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Tools for Education

Tools for Education. Liz Burd, Andrew Hatch {liz.burd, andrew.hatch}@durham.ac.uk. Problem Background. Falling numbers of computing students Limited numbers of subject specialists in schools Perceptions of computing subjects in Higher Ed. Lack of graduates for IT industry

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Tools for Education

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  1. Tools for Education • Liz Burd, Andrew Hatch • {liz.burd, andrew.hatch}@durham.ac.uk

  2. Problem Background • Falling numbers of computing students • Limited numbers of subject specialists in schools • Perceptions of computing subjects in Higher Ed. • Lack of graduates for IT industry • Problems cannot be solved solely through: • Changing admission procedures • Course retargeting

  3. Solution • Students work with schools to produce software • Students gain experience working in schools and with a real customer • Schools gain access to enthusiastic undergraduate subject specialists • Pupils gain insight into ‘real’ computing subjects

  4. Participants • Two Durham staff • Science Learning Centre North East (SLCNE) • Four schools • Eight undergraduate students

  5. Process • Final year dissertation project • Requirements negotiated between school, student and supervisor • Balance of customer needs with academic needs

  6. Projects (I) • St. Leonards Online Learning • Physics instruction and testing with flash animation. • Pupil Skills Assessment • Skills-based assessment administration tool • Interactive Lifestyle Analysis Tool • Extensible web portal providing a novel approach to teaching environmental issues • Pupil Record of Achievement Tracking System • Administration system for tracking records of achievement

  7. Projects (II) • Computer Adaptive Testing for Science • Provides interactive tests for science students, where testing adapts to user ability • White Mice • Intelligent revision and testing system that adapts to student ability • Online Teaching Assistant • Analysis and reporting of student progress • Science Made Easy • Web-based science tutorial and testing system

  8. Workshops • IT in the classroom • Assessment • Blended Learning • PHP 101 • Active Learning • Deep and Surface Learning • Advanced PHP • Motivating Students • Feedback • Learning Styles

  9. Supervision and Support • Students were supported by supervisors and project staff • Schools were supported by SLCNE • As a side-effect, project staff were given insight into the supervisory process of other staff • Kick-started further research and process improvement

  10. Costs • Criminal Records Background Checks • Transport • Events • Initial meetings • ‘Trade-fair’

  11. Portal • http://alic.dur.ac.uk/ • Follow ‘Tools for Education’ links • All software downloadable • Screenshots • Workshops will become available soon…

  12. Recommendations • An activity for the pre-evaluation of potential project topics should be undertaken with schools. • TfE project topics should incorporate an element of contact between students and pupils. • The TfE process requires support from the departmental project process. • Supervisory staff must be able to manage a project that involves a ‘customer’. • Participant selection should occur by natural selection.

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