CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Logo - National Forum For the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Ireland; The Higher Education Authority; Startegic Allignment of Teaching and Learning Fund.

Students are at the heart of the SPIRIT Maths ExTRA project. The goal is to empower students to improve their mathematical abilities, to provide students with tools to succeed in mathematics and to increase students’ confidence in their mathematical abilities.

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Why is this project important?

Mathematics plays a key role across MTU. 71.3% of first year students will take at least one mathematics/statistics module during their first year in MTU. However, a significant finding during the SPIRIT Maths project was that 55% of students find mathematics difficult with a large proportion failing a module during their first year. This, combined with the fact that 34% of surveyed first year students have no interest and a lack of motivation in studying the subject, constitutes a serious obstacle to student engagement, retention and hinders the learning process. Through evidence based decision making and student partnership this project aims to tackle these challenges head on.

What will be delivered or different at the end of this SATLE project?

Digital Video Resources: SPIRIT Maths Extra will continue with the development of high quality digital resources including worked video solutions based on past exam questions partnered with Numbas practice questions.
PeerWise: Summary analysis on student engagement and outputs of PeerWise will be obtained by the end of the project.
Students’ Feedback: a report on the digital resources through student-led focus groups.
Repository of student-led MCQs: Engaging with students at design stage will result in the development of more targeted resources, tailored specifically to students’ needs.

Project news

Conferences

CETL‐MSOR 2021: Non‐mathematics undergraduates’ perceptions of mathematics and preferences for supporting digital learning resources Maryna Lishchynska, Seán Lacey, Declan O'Connor, Violeta Morari
CETL‐MSOR 2021: SPIRIT Maths – Targeted digital resources to support students Shane O’Rourke, Clodagh Carroll, Patricia Cogan, Declan Manning, Violeta Morari, Catherine Palmer
IMS September 2021, MTU Non-mathematics undergraduates’ perceptions of mathematics and preferences for supporting digital learning resources in a Technological University, Violeta Morari
DCU, October 2021: SPIRIT Maths – a project overview, Violeta Morari

Who are the project team members?

The following are our team members -

	Dr David Goulding Head, Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork Email: d avid.goulding@mtu.ie
	Dr Violeta Morari Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork Email: violeta.morari @mtu.ie
	Dr Maryna Lishchynska Dept of Mathematics, MTU Cork Email: maryna.lishchynska@mtu.ie
	Dr J.P. McCarthy Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork Email: j eremiah.mccarthy@mtu.ie Website: jpmccarthymaths.com
	Dr Declan O ’Connor Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork Email: d eclan.oconnor@mtu.ie
	Dr Clodagh Carroll Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Dr Sean Lacey Department of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Declan Manning Deptartment of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Patricia Cogan Deptartment of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Dr Catherine Palmer Deptartment of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Dr Julie Crowley Deptartment of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Dr Shane O Rourke Deptartment of Mathematics, MTU Cork
	Linda O' Sullivan Teaching & Learning Unit and The Student Engagement Office (AnSEO), MTU Cork
	Deirdre Marie Casey, Academic Learning Centre (ALC) & The Student Engagement Office (AnSEO), MTU Cork
	Dr Joan Cleary, Deptartment of Computing, MTU Kerry
	Dr Ruth Vance Lee, School of Business, MTU Cork