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ACSME 2014: Not just another diagnostic test!

This presentation discusses the diagnostic test used for first-year engineering students to gauge their mathematical and science understanding. It aims to inform students about the courses they should choose and identify at-risk students. The presentation also covers the results of the test and student perceptions.

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ACSME 2014: Not just another diagnostic test!

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  1. ACSME 2014 Not just another diagnostic test! Michael Jennings (UQ), Deb King (Melbourne), Adam Bridgeman (Sydney), Liz Johnson (Latrobe/Deakin)

  2. Today’s talk… • …is brought to you by the Office of Learning and Teaching of the Australian Government.

  3. B.Engineering Numbers Bachelor of Engineering first-year numbers (UQ enrolment data) Prereqs: 1991 - English, Maths 1 (Maths B), Maths 2 (Maths C), Physics, Chemistry 1995 onwards - English, Intermediate Maths (B), Physics OR Chemistry Approximately 70% of students come in with both Intermediate & Advanced Mathematics (B & C)

  4. History • Diagnostic Test • Leo Howard Test 1972-1995 • Paper test – 2007 • Online – 2009 to present

  5. Current test – 2009 to present UQ T&L grant – cross-discipline team of Engineering & Science (inc. Maths) Background questions Learning approaches F-10 Maths & Senior Intermediate Maths Physics Chemistry

  6. Current test – OLT grant • Led by USQ, involving UQ, UNE, UTS, and UNewcastle • http://getset.ceit.uq.edu.au/ • 20 maths questions • 18 MCQs, 2 enter the answer • Can’t remember & never seen before options 12 physics and 12 chemistry questions

  7. Aim of the test Is NOT to tell students how much they don’t know / forgotten Is to gauge current mathematical / science understanding Is to tell students what maths/science is used in their courses so they can choose the appropriate courses Is to identify at-risk students

  8. Results • Consistent over the years • Students who have done both Intermediate and Advanced Mathematics (Maths B & C) at school do better • Senior topics not done as well as junior ones • Differentiation and integration • Correlation between test results, ATAR and success in first-year engineering

  9. Students’ thoughts

  10. Kavanagh, L., O’Moore, L, & Samuelowicz, K. (2009). Characterising the first year cohort knowledge. Proceedings of the AAEE 2009 conference. Burton, L., Dowling, D., Kavanagh, L., O’Moore, L, & Wilkes, J. (2012). Examining First Year Students’ Preparedness for Studying Engineering. Proceedings of the AAEE 2012 conference.

  11. 2013

  12. Feedback matrix http://getset.ceit.uq.edu.au/

  13. OLT Extension Grant 2014-2015 • Melbourne, Sydney, Latrobe science, mathematics and business programmes • UQ Science • Macquarie • Southern Cross, Charles Sturt, Griffith, UWS

  14. What maths is in your course(s)? What do you want to know? Procedural vs conceptual understanding. With what do you think students struggle? When are you going to do the test? What are you going to do with the info from the test? QS in Science – www.qsinscience.com.au

  15. IT details • Drupal 7 • Blackboard + other programs

  16. Acknowledgements The 2009 online diagnostic test was funded by a The University of Queensland Teaching and Learning grant. The project team was A/Prof Lydia Kavanagh (Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology), Dr Liza O’Moore (School of Civil Engineering), Professor Peter Halley (School of Chemical Engineering), Professor Paul Lant (School of Chemical Engineering), Professor Peter Adams (Faculty of Science), Michael Jennings (School of Mathematics and Physics), Professor Lawrie Gahan (School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences) and Dr Anton Raynor (School of Mathematics and Physics), . The OLT funded project involved USQ, UQ, UNE, UTS and UNewcastle. http://www.olt.gov.au/project-get-set-success-using-online-self-assessments-motivate-first-year-engineering-students-engag The feedback matrix was designed by A/Prof Lydia Kavanagh (Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology), Dr Liza O’Moore (School of Civil Engineering).

  17. References • Burton, Lorelle, Dowling, David, Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza & Wilkes, Janelle (2012). Examining first year students' preparedness for studying engineering. In: Llewellyn Mann and Scott Daniel, AAEE 2012 Conference Proceedings. 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2012), Melbourne, Australia, (1020-1028). 3 - 5 December 2012. • Jennings, M. (2011). The transition from high school to university: The University of Queensland perspective. In: John Hannah, Mike Thomas and Louise Sheryn, Te Ara Mokoroa: The Long Abiding Path of Knowledge - Proceedings of Volcanic Delta 2011. Volcanic Delta 2011: The Eighth Southern Hemisphere Conference on Teaching and Learning Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, Rotorua, New Zealand, (139-149). 27 November - 2 December 2011. • Kavanagh, L., O’Moore, L., & Samuelowicz, K. (2009). Characterising the first year cohort knowledge. 2009 Conference Proceedings. Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2009).

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