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I forward an interesting call for information and collaboration from a
colleague in Ireland.<br>
The subject is Mathematics Support Centres.<br>
I know that since we opened ours at Queen's a few years ago (staffed by
undergrads and grads) it has transformed the work life of many of our
students and we have also seen the same
"<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">social and friendly
atmosphere" arise. <br>
</font>peter<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>From: </b>Florence Glanfield
<<a href="mailto:glanfiel@ualberta.ca">glanfiel@ualberta.ca</a>><br>
<b>Date: </b>March 19, 2009 10:01:27 AM MDT (CA)<br>
<b>To: </b>CMESG listserve
<<a href="mailto:cmesg-l@lists.nipissingu.ca">
cmesg-l@lists.nipissingu.ca</a>><br>
<b>Cc: </b>Ciarán MacanBhaird
<<a href="mailto:ciaranmacanbhaird@gmail.com">
ciaranmacanbhaird@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject: [Cmesg-l] Mathematics Support Centres at Universities across
Canada<br>
</b></font><br>
Colleagues,<br><br>
We recently received the following email from Dr. Ciarán Mac an Bhaird,
Math lecturer and Manager of the Math Support Centre in the National
University of Ireland, Maynooth:<br><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">"My principle area of work is in
Math Support and education. In Ireland, and Europe in general there
is a big problem with service Math students coming to third level with
severe weaknesses in their basic Math abilities and indeed with a very
negative attitude towards the subject.<br>
Setting up Math Support Centres in Universities is one of the responses
we have taken. Our centre had 2493 visits in 20 weeks during the
last academic year, and this year we are already past 3500 visits.
There is a very social and friendly atmosphere generated in the centre
and students are beginning to enjoy their Math. The popularity is
not evidence of success but we have conducted research and submitted
papers which points out that the support significantly changes students'
attitudes towards Maths, their studying habits and their mathematical
abilities. Students, particularly weaker students, perform
significantly better in exams than students who don't attend.<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Anyway, finally to my point. I am
very interested in innovations in Math support and education. I am
involved in collaborations with SIGMA (The UK Centre of Excellence in
Maths and Stats Support) and I have set up and been elected to the
committee of the Irish Maths Support Network. <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">There is an Irish-Canadian scholarship
which encourages and promotes co-operation between our two countries and
I would also like to apply for that, if it is feasible, to help with any
possible work that we can do."<br>
</font><br>
If you are able to share the work that is happening at your university
with respect to Mathematics Support Centres, or if you are able to send
the name of a contact, to our colleague in Ireland, then please
correspond directly with Dr. Ciarán Mac an Bhaird. Dr. Ciarán Mac an
Bhaird's email address is
<a href="mailto:ciaranmacanbhaird@gmail.com">
ciaranmacanbhaird@gmail.com</a>.<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
Florence Glanfield PhD<br>
President CMESG/GCEDM<br>
Department of Secondary Education<br>
341 Education South<br>
University of Alberta<br>
Edmonton AB T6G 2G5 <br>
780 492 3673 (phone)<br>
780 492 9402 (fax)</blockquote><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
Peter Taylor<br>
Professor<br>
Dept Math&Stats<br>
Queen's University<br>
Kingston ON K7L 3N6<br>
613 533-2434<br>
<a href="http://www.mast.queensu.ca/~peter/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.mast.queensu.ca/~peter/</a></body>
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