Encouraging Effective Study Habits Through Low-Stakes Testing in First-Year Mathematics
For years, I shared a common frustration with colleagues: the sense that students only begin studying a week before the exam. At the time, this was more of a suspicion than a substantiated fact. However, the introduction of an online homework platform for mathematics education at TU Delft provided a new level of transparency. It…
Read MoreFive times faster grading, yet more emphasis of writing.
When we give standard written tests in bachelor-level mathematics, we roughly want to assess three skills: – executing computations, – understanding of definitions and statements, – writing of a mathematical argument. Based on my experience in the last several years, I am convinced that executing computations and understanding of definitions and statements can be very…
Read MoreBeyond the Blackboard – A Critical Look at Classroom Lectures
Nelly Litvak challenges the conventional use of classroom lectures in university education, arguing that they are ineffective due to issues like low retention, lack of interaction, and short attention spans. The author proposes an active learning approach and advocates for a flipped classroom model. The article questions the value of lectures for inspiration and general…
Read MoreThe state-of-the-art of mathematics teaching at the Dutch universities
Amidst societal upheaval, the realm of mathematics education stands poised for transformation. Evolving communication methods and the influx of data challenge traditional teaching approaches, while a commitment to logical reasoning endures, hinting at an evergreen cornerstone in the face of change.
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