincing management that tablets are worthwhile Funding to purchase ICT support for tablet PCs – inclusion in SOE Audio input for lecture recording

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Feedback from interviews Tablets have led to more engagement with technology in general made lectures more dynamic are more than just a communication tool have led to a change in teaching approaches

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Tablet PCs in other disciplines Faculties of Sciences Engineering and Surveying Business Arts Education

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Enabling students to communicate Digital note pens

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Example: Operations Research Trevor Langlands/ Birgit Loch

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Tablet PCs for students S (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship) Multi-Touch net books

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Tablet PCs for students S (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship) Multi-Touch net books

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Other input devices

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 Other input devices

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 University of Queensland ACTS lab 100 student tablet screens $2.5M

Open University, Milton Keynes, 18 May 2010 University of Queensland ACTS lab