Student and tutor module reviews

I thought it was a really good module. I enjoyed learning about the teaching structures and then having to apply them with students as well as working through them myself. I recommend working with students probably once every two weeks so that you can do the learning tasks with them, this just gives you more options to write about in your essays. My tutor was really helpful, quick at replying etc. The one thing is there aren't too many online meets (tutorials) compared to the M modules (eg:M208) which I found unusual, but that's just because I wasn't used to it. The tutors are on hand whenever you need them to be though. ME322 is essay-based but also very learner-based. If you are wanting to work with students in the future or just enjoy working with students I think it's a great module. It can also get you to extend your own thinking as well. I found the TMAs a lot of work for ME322. It is very 'evidence-based' as you have to work with your learners and do the tasks yourself then analyse using the module ideas/structures how you can see their algebraic thinking developing. I found it really interesting as I want to go into teaching and currently work in a school. It's hard to grasp what they want from the assignments at first but it gets easier as the module goes on. Also the more tasks you do the more you have to choose from to write about as different tasks highlight the different module ideas better. The tutorials that I attended were really helpful! I didn't just attend my tutors either; I attended them all. The groups were really small so you are able to talk in the tutorials and discuss ideas and interpretations.

Course starting: October 2022

Review posted: September 2023

I enjoyed this module enormously, and it has changed how I teach algebra and how I talk to students about it, especially in centring the idea of generalisation and encouraging discussion and debate.
I am already a qualified maths teacher, so I thought it might not be useful, but quite the reverse - having taught some KS3 algebra primed me to think critically about the central ideas.
I also enjoyed working on the algebra tasks and writing the assignments about them.
Writing the assignments was challenging and took time and revision, but the online tutorials were helpful.
The module did not fully address how to integrate the types of tasks offered with the conventional, 'today we will expand brackets' curriculum, but it has equipped me with more ideas about how to approach this myself.

Course starting: October 2022

Review posted: September 2023

I enjoyed this module and my students enjoyed the rich tasks that I was able to develop from my learning. But I was very disappointed with not having all the course materials in a book format. Only the tasks are in a book the main course is online, so you have to allocate larger periods of time to study rather than taking a book around with you. This also made revision much harder, and I now do not have the course materials in an easy-to-access format to look back on.

Course starting: October 2022

Review posted: September 2023

I took this course as one of my final two for my STEM degree - the other being ME321. I am planning on training to become a teacher and feel this has given me valuable insights into not only recognising the mathematical process learners undergo, but also the skill of sitting back and observing in order to learn. Your mathematical skill level is not an issue, in fact the tasks you undertake are more insightful if you don't fully understand as you begin to see your thinking process. I loved this module and it's corresponding algebraic thinking one.

Course starting: October 2022

Review posted: September 2023