"What does this have to do with wood?" How to link mathematics with the required skills of a wood technology engineer

Teaching mathematics at the first-year university level is a particularly hard task if the students lack motivation for this subject. This paper presents a framework we are currently developing to restructure our mathematical and technical courses in order to increase the motivation for mathematics. The overarching goal is to reduce the dropout rate of our students, which is often related to poor performance in mathematics. The framework is based on an analysis of the skills a successful graduate of wood technology studies should have. These skills will be used to identify what mathematical input is required to acquire those skills in the corresponding technical courses. The mathematical content will then be delivered at the time that it is actually needed to solve problems in mechanics, physics, programming or process engineering.

10.11.2014 | Mario Schmitz, Johannes Creutziger & Holger Pehlgrimm (Eberswalde)