This document summarizes Seneca College's approach to improving numeracy skills among its students. It finds that 34% of students receive grades of D or F in first-semester mathematics, placing them at risk of not completing their programs. Seneca addresses this using tablet PCs to enable synchronous collaborative workspaces, allowing students to solve problems and provide anonymous feedback in real-time. This active learning approach has led to improved participation and understanding compared to traditional asynchronous online or passive learning methods.

1. VISITING DELEGATION - WALES
Numeracy in Ontario:
Seneca College’s Approach
Carol Carruthers
November 25, 2014

2. SENECA COLLEGE
HTTP://SENECAC.ON.CA/ABOUT/INDEX.HTML
 Largest community college in Ontario
 Eight campuses in the Greater Toronto Area
 Programs offered in over 260 fields of study
 Approx 100,000 full and part time students
 International students from 90 countries

3. FINDINGS
http://csap.senecacollege.ca/en/
“Only 66% of students achieved “good grades” (A,
B or C) in first-semester mathematics in college,
while 34% received grades of D or F, placing them
“at risk” of not completing their chosen program.”
(College Mathematics Project, 2011, p. 1)

4. OUTCOMES
 Canadian Achievement Test (CAT3 – level 19)
 Foundations of Technical Mathematics course
http://www.senecac.on.ca/cgi-bin/subject?s1=MTH148
 Applied Science and Technology Program
http://www.senecacollege.ca/fulltime/AST.html

5. SYNCHRONOUS COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE

6. PEN-BASED COMPUTING (TABLET PC)
 Stylus input – like pencil on paper (no typing)
 Annotations focus learners on key concepts
 Visual learners can diagram ideas
 Notes saved and accessed anytime/anywhere

7. SYNCHRONOUS COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE
 Shared Teaching Responsibility
 Parallel Solution Methodology
 Online Groups Share a Common Screen
 Immediate Anonymous Feedback
 Real Time Assessment

8. SHARED TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY
 student(s) becomes temporary teacher
“…students can share answers anonymously, we can
correct each other’s work.”
 modeling methodology
“... It influences you because you’re seeing not only your
answers but others own at well and it enables you to
discuss different methods of solving problems.”
 students actively engaged/participating in class
“…I actually did my work and it was done right and
organized which helped for studying.”
 anonymous response
“I found that the shy students were more comfortable
participating through the tablet and shared control in
dyknow than standing up and speaking”.

9. HYBRID - ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE SPACES
 Mixed-mode (hybrid) pedagogy
 Teacher created online activities
 Clearly defined learning outcomes
 Increased student responsibility
 Assessment strategy reflects outcomes

10. STUDENTS DESIGN LEARNING EXPERIENCE
 InterACTIVE learning
http://www.mathopenref.com/
 Real time response to problem solving
http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/equation-formula.html
 Group competition to solve problems
http://jeopardylabs.com/play/ratio-and-proportion
 Online worksheet generators
http://www.math.com/students/worksheet/algebra_sp.htm
http://www.math-aids.com/
 Homework used to gauge understanding
Online textbook assignments

11. MATHCAST SITE
Learning
mathematics from
your fellow
students…
senecamathcasts.wordpress.com

12. With Technology Integration as the Catalyst
Teacher Driven Student Led
Passive Learning Active Learning
Asynchronous Synchronous
(LMS/Internet) (Pen-based
Computing/Dyknow)
THE CONTINUUM

13. THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?

14. MORE INFORMATION
 Contact: carol.carruthers@senecacollege.ca
@mathtech
 Seneca Mathcasts
senecamathcasts.wordpress.com
 DyKnow software
http://www.dyknow.com/
 Student videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-k65CFqpE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd7BsEF1x6g

15. HOW TO WRITE ON A WINDOWS BASED TABLET
 Windows Journal http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows7/create-and-personalize-
handwritten-notes-using-windows-journal
 Microsoft Word>Review>Start inking
https://www.eng.vt.edu/sites/default/files/pageattachments/Inking+in+Office.pdf
 OneNote http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/
 Tablet PC Input Panel http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/using-the-
writing-pad-and-touch-keyboard-in-tablet-pc-input-panel
 Math Input Panel http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/use-math-input-
panel-to-write-and-correct-math-equations

16. HANDWRITTEN /SHARED/ SOCIAL POSTING
 draw.to - Draw something and share it http://draw.to/new
 Scribblar – Collaborate instantly http://www.scribblar.com/
 DyKnow Vision – Interactive learning software
http://www.dyknow.com/educational-software-products/interactive-learning-software/