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Rationale Success in the introductory mathematics course sequence is essential for students who seek degrees in science, engineering, or mathematics. In the past, students have struggled in the pre-calculus/calculus course sequence and then they chose to pursue other non-technical majors. We envision a change in student performance due to both the novelty of the classroom experience and the enhanced learning environment that we have created. We use Classroom Presenter to view student work in real time, thereby developing peer-critiquing skills and highlighting areas of misconception during class time. We record all inking and audio from each class session using Camtasia Studio. We post the recordings on the classroom management website for students to use as a study tool and homework guide. These efforts engage students and make them active participants in the class.
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Implementation (pedagogy) SEP's mathematics course sequence has traditionally been taught as a "chalk talk" with absolutely no technology such as calculators or computers. In the Tablet PC courses, we use the H-P Tablet PCs with Classroom Presenter for both note-taking and in-class problem solving, including the display of student work so that students can learn from their classmates. All classes are recorded using Camtasia Studio and audio/video Flash files are provided to students though a course management website.
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Implementation (technology) The tablet PCs should enhance student learning by providing a means for students to learn from their classmates. The display of correct and incorrect methods of solution should also enable the instructor to address misconceptions and errors before they escalate into insurmountable difficulties.
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Impact on Teaching The overarching goal of this project is to improve student retention in science, engineering, and mathematics undergraduate degree programs at Boston University. We seek to address this goal by using tablet PCs to improve student understanding and performance in SEP's mathematics courses. We expect that the classroom will be more student-centered and will be more responsive to the needs of students. Rather than relying on prepared lecture notes, the class will be guided by student understanding as manifest in problems that are solved on the tablet PCs and displayed for discussion.
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Impact on Student Learning Student performance is the most important short-term measurement that we seek to improve through this project. In the long-term, however, we seek to improve student retention in science, engineering, and mathematics degree programs. Our data suggest that student engagement is higher in the Tablet PC classes than in the conventional "chalk talk" classes of the same size offered by the same instructor using the same textbook over the past three years. "Hits" on the website increased by more than 100(4884 hits with Tablet PC class vs. an average of 2307 hits in prior three years). Attendance was slightly improved (99vs. 96 and academic performance was also better (0 withdrawals and 1 C- out of 20 students in Tablet PC course vs. 5 withdrawals, 5 D, and 3 C- grades out of 56 students in prior three years). Perhaps most important, however, is the trend towards increased retention in SEP, since 100 per cent of the students who were in the Tablet PC course were retained as STEM majors while only 93 per cent of the students who took the conventional course were retained. Since many reports indicate that STEM retention is an issue of national interest, this finding is relevant to those who are concerned about developing a technically-trained workforce.
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Quick Facts Dept: Science and Engineering Program Courses Impacted: MA 118 (Fall 2008), MA 123 (Spring 2009) # Students Impacted: 40 students so far; 9 former students helped to develop the course materials during Summer 2008. # Faculty Involved: 2 This project is funded in part by a 2007 HP Technology for Teaching grant.
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Contact Us Principal Investigator: Dr. Carla Romney 617 353-5530 http://www.bu.edu/met/sep Collaborating Faculty: Dr. Fabian Torres-Ardila 617 353-5530
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References, Publications, and Presentations The preliminary results of this Tablet PC implementation will be presented at the following meetings in Fall 2009. Frontiers in Education (San Antonio, TX)- October 2009. See http://fie-conference.org/fie2009. Workshop on the Impact of Pen-Based Technology on Education (Blacksburg, VA)- October 2009. See http://www.wipte.org. Manuscripts from these presentations have been accepted for publication.
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