Numbas is a web-based assessment system with an emphasis on mathematics. It helps users to build sophisticated online tests suitable for numerate disciplines, including support for interactive graphs, statistical functions and the assessment of algebraic expressions.
Suitable for both practice and in-course assessment, Numbas tests integrate seamlessly with Blackboard, returning marks to Grade Center and offering the opportunity to download scores and reports directly from the tool.
Numbas is used in a wide range of subject areas here at Newcastle University, including accounting, biomedical sciences, engineering, physics and psychology. It is also used to deliver online support material in the ASK Academic Skills Kit.
Developed here at Newcastle University by the School of Mathematics & Statistics e-learning unit, Numbas is an open source project with users and partners around the world. More information can be found on the Numbas public website.
The Numbas section of the LTDS blog is in its infancy, however the team is very happy to answer any queries: numbas@ncl.ac.uk.
With the Peer Mentoring Scheme well underway across the University, mentors have been meeting with convenors to check how things are going.
Alison Graham convenes the Peer Mentors in the School of Biology.
Students in Peer Mentoring feedback session
She meets with Peer Mentors in the school in week 2, week 4 and week 7 or 8, just to check how students are doing and make sure that mentors and mentees are getting the most out of the scheme.
‘What I’ve started to try to do is to incentivise the meetings, so the students feel that they are getting something out of them, as well as just catching up.
‘I came up with the idea of tying them to the Graduate Skills Framework, so I often work through how the mentors will be able to use their skills in applying for jobs.
‘We go through how to evidence the skills that they’ve gained in applications and at interview.’
Alison hopes that this approach will make the scheme more lucrative for second and third year students who may be unsure about giving up their time.
‘It’s really about making sure that students can see and really use the skills they are gaining form being a Peer Mentor, in addition to helping other students.’
Alison says the scheme has proved popular in the School and that students have described it as useful but that often the whole experience relies on engagement from the mentors.
‘We have some excellent mentors who establish a real social group and relationship with their mentees by organising trips and events.
‘We try to encourage that and encourage teamwork within the groups – for example, we organise a treasure hunt in week one where they all have to work together.’
She says that the amount of engagement with mentors depends on individual students and often to circumstances.
‘But it depends on them. Some students only really liaise with their mentor in the first few weeks but some need a little bit more.
‘They also tend to turn to their mentors around exam and assignment time.
‘But it can also be really important for some students who are struggling.’
As a convenor for the programme, Alison points out that its important for the mentors to be trained and supported so that they know what queries they can answer.
‘We have to be quite careful to make sure that they know how much help they can give students with their academic work.
‘Obviously they can provide some advice but we don’t want people sharing assignments or anything, so that’s something we have to train them for.’
As well as the feedback meetings, Peer Mentors have all been invited to a Thank You party, taking place on 5th December in the Great North Museum.
Claire Burnham, the University’s Peer Mentoring Coordinator said: ‘We’re very excited about the event.
‘The Mentor of the year award will be presented on the night and we’ve already had 400 nominations from students across the University.
‘It’s a great way of rewarding our mentors and our convenors for all of their hard work.’
The next 3Ps: Pizza Pop and Practice workshop will take place on 29th November 2016.
The topic is ‘Dialogues’ and draws together sessions on storytelling using Microsoft Sway and the complexities of designing materials accessible to all students.
The event will take place between 12 and 2pm in the Hope and Tees Clusters of the Robinson Library.
There will, of course, be pizza and pop available before the workshops begin.
The next 3Ps: Pizza Pop and Practice workshop will take place on 29th November 2016.
The topic is ‘Dialogues’ and draws together sessions on storytelling using Microsoft Sway and the complexities of designing materials accessible to all students.
The event will take place between 12 and 2pm in the Hope and Tees Clusters of the Robinson Library.
There will, of course, be pizza and pop available before the workshops begin.
If you would like to find some of the diverse views on this topic you can watch this extra discussion that Professor Ian Haynes held with world experts on Hadrian’s Wall.
In this 13 minute film, recorded in 2014, you will see Ian talking with:
Professor David Breeze (Visiting Professor, Newcastle University),
Dr Sue Stallibrass (Historic England, Regional Science Advisor, NW England
Dr Nick Hodgson (Principal Keeper of Archaeology: Strategic Project Management, Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums)
Have their ideas changed your own thoughts at all?
The next annual North East Regional Three Rivers Learning and Teaching Conference will be held on the 17 March 2017 at Teesside University.
Now in its 10th year, this regional conference builds upon the success of previous partnership events held by the region’s Universities (Northumbria, Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle and Teesside). The conference title is ‘Transformations, Transitions & Territories’ and further information can be found on our website.
We would like you to participate in this year’s conference by submitting an abstract for a 20 minute paper presentation by 16th December 2016 that is focused on one of the following areas of the student journey:
Transforming assessment
Embedding employability
Student access, retention, attainment and progression in higher education
Internationalising higher education
Flexible learning
Student engagement through partnership
Technology enhanced learning
Education for Sustainable Development
Submissions are welcome from all staff at participating institutions and joint student/staff submissions are encouraged.
Monday 24 October sees the launch of the 2016 International Student Barometer (ISB), which Newcastle is taking part in for the eleventh time.
The ISB gives European Union and international students the opportunity to give their opinions on their experiences at Newcastle, from arrival at the University, through to teaching, accommodation and employability
We will survey all full-time and part-time EU and international undergraduates, taught and research postgraduate students, as well as study abroad and exchange students, based here in Newcastle and at Newcastle University London. We are unable to survey non-UK based and distance learning students as part of the ISB.
What is the ISB?
The annual ISB, which is run by i-Graduate, asks European Union and international students in around 200 universities across the world about their course and learning experiences. In 2016, the ISB will run at Newcastle between 24 October and 2 December.
What questions does it ask?
The survey includes questions about the whole student learning experience, including:
Pre-Arrival (including decision-making, application, and funding)
Arrival (including registration, and welcome/induction)
Learning (including teaching, assessment, and employability)
Living (including living costs, sports facilities, and accommodation)
Support (including personal tutors, students’ union, and wellbeing)
Who benefits from the ISB?
Schools, professional support services and NUSU examine the anonymised ISB data internally to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses. This information can be used to help effect changes designed to enhance or improve the student experience for both current and prospective students.
The ERDP (Unit for Educational Research, Development and Practice) will welcome Pauline Kneale PVC(T) Plymouth University for as part of their seminar series next month.
Pauline has led the development within Plymouth of a very active and successful Pedagogic Research network.
She will be leading a workshop in the morning of 8 November on evaluating teaching development which will be based upon the findings of an HEA-funded project.
She will also be delivering a seminar at lunchtime on that day, in which she will be sharing her reflections on developing pedagogic research.
Pauline is an excellent speaker and her presentations will be of interest to anybody interested in developing pedagogic research whatever stage their career is at or is interested in evaluating the impact of their teaching.
