The Mathematics Learning Support Centre at Loughborough University – staff and student perceptions of mathematical difficulties

dc.creator	Glynis Perkin
dc.creator	Godfrey Pell
dc.creator	Tony Croft
dc.date	2007-06-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:07:30Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:07:30Z
dc.identifier	1750-0044
dc.identifier	1750-0052
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/f45a1294a49849caa1ee1701cee9882c
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/11253
dc.identifier.uri	https://doaj.org/article/f45a1294a49849caa1ee1701cee9882c
dc.description	From a census of academic and academic-related staff in the School of Mathematics at Loughborough University, most of whom work in the Mathematics Learning Support Centre, and a survey of the students who frequently use this facility we investigate the difficulties that are encountered with mathematics and the growing need for support with this subject. This paper reports the raw data results obtained from a selection of the questions that were posed. Responses were obtained from 29 mathematics staff and 37 students from mathematics, engineering and physics departments. We detail findings from the questions pertaining to perceptions of pre-knowledge, areas of difficulty and reasons for using the Centre. The results show that in some cases the opinions and perceptions of staff and students are almost diametrically opposite and in some cases students are unaware that the difficulties they are experiencing stem from a lack of fluency in areas of basic mathematics. What is also shown is that staff need to be aware of the mathematical content contained in the wide range of qualifications that students may enter university with. These findings have important consequences for those involved with mathematics education in the Higher Education sector and will also prove informative for universities who provide similar support.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	The Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre
dc.relation	http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/eejournal/2007/2-1/PERKIN_G.pdf
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1750-0044
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1750-0052
dc.rights	CC BY-NC-ND
dc.source	Engineering Education, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp 47-58 (2007)
dc.subject	mathematical difficulties
dc.subject	mathematics support
dc.subject	student experience
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	DOAJ:General and Civil Engineering
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	DOAJ:General and Civil Engineering
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.title	The Mathematics Learning Support Centre at Loughborough University – staff and student perceptions of mathematical difficulties
dc.type	Article