Building STEM Students’ Numeracy for Success in Higher Education
Lead University: University of Newcastle
Lead Researcher: Elena Prieto-Rodriguez
Research Team: Elena Prieto-Rodriguez, Peter Howley, Kathryn Holmes, Bill McBride, Ljiljana Brankovic and Erica Southgate
Year Funded: 2014
Funding Received: $187,186
This project created, evaluated and disseminated research-informed digital media resources centred on mathematical concepts known to be problematic for low SES STEM university students. Twenty innovative videos were produced to tackle specific areas of mathematics knowledge, skills, and common misunderstandings. The resources were made available in a central interactive repository in app form and disseminated and embedded within the University of Newcastle and beyond.
- The project was to create, evaluate and disseminate a set of research-informed digital media resources to help Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) university students from low socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds succeed in mathematics.
- It involved the creation of 20 innovative videos designed to tackle specific areas of mathematical knowledge and skills, and common misunderstandings. The resources were made available in a central interactive repository in app form.
- The videos were divided into categories corresponding to mathematical strands as required in engineering fields as well as ‘numeracy development’ and ‘thinking mathematically’.
- An app and Blackboard portal were combined as a website to allow greater accessibility.
- The project was positively received, illustrated by the following outputs and outcomes:
- The resources were disseminated and embedded within the University of Newcastle (UoN) and beyond.
- A communication strategy was developed, with the key tools and methods involving a combination of in-person, event-based, digital and traditional approaches to conveying information. These included posts on the UoN website, Twitter, e-newsletters, flyers, posters, media releases, and face-to-face sessions in tutorials and lectures.
- The audience within UoN was approximately 5000 first year students.
- Ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration will be valuable. There is also possible further collaboration with institutions in the United Kingdom and Spain.
- An informal evaluation of the project took place with 61 students from three schools in the Hunter region. The data from the student focus groups was used to inform the innovation component of the STEM project.
- Survey results indicate that 97 per cent of respondents felt the videos would assist those having difficulty with the topic area. In addition, 97 per cent of student respondents also agreed or strongly agreed that the layout of the website was user-friendly.
- The results demonstrated that participants were generally satisfied with the help and content provided and that they would be a useful resource.
Summary prepared by the NCSEHE.