Investigations into the use of new and emerging technologies for mathematics and statistics support and education are being undertaken by sigma, through the Innovative Uses of Technology Group. The key objectives of this group are to keep abreast of emerging technologies, to define a coherent innovations strategy and to disseminate information on the uses of technologies in the area of Mathematics Education.
Work has already been completed on a range of information handouts on how new technologies can be used to enhace teaching within a mathematics context. Members of sigma have embraced personal response system technologies and research is underway on its effectiveness in the classroom.
A wide range of equipment has been purchased and is currently being evaluated. An external consultant has been engaged to carry out investigations into the delivery of mathematical materials via games consoles. The initial investigations looked at the delivery of mathematics learning support materials on the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) and the creation of interactive content for this console. Work has now moved onto the cretaion of resources for mobile phones, PDAs and other portable devices.
Exploratory work has been undertaken with the social communication tool Facebook and this will to continue through to 2010. The entire suite of mathtutor video materials is being re-formatted for use on portable devices (such as video iPods, MP4 players and more advanced mobile phones). With the Recording Suite at Coventry University now operational, an additional range of purpose engineered video resources will be produced and made available during the next two years.