Mathematics on the threshold

Abstract

Lowering the dropout rate of incoming mathematics and science students, and enhancing the provision of mathematics support for freshmen are two important aims of the University of Amsterdam. The approach recently adopted to support first year students is to set up a diagnostic pretest and posttest and use these tests to identify students being at risk of failing their mathematics courses and other modules in the first year. Follow-up procedures are implemented and computer algebra based assessment and practise of mathematics skills play an important role in it. In this paper we describe this approach and its success.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank their colleagues Jan van de Craats, Peter de Paepe, and Lidy Wesker for their help in the development of the pretest and posttest, either by making fruitful comments on the exercises, or by suggesting or providing new exercises. We much appreciated the help of our colleague Wolter Kaper in setting up the Maple T.A. for Blackboard in a short time and in running the tests. We also thank Louise Krmpotic and Robin Coe of Maplesoft Inc. for providing us, before official release, with the version 2.5 of Maple T.A. with Blackboard support and for helping us out with technical problems when needed.