Takeaways from Teaching through a Pandemic: Practical Examples of Lasting Value in Tertiary Mathematics Education

In this insightful volume, more than 50 educators from 4 continents outline thoughtful and intentional innovations of lasting value made in their teaching of tertiary mathematics and statistics, in response to COVID -19 pandemic-related campus closures. The examples given in 20 practical chapters fall into three themes: utilization of relevant technologies, discipline-appropriate assessment alternatives, and support for learning and engagement.

The first theme explored is the utilization of the affordances of communications technology and mathematical software and online tools, to create learning resources and activities for virtual classrooms. The second theme is the design of sound assessment alternatives, together with the associated issue of maintaining academic integrity, in disciplines accustomed to established question styles and face-to-face exams. Finally, a range of activities to encourage engagement and support learning and teaching, both online and as campuses re-opened, is described.

Due to their ongoing relevance and benefits for tertiary mathematics education, be that of pre-service teachers, engineers or mathematics majors, the examples found in these 20 practical chapters are ‘takeaways’ or ‘keepers’. This book was originally published as a special issue of International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology.

Katherine Seaton (FAustMS, SFHEA) is currently Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University, Australia, following twenty-seven years of mathematics teaching, outreach, service and research. Her publications range from statistical physics to tertiary mathematics assessment and academic integrity, and mathematical fibre art.

Birgit Loch (FAustMS, PFHEA) is currently Dean of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law at the University of New England, Australia. With a background in computational mathematics, her research expertise is in innovation and educational technologies in tertiary STEM education.

Elizabeth Lugosi is Professor at the Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science Department of Montgomery College. She is passionate about using engagement strategies to help students succeed in mathematics courses using collaborative, active learning and evidence-based instructional practices to enhance students’ problem-solving and to build community.