Grant recipients:
Dan Wolczuk, Faculty of Mathematics
Amanda Garcia, Systems Design Engineering
Joslin Goh, Statistics and Actuarial Science
Giuseppe Sellaroli, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
(Project Timeline: May 2018 - April 2019)
Description
- The goal of this project is to assess the potential impact that comics can have in undergraduate mathematics courses.
- A series of comics supplementing the usual course material will be created and incorporated into the MATH 136 course offered in the Spring 2018 term.
- Research has shown that comics are beneficial to various aspects of student learning; however, there is little scholarship focusing specifically on university mathematics courses.
Question Investigated
- What are the ways in which comics affect student learning in math courses?
Findings
- In a study of 61 students:
- 86% of students reported a better understanding of the material after reading the comics, regardless of prior confidence level
- 81% reported that at least half of the comics helped them feel engaged in the course
- 74% reported that their attitude towards some of the course topics improved
- 71% reported that the comics helped with their overall understanding
- 70% reported that at least half of the comics made the course more interesting
- 62% reported that the comics motivated them to study at least half of the course material
Dissemination and Impact
- In addition to the Winter 2019 cohort, students from MATH 136 online and MATH 225 in the Fall 2019 term as well as students from MATH 225 online in the Winter 2020 term have benefitted from the comics.
- The study has been discussed with the Teaching and Learning Research Group within the Faculty of Mathematics.
- A proposal to present the findings of this grant has been submitted for the UW Teaching and Learning Conference (2020).
- Findings of this project have also been shared with colleagues from York University, the Canadian Mathematical Society, and the Special Interest Group of the Mathematical Association of America on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education.
Implications
- The existing comics will continue to be used in linear algebra courses, and new ones will be created for future MATH courses, specifically MATH 103, which includes non-math students.
- This project has allowed the applicants to connect with colleagues that share similar interests, and research projects.
- Colleagues in the Department of Computer Science, the Teaching and Learning Research Commons, and the Teaching and Learning Research Group in the Faculty of Mathematics.
References
References can be found here.