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A brief overview
Background In Jan 05 HEFCE awarded Coventry and
Loughborough Universities CETL status for their Centre for Excellence in the University-wide Provision of Mathematics and Statistics Support – sigma
Funded with a capital fund of £2.35M and a recurrent fund of £500,000 per annum for 5 years
Background
sigma is building upon Loughborough and Coventry's extensive experience and reputations in the support of students (undergraduate and postgraduate) who require some knowledge of mathematical and/or statistical methods to engage fully with their programme of study.
Our vision
To create superb environments whereby all students expect to succeed through the provision of: high quality workspace professionally produced learning resources dedicated and motivated teaching staff innovative teaching evidence-based development
Our strategic objectives
1. To reduce failure and referral rates on mathematics and statistics modules for non-specialists
2. To enhance statistics provision for post-graduates
3. To research and evaluate the delivery and support of mathematics and statistics taught throughout LU and CU
4. To disseminate findings effectively across the HE sector
5. To manage the CETL effectively
A brief overview of achievements to-date
Objective 1 - reduce failure and referral rates Extensively refurbished facilities at LU and
CU, ensuring our student have access to superb working spaces and resources
Social learning spaces provided for second/final year Mathematics students at both institutions
Objective 1 - reduce failure and referral rates Extensively refurbished facilities at LU and
CU, ensuring our student have access to superb working spaces and resources
Social learning spaces provided for second/final year Mathematics students at both institutions
Objective 1 - reduce failure and referral rates Undertaken a number of proactive
teaching interventions and worked with non-specialist departments to improve support for students
Extended existing specialist support for students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties
Objective 2 - enhance statistics provision
Developed and delivered short courses in statistical methods for postgraduate research students
Developed statistics advisory service for postgraduate and final year undergraduate projects
Providing workshops to LU & CU staff
Objective 3 – research and evaluation
Investigating the innovative use of technology to enhance teaching practice
Comprehensive Research Strategy and extensive programme of pedagogic research underpinning all activities
Ongoing Evaluation Strategy in place
Objective 4 - dissemination
Significantly raised the profile of mathematics support within LU and CU
Excellent profile amongst the mathematics support community
Close links with MSOR Subject Centre Funded the establishment of a centre at Leeds
and currently funding similar initiatives at Bath and Sheffield
Working on projects with colleagues from other institutions
Objective 5 - management
Regular operational management meetings Quarterly Management Committee meetings Weekly newsletter to help with internal
dissemination Seminar programme for all staff Staff interviews as part of Evaluation Action
Plan Inter-institutional collaboration activities Sound financial management
sigma’s Thematic Groups
Drop-in Centres Special Needs Statistics Support Proactive Teaching Interventions Pedagogic Research Innovative Uses of Technology
Drop-in Centres
Number of visits made to the sigma drop-in centres
2003/4Baseline
2005/6Year 1
2006/7Year 2
Loughborough 4376 3926 4617
Coventry 1901 2889 3549
Total 6277 6815 8166
Special/Additional Needs
Established the Eureka Centre for Mathematical Confidence
Developing close ties with DANS(LU)and the Disabilities Office (CU)
Increased hours of one-to-one support, and also support for an increasing range of disabilities and learning difficulties
Supporting the work of the Dyscalculia and Dyslexia Interest Group
Statistics SupportCU has developed the following: two short courses (each comprised of twelve
workshops) in statistical methodology and software
a Statistics Advisory Service offering ten hours per week of bookable one hour one-to-one sessions, with individuals allowed up to three consultations initially on design and data collection and then on analysis of collected data.
Statistics Teaching Forum established
Statistics SupportLU has provided the following:
the equivalent of two modules of teaching throughout the year covering statistical methodology
six hours per week of bookable face-to-face statistics advice for individual postgraduates or small groups
drop-in sessions at the Mathematics Learning Support Centre
Statistics SupportNumber of students usingthe sigma SAS
2003/4Baseline
2005/6Year 1
2006/7Year 2
Loughborough 0 63 136
Coventry 0 66 98
Total 0 129 234
Proactive Teaching Interventions Working Group established Small group teaching has taken place in
at least three different modes Developed diagnostic tests with staff
from supported departments Development of alternative approaches
under way
Pedagogic Research Comprehensive Research Strategy
developed Matrix of research activities mapped
against the strategy being finalised 5 PhD students already supported by
sigma, with 4 additional students starting 2007-08
Sizeable publication record Provided impetus for LU to appoint
Chair of Mathematics Education
Innovative Uses of Technology
Working Group established A number of technologies purchased for
evaluation and ongoing use Technologies investigated for use in
enhancing teaching practice Staff development workshops developed
and supported
Innovative Uses of Technology
13 “How to…” user guides produced Entire suite of mathtutor video
materials is being re-formatted for use on portable devices
Working with non-specialist departments to develop contextualised teaching resources and assessments
Dissemination and Impact
Supporting other HEIs Funded Leeds Mathematics Support Unit for
first two years – now funded centrally by Leeds University
Now funding new initiatives at Bath and Sheffield
Establishing pilot hubs in South West and Scotland
Secondment opportunities Supporting NTFS project at UCLan Member of steering group Lancaster
Postgraduate Statistics CETL
Internal dissemination and collaboration Links with other CETLs at LU and CU Presentations on induction days Technology Evaluation Projects Student ambassador schemes Student representation on Management
Committee and Steering Group Internal “marketing” campaigns Contributions to internal conferences, e.g.
ELATE ‘06 at CU Statistics Teaching Forum
External Impact
Close links with MSOR HEA Subject Centre Regular articles in MSOR Connections 13 seminar/workshop presentations at
CETL-MSOR Conference 2007
External Impact
Links with other CETLS e.g. through East Midlands CETL Network, National CETL Student Network
Support for outreach projectse.g. Further Mathematics Network, aimHigher, EU Leonardo Project, NAGTY
National and international linkse.g. visiting fellows
sigma
Steering GroupManagement
Group
MSOR Network
CU CETL Board
HE Academy
Funded centre @ Leeds
Funded centre @ Bath
Funded centre @ Sheffield
East Midlands CETL Network
Other CETLs
RSSSEFI IMA Research Councils
Further Maths Network
More Maths Grads Project
HEFCE
NAGTY
Other Subject Centres
WarwickUniversity
LancasterUniversity
UK HEIs
ReadingUniversity
QUT, Australia
MEC@LU MSC@CU
LoughboroughUniversity
LU School of Mathematics
CU Dept of Mathematics
EU Leonardo project
Birmingham University
CoventryUniversity
UCLan
