Download SEFI Mathematical Working Group und Mathematik für

SEFI Mathematical Working
Group (MWG)
Burkhard Alpers
Kari Lehtonen
Structure
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Organisation
Activities
Documents
„Important Issues“
Conclusion
Organisation/SEFI
• SEFI: European Society for Engineering Education
(www.sefi.be)
• Goal: To improve engineering education in Europe and
to foster cooperation
• Members: Institutions, Companies, Individuals
• Publication: European Journal of Engineering Education
• Working Groups for special topics, e.g.
– Curriculum Development
– Continuing Engineering Education
– Mathematical Working Group (MWG)
• MWG (http://sefi.htw-aalen.de):
– Steering group (Planning of activities)
– Chairman: Burkhard Alpers (Aalen University)
Activities of MWG
• Annual meeting of the „Steering group“
• Production of useful documents like the
curriculum document (see below)
• Seminars (Proceedings on web page)
– Every second year
– Presentations, discussion of special topics
– Vienna (2004), Kongsberg (2006), Loughborough
(2008), Wismar (2010), Salamanca (2012)
• „Assessment Project“ (see web page)
• Identification of „Important Issues“ (see web
page)
Core Curriculum (2002)
• Goal: Identification of learning outcomes for
math education of engineers
• Structure :
– Identification of different levels Level (0-3)
– Statement of desired learning outcomes
• State: 2nd edition 2002
• Problem: Higher-level learning goals are missing
• Current development of new edition based on
the concept of mathematical competencies
(discussion document on web page)
Important Issues (1)
• Activation of students (active learning)
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Lecture(e.g. concept tests), Teilnahme
Projects
Assignments
Math laboratories
• Integration in engineering education
– Considering math in applications
– What is the split of responsibility between math
education and application education?
– Who should teach math to engineers?
Important Issues (2)
• Role of technology
– Change of contents and/or goals
– Still necessary elementary capabilities
– Integration in education (Usage in regular lecture,
additional lab)
– Usage for work on application problems
• Mathematics at the work place
– Investigation of necessary math qualification at
engineering work places
– Technology as interface to mathematics
– Consequences for education?
Important Issues (3)
• Ways of learning and teaching
– „Teaching for understanding“ (Vienna 2004)
– Reference to „learning outcomes“
• Knowledge and attitudes of students
– Decreasing knowledge and capabilities
– Heterogeneity
– Time budgets used for learning
Important Issues (4)
• Consequences of Bologna
– Reduction of math contact hours
– Minimum of credit points for exchange
• Assessment
– „What you get is what you assess.“
– Matching desired learning goals and forms of
assessment
Conclusion
• MWG deals with interesting and current
topics
• Seminars allow for intensive exchange of
ideas
• MWG is open for participation
• Next opportunity:
Salamanca 2012 (see web page)
[email protected]