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Fewer students failed maths when taught by fellow students

Students were given the responsibility of teaching engineering students mathematics. The failure rate dropped significantly.

A new course format for students in engineering mathematics yielded good results.
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Presented by: University of Agder
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Each year, the University of Agder holds a six-week summer course in mathematics for engineering students.

It is an introductory course for students who have the necessary qualifications but did not study advanced mathematics in upper secondary school.

In 2024, the course format was changed.

Professor Morten Brekke says that students are given more responsibility for their own learning after the restructuring of the mathematics course.

Professor Morten Brekke gave much of the responsibility to three handpicked student assistants: Emma Nesdal Slinning, Luis Fernando Jack, and Julian Gjestvang.

As a lecturer, he works to improve the quality of teaching. In this case, by testing different teaching methods.

The changes yielded good results compared to 2023:

The failure rate in engineering mathematics was halved when the students took their final exam in December 2024. It dropped from 21 to 11 per cent.

More freedom and greater responsibility

The new format provides students with more freedom. Previously, they had three hours of lectures and three hours of exercises each day. Now, they can watch videos whenever it suits them.

Brekke has recorded videos in which he covers all the chapters in the textbook.

The three learning assistants are available every day from 8 AM to 4 PM to help students with questions.

Students take three digital tests throughout the course. They can use all available resources. Each test can be taken four times, and students must get 60 per cent correct to pass.

“The students have to take responsibility on their own. They choose what they need help with, and it also helps them plan their study routine,” says Brekke.

"It's easier to ask us than the professor," says Emma Nesdal Slinning.

Students can also request extra lectures if they need them.

Students helping students

Emma Nesdal Slinning was one of the learning assistants. She believes that having students as mentors was important for the success of the course.

“We've been through this ourselves. We know how difficult it can be. Besides, for many, it's easier to ask us for advice than a professor,” she says.

The students were satisfied

Evaluations show that the students liked the new format. On a scale from 1 to 5, the course received good scores:

  • The teaching methods enhance understanding: 4.18 
  • The course is relevant: 4.23 
  • The teaching promotes academic development: 4.25 
  • Digital tools aid learning: 4.29 

Mandatory for engineering students

Luis Fernando Jack will also be a learning assistant this year.

The summer maths course is mandatory for engineering students who lack advanced mathematics from upper secondary school.

The course must be passed in July. Afterwards, students can start their bachelor's degree in August and take the exam in December.

The course is offered both on campus and online. About 50 students attended in person, while around 100 participated online.

The new course format will be used in this summer's course. Emma Nesdal Slinning and Luis Fernando Jack will once again serve as learning assistants.

Assistants Slinning and Jack have written an article together with Brekke about the restructuring of the course. It was presented at a conference on mathematics for engineers in Germany.

Reference:

Brekke et al. 'Peer learning: Professor and Students unite in a flexible bridging mathematics course', Paper in the conference 22nd SEFI SIG in Mathematics seminar, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Germany, 2025.

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no

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