Transitioning Study Rachel ONeill Groups Online to Microsoft Teams - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Pádhraic O’Hanrahan James O’Malley Rachel O’Neill Janice Love Ciaran Mac an Bhaird Peter Mulligan

Transitioning Study Groups Online to Microsoft Teams

Department of Mathematics & Statistics Maynooth University

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Outline of CS Study Groups

• Set up during 19/20 academic year.
• Part of a HEA funded project to tackle engagement among CS students in maths.
• Groups of 4-5 1st and 2nd year students meet weekly in the MSC.
• Created more structured and pro-active learning communities.
• Groups were student-led and monitored by a tutor.
• Attendance was optional with 11 groups signing up in total.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

• 1st semester data was encouraging.

Outline of Study Groups- Feedback

2018/2019 Calculus 1 Mean 2019/2020 Calculus 1 Mean CS students 29.43 33.46 Non-study group NA 26.00 Study group NA 49.54

‘I think it helped me understand the material better and to become more independent at working on my home assignments’ – 1st Year CS Student ‘I was doing things in my own time as well beforehand because I wanted to have some sort of attempt done for the lads in the study group’ – 2nd year CS Student

Effects of COVID-19 Shutdown

• Maynooth University campus closed on 13th March.
• Department tutorials moved to Microsoft Teams and online forums.
• Attempts to move study groups online were not successful, despite repeated efforts.
• Similar trend of low engagement across all supports.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Tutor’s Experiences of Online Support

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Pros Cons Those who attended engaged well and more often. Low engagement. Students working on practice problems before they attended the study group aided their learning. Connectivity problems. Tutors can share their screen and refer to lecture notes. Inability to see the students’ work is an issue. Meetings can be recorded for students to view again.

Microsoft Teams- Outline

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Pádhraic’s Online Model

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Discussion with entire class Private Groups

Plans for Next year

• Computer Science study groups will move online to Microsoft Teams.
• Private channels within a single Team will be used as a collaborative space.

– Students will run meetings within their private channel. – Tutors will drop into these channels once a week.

• Existing model will be maintained regarding prep work etc.

– Students can share screens to discuss work or place photos in the files tab. – Investigating feasibility of real time collaborative whiteboards.

• Tutors can monitor attendance via logs to check engagement and intervene early if

students become disengaged.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Contact Info etc.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Pádhraic O'Hanrahan: Padraic.ohanrahan@mu.ie James O’Malley: James.omalley@mu.ie Rachel O’Neill: Rachel.oneill@mu.ie