Productive on-line student support : developing a system for primary mathematics trainee teachers

This paper outlines the development project for the 'Productive on-line student support system', a student "self-help" system, at Deakin University. The aim of this project was to provide Deakin primary teacher education students with a web-based learning tool that allowed them to assess and diagnose their strengths and weaknesses in mathematics, and supports students in their mathematics learning, and in so doing produce mathematically competent graduates. This project was, like similar programs, a development of peer or cross-age tutoring common in primary and secondary schools. A grant under the Deakin University Strategic Teaching and Learning Grant Scheme enabled a staff team from the mathematics education group, to develop a sophisticated and well-designed system that catered for a wide range of student needs, provided useful feedback, and was engaging and easy to use. The under-pinning software for the system was WebCT, available to staff through the Deakin Studies On-line system, to which students are connected also. The 'Productive on-line student support system' enabled students to determine their own mathematical needs, and have these addressed whenever they wished, as often as they wished, and allowed self-monitoring of progress. An outline of the system and examples of the assessment materials will be presented.

Using spreadsheets in chemical education to avoid symbolic mathematics.

Traditionally, quantum theory has traditionally relied heavily on the use of  mathematics. However, there is a significant cohort of students who are  weak in mathematics, for example, students who are majoring in   biochemistry, biological sciences, etc. This paper reports on the use of  spreadsheets to generate approximate numerical solutions and visual  (graphical) descriptions as a method of avoiding or minimizing symbolic  manipulations, mathematical derivations and numerical computation. A  specific example from quantum theory is provided. Some aspects of  educational pedagogy of spreadsheet usage are discussed.