Pádhraic O’Hanrahan James O’Malley Transitioning Study Rachel O’Neill Groups Online to Microsoft Teams Janice Love Ciaran Mac an Bhaird Peter Mulligan Department of Mathematics & Statistics Maynooth University
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 1 st and 2 nd 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
Outline of Study Groups- Feedback ‘I think it helped me understand the material better and to become more • 1 st semester data was encouraging. independent at working on my home assignments’ – 1 st Year CS Student 2018/2019 2019/2020 Calculus 1 Calculus 1 Mean Mean ‘I was doing things in my own time as well CS students 29.43 33.46 beforehand because I wanted to have some Non-study group NA 26.00 sort of attempt done for the lads in the Study group NA 49.54 study group’ – 2 nd year CS Student Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Effects of COVID-19 Shutdown • Maynooth University campus closed on 13 th 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 Pros Cons Those who attended engaged well and more often. Low engagement. Students working on practice problems before they Connectivity problems. attended the study group aided their learning. Tutors can share their screen and refer to lecture Inability to see the students’ work is an issue. notes. Meetings can be recorded for students to view again. Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Microsoft Teams- Outline Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Pádhraic’s Online Model Discussion with entire class Private Groups Department of Mathematics and Statistics
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. Pádhraic O'Hanrahan: Padraic.ohanrahan@mu.ie James O’Malley: James.omalley@mu.ie Rachel O’Neill: Rachel.oneill@mu.ie Department of Mathematics and Statistics
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