Accessible, flexible and interactive pilot video materials for active learning in mathematics courses delivered as hybrid or distance courses, and for campus courses using a flipped classroom model

The background for the project is that its PI was some time ago approached by a student on the autistic spectrum, explaining that no matter how short or long a recorded lecture is, this student would struggle to learn from such material because of its non-interactive format, which was making the student unable to concentrate on it. Not even the fact that lecture notes were provided alongside the video materials, and that passages in lectures can be listened to over and over again, was helping the student to learn.

On the other hand, the course the student was attending (MA115G) otherwise runs very successfully as a course following a flipped classroom model. This course format was chosen because the course is only 3 hp, and many students previously reported difficulties in finding sufficient time to attend classes when the course was given in a more standard format for maths consisting of live lectures coupled with workshops/tutorial classes. 

The course runs during the first reading period of year one, alongside two larger 6 hp courses and numerous activities for new students. To accommodate this busy schedule, lectures are provided as videos, and the course follows a Wednesday–Wednesday cycle. Students can watch lectures flexibly, individually or in groups, and meet once a week for an interactive exercise workshop. This model has helped students manage their time better, and attainment has improved.

However, the case of the aforementioned autistic student has meant that we would now like to investigate how we can make the recorded material interactive as well as flexible, so the course becomes more inclusive and accessible, especially as more active learning is also likely to benefit the cohort as a whole.

Kaltura offers a way of inserting MCQ questions in videos, which could be a way to making the material more accessible. The project will start by an investigation into how hard/easy it is to make an interactive maths video with the tools we already have, and if they were to be found inadequate, will move on to investigating alternative technologies that are designed for or can be adapted to mimic the dialogue of the physical maths lecture room. The goal is to create a few pilot interactive lectures for MA115G, MA127G, and MA128G. If funding is available and students respond well, the plan is to expand these into full course materials later.

PI is Pia Heidtmann, IMD