Teaching mathematics and statistics for business students: Challenges and experiences in a German University of Applied Sciences

1. Teaching mathematics and statistics to business
students: Challenges and experiences in a German
University of Applied Sciences
Teresa Melo
Saarland University of Applied Sciences
Business School
Institute for Supply Chain and Operations Management (ISCOM)
Saarbrücken, Germany

2. 2
 German Higher Education System
 Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar)
 Business School
 Degree programmes
 Teaching challenges
 Learning problems
 Supporting activities in maths & statistics
 Outlook
Outline
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014

3. 3
German Higher Education System
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 2.5 Mio. students (2013)
 47.6% female, 52.4% male
 61% public higher education institutions, 39% private
 Responsibility for education  federal states
 Common basic principles, different organisation (e.g. tuition fees charged
in Lower Saxony)
Universities
Universities
of Applied
Sciences
Colleges of
Art / Music
392
30.9% 54.8% 14.3%
German Rector‘s Conference, www.hrk.de

4. 4
Role of Higher Education Institutions
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
Access to higher education: 12/13 years of schooling
‘Abitur’ or ‘Fachabitur’ certification
Universities
Universities
of Applied
Sciences
Colleges of
Art / Music
 Wide range of academic disciplines
 Theoretical and research-oriented studies
 Application-oriented studies and research
 Studies integrated in industry, companies
 Studies in fine arts, performing arts and music

5. 5
Degrees at German Universities
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 9,204 undergraduate degree programmes
 6,940 postgraduate degree programmes
 Bologna Process (European Union):
 Bachelor’s degree, 3 - 4 years
 Master’s degree, 1 - 2 years
Degree programme
Institution Bachelor Master Doctoral
Universities   
Universities of
Applied Sciences
 

(in cooperation
with a university)
Colleges of
Art / Music
  

6. 6
Saarland University of Applied Sciences I
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
History
1807 École pratique des mines
(mining school)
1971 School of Engineering +
Business School (Fachhochschule)
1991 Saarland University of Applied
Sciences (Hochschule für Technik
und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes)
Current figures
 ~5,700 students (37% female)
 ~120 professors
 5 campuses
 4 faculties
School of Engineering
School of Social Sciences
Business School
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

7. 7
Saarland University of Applied Sciences II
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Practical experience through mandatory practical work in all degree
programmes
 Intensive cooperation with companies: internships, invited lectures by
CEOs, exkursions, research partnerships
 Cooperation (teaching & research) with more than 50 universities abroad:
Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Latvia, Luxemburg,
Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA, …
 Member of the European University Association (EUA)
 Top position in R&D among the German Universities of
Applied Sciences (DFG statistics)
School of Engineering School of Social Sciences
Business SchoolSchool of Architecture and Civil Engineering

8. 8
Business School
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
Students > 2,200
Professors 45
Assistant lecturers 22
Admin. staff 17
Invited lecturers
(industry, etc.)
> 80
Some impressions of Campus Rotenbühl

9. 9
Business School – Degree Programmes
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
Bachelor programmes Master programmes
Aviation Business and Piloting*
Business Administration*
Marketing Science
Accounting and Finance
Supply Chain Management
International Business
Administration
International Management
International Tourism Management
Leisure, Sports and Tourism
Cultural Management
Industrial Engineering* Industrial Engineering
DFHI Programmes**:
Business Administration, Logistics
DFHI-Programme Management
Sciences**
**) Franco-German Institute of Higher Education: Joint degree programmes in
cooperation with University of Lorraine, Metz (F)
*)full-time/part-time

10. 10
Business School – Maths & Statistics
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 3 professors, 4 assistant lecturers
 Scope of courses dependent on degree programme, e.g.
 Business Administration (Bachelor): 3 courses, 15 ECTS
 International Business Administration (Bachelor): 2 courses, 10 ECTS
 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor): 4 courses, 15 + 2.5 ECTS
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System: 1 ECTS = 28 h
Mathematics Statistics Quantitative Methods
calculus descriptive stat operations research
algebra probability theory logistics
geometry inference stat
marketing &
accounting
financial maths multivariate stat simulation
software (computer algebra system, excel, SPSS, …)

11. 11
Challenges Posed by Business Students
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Low motivation to learn maths
 Low/medium achievement at high school
 Understanding: Mathematics = Arithmetic
 No deep understanding of basic concepts
 Generation Y (70’s – mid-90’s) and Generation Z (>mid-90’s):
use of communication and media technology
 Internet, smartphones, instant
messaging, MP3 players,
social media (facebook, etc.), …
 Response to loud and quick
visuals, audio, and music
 Short attention span and lack of
concentration and application
 Instant gratification
 Easily frustrated

12. 12
Learning Problems I
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Learned Helplessness  a student who experiences
continuous failure in math expects to fail
 Passive Learner  student does not actively make
connections between what he/she already knows and
what he/she is presently learning
 Memory Problems  `information storage problem’
 Attention Problems  important pieces of information are often missed
during teaching
 Cognitive/Metacognitive Thinking Deficits  students lack the ability to
monitor learning:
 Evaluating whether they are learning
 Employing strategies when needed
 Knowing whether a strategy is successful
 Making changes when needed

13. 13
Learning Problems II
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Low Level of Academic Achievement  lack of basic math skills
 Math Anxiety  ‘math time’ is often an anxiety-ridden experience
What is the solution to these problems?
 Increase motivation, decrease frustration
 Provide success
 Realise the need for mathematical thinking

14. 14
Teaching Maths & Stat at the Business School
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Small groups (< 40 students)
 Lectures
 Combination of traditional channels with new technology
 Applications, case studies & assignments
 Tutorials (some in addition to course schedule)
 Weekly exercise sheets (without solutions), newsletters (with solutions)
 Mock examinations  assess learning progress
 Revision courses (‘Repetitorium’) every semester
 Courses in German, some in English
 Library, large choice of e-books

15. 15
Using Technology
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 e-Learning platform: CLIX
 Virtual classrooms (part-time study programmes)
 Session recording (lectures)
 Software tools for applications (CAS, excel, SPSS, …)

16. 16
Additional Support I
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Maths Café
 2 sessions every week (2 x 4 h)
 supervision by tutors (students) and 1 assistant lecturer
 informal atmosphere
 Long Night of Mathematics / Long Night of Statistics
 every semester (Fridays, after 6 pm)
 supervision by tutors, assistant lecturers, professors
 Additional exercises

17. 17
Additional Support II
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
Preparatory courses
 4 weeks (> 700 students in 2013)
 ‘refresh’ basic maths concepts
 close ‘gaps’
 groups built depending on level (based on initial test)
 course contents aligned with degree programmes
 courses given by maths students (Saarland University)
 interactive web-based e-learning  MathCoach
high school htw saar

18. 18
Cooperation with High Schools
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
Project Mathe-MAX
 Annual conference with high schools in Saarland (2013, 2014)
 Preparatory meetings (working group)
 Goal: identification of minimum skills in maths required for higher
education
Further training for academic staff at htw saar
 mathematics (in cooperation with prof. A. Lambert, Saarland University)
 seminars, workshops on teaching
high school htw saar

19. 19
Outlook
MetaMath/MathGeAr
Workshop, 11 Sept. 2014
 Strong commitment to support students
 Gradual assessment of supporting activities
 Development & implementation of additional activities,
e.g. continuous assessment
 Long road ahead …
Source:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your attention!
contact: teresa.melo@htwsaar.de