Using Blackboard quizzes to support and improve student confidence in using numeracy skills

Research output: Contribution to conferenceConference Abstract

Abstract

Numeracy skills are a key part of STEM degree programmes but the confidence of our incoming first-year students in using these has decreased in recent years. We have developed a series of quizzes on the Blackboard VLE to assess student confidence with common numeracy skills and provide opportunities to develop these in the first term of our biomedical science units.
Students completed a numeracy skills and confidence quiz of 16 questions grouped into three themes: units and expressing numbers; averages and percentages; solutions and dilutions. For each question they indicated how confident they were in their answer. Students then completed a quiz on each theme (12-20 questions randomly selected from question banks). They could attempt each quiz as many times as they wanted but had to achieve >80% correct for the next quiz to become available. Finally, students completed the numeracy skills and confidence quiz again.
Twenty-five students completed all quizzes, with correct answers for the numeracy skills and confidence quiz significantly increasing between first and second attempts. Student confidence in their answers also increased. Utilising automated Blackboard quizzes can identify particular numerical skills that students struggle with and can provide opportunities for them to improve their skills and confidence.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusUnpublished - 2018
EventEnhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference - University of Bristol, Bristol
Duration: 11 Jul 201812 Jul 2018

Conference

ConferenceEnhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
CityBristol
Period11/07/1812/07/18

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