Experience of Aalto University with e-learning tools and ideas about implementing MUMIE Linda Havola and Antti Rasila Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis Aalto University, School of Science linda.havola@aalto.fi antti.rasila@iki.fi
Introduction In Aalto University Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis e-learning tools have been used in teaching since many years. Much of the work is based an automated assessment system (STACK). This makes testing cost-effective, and allows us to gather useful data with minimal effort. In this presentation I will present our e-learning materials, and also introduce our proposal for collaboration. We have also written papers in conference proceedings about e-learning. For more information about our research group, see http://math.tkk.fi/en/research/matta/ 2/10
ABC - Approach to the Basics of Calculus Aalto University Department of Mathematics and Systems analysis has organized in collaboration with German Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern a course called ABC: Approach to the Basics of Calculus. Course has been organized yearly since 2008. The course in Finland is aimed at high school students who are near their graduation. In Germany the course can be taken as a starting course before the first semester and before the lecture Calculus I starts. Course material is available both in English and in German. For more information about the course, see http://www.vhb.org/ and http://matta.hut.fi/moodles/abc/. 3/10
Mathematics 1 We have also developed e-learning material for the course Mathematics 1. The material is partly based on the material of the ABC course. The course is aimed at first year engineering students who want to take the first basic mathematics course in English. In addition to theoretical part, there are also some GeoGebra examples in the material. The material is in the page http://intmath.org/i18n/en/other/math1/ 4/10
STACK exercises Computer aided assessment system STACK (System of Teaching and Assessing using a Computer Algebra Kernel) has been used in mathematics teaching of Aalto University since 2006. It was originally developed by C. Sangwin in the University of Birmingham, but the system has been further adapted for the requirements of engineering mathematics courses in Aalto University. It consists of a computer algebra system for evaluating symbolic expressions, a web-based user interface, and a database for storing the exercise assignments and the student solutions. 5/10
STACK exercises There is also a newer version of STACK, namely STACK2, available. However most of our exercises are evaluated by STACK1. Exercises have been evaluated both in Finnish and in English. Examples of exercises: https://stack.tkk.fi/demo/ https://stack2.aalto.fi/demo/ 6/10
Basic Skills Test of mathematics By using the STACK system, all new engineering students in Aalto University have taken the Basic Skills Test in mathematics during their first study weeks since 2008. The test problems has been originally created in Tampere University of Technology, but the system they first used was different. For more information about the test and its results, see for example our paper in the proceeding of Reflektori2010 conference http://math.tkk.fi/en/research/matta/ Reflektori2010_37-45.pdf Test web page (registration at the moment only available for me) https://stack.tkk.fi/testen/ 7/10
Aalto University s proposal for collaboration - pilot course We have not used MUMIE tool before. However we have experience of some other e-learning tools, for example Moodle and Optima. As a pilot, our plan is to use MUMIE in a course Mat-1.1610 Mathematics 1 which is already now partly based on e-learning. Topics of the course include linear algebra and single variable calculus. The existing e-learning material will be improved and integrated with MUMIE. 8/10
Aalto University s proposal for collaboration - STACK integration We already have automatically assessed exercise assignments for the course Mathematics 1. New set with exercises with MUMIE integration will be developed. STACK is a useful tool that can lead to increased flexibility in teaching. It provides opportunities for improved feedback for students and data gathering. Our experiences have shown that STACK exercises are suitable also for large scale mathematics teaching. 9/10
Thank you! linda.havola@aalto.fi 10/10