I don’t get it – just in time support for confused students

Authors

  • Donald Shearman University of Western Sydney
  • Jim Pettigrew University of Western Sydney
  • Carmel Coady University of Western Sydney
  • Lyn Armstrong University of Western Sydney
  • Harkirat Dhindsa University of Western Sydney

Abstract

The times when students want help with mathematics and statistics and the times when help sessions are available through consultations and workshops are often not the same. Rather than bringing issues to consultation and workshop times to be resolved, many students go away with the idea that maths is “hard” and they “just don’t get it”. The Mathematics Education Support Hub (MESH) is developing a just in time help system utilising both asynchronous (through discussion boards) and synchronous (through Collaborate virtual meetings) components to allow students to pose problems at the time they arise through the asynchronous component, receive a response to the problem within a 24 hour period and, if necessary, continue the help via an online collaborative space.

Author Biographies

  • Donald Shearman, University of Western Sydney
    Learning Advisor (Mathematics) Office of the DVC (Education)
  • Jim Pettigrew, University of Western Sydney
    Lecturer (Mathematics) Office of the DVC (Education)
  • Carmel Coady, University of Western Sydney
    Head, Mathematics Education Support Hub Office of the DVC (Education)
  • Lyn Armstrong, University of Western Sydney
    Lecturer (Mathematics) Office of the DVC (Education)
  • Harkirat Dhindsa, University of Western Sydney
    Learning Advisor (Mathematics) Office of the DVC (Education)

Downloads

Published

2013-09-23

Issue

Proceedings of the Australian Conference of Science and Mathematics Education (2013)

Section

Ideas Exchange