Quantitative Skills in the First Year Science Curriculum: Reflections on a Collaborative Journey

Abstract

An OLT Extension project: 'Acquiring and applying a shared meaning of quantitative skills (QS) across core first year science units with a focus on distance education', commenced this year. One of its aims was to establish an ongoing cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists, mathematicians and statisticians at a regional university to enhance student learning of QS in interdisciplinary contexts, with a focus on distance education. The success of this project depends on academics from the various disciplines appreciating the need for a collaborative approach, and agreeing to join the facilitator(s) on the journey. This paper will present initial results from the collaborative processes taking place as part of the project but will also examine the complex web of interactions, and formal and informal collaborations that led to the development of this inter-disciplinary, cross-school project.