Developing digital and hybrid mathematics support for long-term improvements in quality and accessibility

School:  Mathematics

Team Members:  David Quinn, Konstantina Zerva, Steven O'Hagan

Abstract

MathsBase is a drop-in help centre for 1st and 2nd year students who study a course offered from the School of Mathematics. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a change in the mode of delivery of the MathsBase service from on-campus to digital, but it continued to offer synchronous support to students.

This project seeks to investigate 1) how MathsBase was used during the academic year 2020–21 and if the digital format has affected the use of it, 2) how the digital setting might be used in future; next academic year the digital format may be necessary, and in the longer term, how the hybrid support can improve the accessibility of the service,3) What lessons can we learn from the mathematics support services offered in other UK Higher Education Institutes and how they have been delivered in 2020–21.

The findings will help the School of Mathematics to improve the service offered to students through MathsBase and build a more accessible model of the service, in which we are able to take the best parts of the on-campus format and the best parts of the digital format. The evidence of our experience with MathsBase, and any recommendations resulting from the project, will offer a model  for academic support which can be adapted for use in other STEM subjects. The project will enable the development of guidance for good practice, within the context of digital mathematics support, driving improved accessibility and quality of support offered.

Final Project Report

Download the final project report (PDF)