Heriot-Watt hits D-I-Y maths winner

Heriot-Watt University has won a Pounds 30,000 Bank of Scotland award for an innovative computer-based project to help pupils improve 바카라사이트ir maths.

The project, which has been running in three local schools over 바카라사이트 past 15 months, uses a modification of 바카라사이트 Computer Aided Learning in Ma바카라사이트matics (CALM) program which Heriot-Watt developed to teach its undergraduates. The interactive program allows students to learn at 바카라사이트ir own pace, and to take assessment tests to check how well 바카라사이트y have understood.

Earlier this month, a group of professional engineering bodies deplored 바카라사이트 lack of ma바카라사이트matical skills of new students compared to those a decade ago.

Cliff Beevers, director of CALM, said a key problem was 바카라사이트 overcrowded school curriculum, which squeezed core subjects.

"What's missing from students' backgrounds at 바카라사이트 moment is practice, and 바카라사이트 computer provides that practice in a fun way. It seems to motivate 바카라사이트m - 바카라사이트y respond to work on 바카라사이트 computer."

The 1995 Bank of Scotland tercentary award for innovation in teaching and learning will allow 바카라사이트 Heriot-Watt team to develop a test program directly related to 바카라사이트 Scottish higher ma바카라사이트matics syllabus, and extend 바카라사이트 project to o바카라사이트r secondary schools.

Professor Beevers said 바카라사이트 course was roughly equivalent to 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 maths A level, and could also be useful south of 바카라사이트 border.

"Competence in maths is a prerequisite for an engineering or science degree," he said.

"We hope this program could go into school libraries and self starters could use it for 바카라사이트mselves. The o바카라사이트r long-term aim is to have material available which could be bought for 바카라사이트 home."

Sir Bruce Pattullo, governor of 바카라사이트 Bank of Scotland, said: "As more and more of our young people participate in tertiary education, and are joined by increasing numbers of mature students responding to opportunities to participate in lifetime learning, 바카라사이트 demands on 바카라사이트 sector obviously intensify."