Transcript Mathematics Education Centre

UK Engineering Students’
Knowledge of Mechanics on
Entry: Has it all gone?
Stephen Lee
Martin Harrison
Carol Robinson
Overview
Background
Schools’ Perspective
Questionnaire – Schools
Undergraduates’ Experiences
Questionnaire – Students
Diagnostic Mechanics Test
Summary
Conclusions and Implications
2
Background
Awareness of ‘Maths Problem’
Appropriate Techniques:
• Diagnostic Testing
• Follow-up Support
Is there a Mechanics Problem?
UK Universities assume
mechanics studied at school
3
Background Changes
Changes in Post-16 Qualifications in
2000, including mathematics
Curriculum 2000 (Mathematics)
2 or 3 applied modules (need not
include mechanics)
September (2004)
2 applied modules
4
Schools’
Perspective
Questionnaire: To ascertain
availability and uptake of
mechanics modules
January 2004
Posted to 500 ‘schools’ (18%)
242 replies
13,754 AS/A2-level maths students
5
Schools’
Perspective
Availability of applied modules
0 Modules
% of Pupils
% of Schools
Mechanics
2.62
5.35
Statistics
1.36
2.06
Discrete
43.40
46.09
0 or 1 Module
% of Pupils
% of Schools
Mechanics
15.83
26.34
Statistics
14.14
21.81
Discrete
79.10
79.01
6
Schools’
Perspective
Uptake of applied modules
60
% of students
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
Module Number
2
3+
Mechanics
Statistics
Discrete
7
Undergraduates’
Experiences
Questionnaire: To ascertain
number of A-level mechanics
modules studied
Target groups
Engineering, physics, maths
October 2003 and 2004
8
Undergraduates’
Experiences
% of students
Results – maths/phys/eng students
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2003 (389)
2004 (703)
0
1
2
3+
Number of Mechanics Modules
Studied
9
Undergraduates’
Experiences
Numbers
No
Mechanics
(%)
At
Most
M1
(%)
389
318
703
548
13
9
13
8
37
31
39
30
Students
Year
Category
All
200304
Engineers
All
200405
Engineers
10
Diagnostic
Mechanics Test
To ascertain knowledge base of
students
Questions from M1 and M2
syllabus + common
misconceptions
Oct 2004 – 451 engineering
students at LU
11
Diagnostic
Mechanics Test
Sample Question:
(Savage - Mechanics in Action)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
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Diagnostic
Mechanics Test
Number of
mechanics
modules
Number of
Students
Mechanics DT
mean
0
30
59.93
1
96
65.85
2
208
74.55
3+
67
81.25
Don’t Know
Overall
50
451
48.20
69.84
13
Diagnostic
Mechanics Test
Analysis
Overall high average – 70%
M1 questions answered better than
M2
Students from engineering
departments with high entry
requirements scored better
14
Summary (i)
Schools
5% offer no mechanics
26% offer at most M1
43% of all pupils study M1
(not necessarily engineers)
15
Summary (ii)
LU engineers
Approx 8% have studied no mech modules
Approx 30% have studied at most M1
Diagnostic test
Correlation with number of mechanics
modules studied
16
Conclusions
Large numbers of students’
entering with little or no knowledge
of mechanics
Need to know just what knowledge
students have:
Questionnaire
Diagnostic Mechanics Test
17
Implications
Worldwide
Need to monitor changes to pre-university
qualifications and respond accordingly
In UK:
From 2006 entry, students will have studied
even less mechanics
Onus on universities to adapt to their
continually changing intake
• Widening participation
18
Answer
UK Engineering Students’
Knowledge of Mechanics on
Entry: Has it all gone?
No!
BUT
A significant number of students
are entering with little or no
knowledge of mechanics
19
Contact Details
Stephen Lee
Mathematics Education Centre
Loughborough University
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU
[email protected]
http://mec.lboro.ac.uk
20
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Syllabi M1/M2 OCR
M1 (2637)
Force as a vector
Equilibrium of a particle
Newton’s Laws of motion
Linear momentum
Kinematics of motion in a straight line
M2 (2638)
Centre of mass
Equilibrium of a rigid body
Motion of a projectile
Uniform motion in a circle
Coefficient of restitution and impulse
Energy, work and power
22
Syllabi M3/M4 OCR
M3 (2639)
Equilibrium of rigid bodies in contact
Elastic strings and springs
Impulse and momentum in two dimensions
Motion in a vertical circle
Linear motion under a variable force
Simple Harmonic Motion
M4 (2640)
Relative motion
Centre of mass
Moment of inertia
Rotation of a rigid body
Stability and oscillations
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