JEM-related activities

At the University of Amsterdam we are working on remedial mathematics exercise materials and mathematics materials that bridge the gap between secondary school mathematics and higher education. This is done by various members of the Higher Education Group at the AMSTEL Instituute in various projects:

• Mathmatch project (until April 2007)
  In February-March 2007, the Maple T.A. question banks on Basic Mathematics were finalized
• GSO (Integrated Science Education, until July 2007)
  The Maple T.A. question bank on mathematics needed for first year Quantum Chemistry course has been extended and adapted.
• GALOIS project (Integrated Algebraic Learning Environment in School, February 2007- July 2007).
  Experiments at schools about the use of Java Applets for Mathematics Exercises have been carried out and the SCORM-compliant Java Applet Generator has been extended and improved. Work has been presented at ICTMT8. See also www.galoisproject.eu
• NKBW project (Nationale Kennisbank Basisvaardigheden Wiskunde, National Knowledge Bank on Basic Skills in Mathematics), a joint project with 13 Dutch higher education institutes (including JEM partner TUE).
  Project site: http://www.nkbw.nl, Project leader: L. van Gastel (UvA).
  This semester can be characterised as the implementation phase of the project. The portal (www.wizmo.nl) has been designed, implemented and tested, and undergoes further development.
• SIGMA (Special Interest Group Mathematics Activities).
  SIGMA aims to facilitate continuos learning paths in education in mathematics between secondary education and higher education. In this way SIGMA intends to improve on the problems regarding the transition 'from pupil to student' for mathematics. SIGMA is the platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and aids to address the problems of prerequisite mathematics. website: http://e-learning.surf.nl/sigma
  In this semester various workgroups have been formed working on the following themes: national synchronization of entry tests, standards for assessement, SIGMA-award for best practice in transition issues.

Dissemination (conferences, workshops, publications)

• 9-10 February 2007 (JEM-funded)
  Attendence of André Heck at the 1st JEM Workshop in Lisbon. Paper presentation: André Heck, Peter Boon, Christian Bokhove, and Gerard Koolstra. Applets for learning school algebra and calculus. Electronic Proceedings e+Calculus
• 15 February 2007. Conference.
  MathMatch Day at University of Twente. Various project presentations.
• March 2007. Paper.
  Annemiek Wieland, Natacia Brouwer, Wolter Kaper, Dirk Tempelaar, Maaike van Leijen, Bart Rienties, André Heck, and Bert ten Boske. Factoren die een rol spelen bij de ontwikkeling van remedirend onderwijs [Factors that play a role in the development of remedial education] Tijdschrift voor Hoger Onderwijs. Jaargang 2007, nummer 1 (maart 2007) 1-15. www.tvho-online.nl.
• March 2007. Paper.
  André Heck and Nellie Verhoef. Mathmatch: aansluitingsmodule voor wiskunde (in Dutch). Euclides 82 (5) (2007) 187-190.
• 23 April 2007. Joint NKBW - SIGMA Conference in Utrecht.
• May 2007. Online paper in Dutch.
  Natacia Brouwer and Vincent Jonker. Studiedag VO-HO aansluiting wiskunde: Een stap vooruit naar betere VO-HO aansluiting wiskunde. http://elearning.surf.nl/e-learning/artikelen/4215
• June 2007. Paper.
  Lodewijk Koopman, Natacia Brouwer, and André Heck. Brushing up on Mathematics for Quantum Chemistry. In: Dolores Corcoran, Sinéad Breen (eds.) Proceedings of the Second International Science and Mathematics Education Conference Dublin, 18-19 September (SMEC 2006).
• June 2007. Paper.
  Dirk Tempelaar, Bart Rienties, Fons van Engelen, Natacia Brouwer, Annemiek Wieland, Maarten van Wesel. Web-Spijkeren 1 & II: wiskunde reparatieonderwijs (in Dutch), Onderwijs Innovatie, jaargang 2007, nr 2, pp.17-28.
• June 2007. Paper.
  Vincent Jonker, Natacia Brouwer, Monica Wijers. Nationale Kennisbank Basisvaardigheden Wiskunde (in Dutch). Euclides 82 (8) (2007) 295-297.
• 1-4 July 2007. Paper presentation and workshop.
  Atttendence of André Heck at ICTMT8 in Hradec Kralovà.
  Christian Bokhove, Gerard Koolstra, Peter Boon, and André Heck. Towards an integrated learning environment for mathematics. In: Eva Milkova (ed.) Conference Proceedings of ICTMT8.
• July 2007. Paper.
  Lodewijk Koopman, Natacia Brouwer, André Heck and Wybren Jan Buma. Remedial Mathematics for Quantum Chemistry. Submitted to Journal of Chemical Education.