Presentation in the pedagogical colloquium by Linda Hartman, Kristina Juter, Sara Maad Sasane, Anna-Maria Persson and Anna Torstensson, Lund University. 

Abstract

There is an ongoing discussion at universities in Sweden and internationally about students’ low attendances at mathematics courses. In this study, students’ attendance behaviours and their uses of resources for learning in engineering-, mathematics- and statistics programs during their first mathematics courses are studied. The resources for learning can be human, physical or digital and the contexts are either teacher-led activities or students’ self-studying. The students’ uses of resources are also related to their goals for studying mathematics. A questionnaire was used to collect data and 585 students sent in their answers. In addition, four students were interviewed to further explain their rationales for their choices concerning resources and attendance. The results revealed that course literature was the most common resource for learning, followed by generative AI. Lectures were the most common teacher-led resource used by the students, but several self-study resources were ranked higher in the students’ responses. The results differed somewhat between the programs regarding, for example, attendance at lectures, peers as resources for learning and use of Google or similar. There were, however, similarities over the programs concerning uses of course literature and generative AI. Implications for teaching and learning will be discussed at the presentation.

Members in the project:

Linda Hartman is a senior lecturer in mathematical statistics at the Division of Mathematical statistics at LU. She has taught statistics at all levels, and has conducted studies about active and cooperative learning.

Kristina Juter is a professor in mathematics education at the Division for Mathematics at LU. Her research includes studies of university students’ learning mathematics, students’ beliefs and applications of mathematics.

Sara Maad Sasane is a senior lecturer in mathematics at the Faculty of Engineering at LU. She has extensive teaching experience within the engineering education and in various degree programs. 

Anna-Maria Persson is a senior lecturer in mathematics at the Division for Mathematics at LU. She is experienced in teaching and educational development, and has been part of a cooperation projects about the transition to university studies. 

Anna Torstensson is a senior lecturer in mathematics at the Faculty of Engineering at LU. She has a broad teaching experience and has studied the impact of organisational culture on student behaviour and attitudes.