MaLeMINT-I
Specifying the mathematical learning requirements of the MaLeMINT study in a task collection

The task collection was developed into an interactive web platform under the direction of Kiel University of Applied Sciences. You can use it to find tasks representing the expected mathematical learning requirements of almost every STEM degree course at all universities in Schleswig-Holstein. The platform also offers you an assessment of your current knowledge and advice on your task solutions, allowing you to optimally prepare for the mathematical components of your desired degree course.

Current situation

Universities in Germany have been recording consistently high drop-out rates in many degree courses for years. Especially in the first few semesters, many students drop out or change subjects. Previous mathematical knowledge is often a key difficulty for students.
Given this situation, the Delphi study "Mathematical learning prerequisites for STEM degree programs (MaLeMINT)" surveyed almost 1,000 university lecturers at universities in Germany to identify which mathematical learning prerequisites they believe are necessary for a STEM degree program. The result of this large-scale study is a catalog of mathematical learning prerequisites that first-year students in STEM subjects should bring from school.
Prospective students should be able to access tasks that specify these learning prerequisites. On the one hand, this can help to make the expectations placed on first-year STEM students even more transparent. On the other hand, prospective students can use the tasks as a self-test for orientation before starting their studies. Together with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWK) and the Institute for Quality Development in Schools Schleswig-Holstein (IQSH), the Department of Mathematics Education at the IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education in Kiel has therefore created working structures with university lecturers and mathematics teachers to develop a corresponding task collection.

Objective

The aim of the project was, on the one hand, to specify the mathematical learning requirements of the MaLeMINT study by means of tasks. The process of developing tasks was also intended to initiate a process of communication between schools and universities in Schleswig-Holstein on the following question: Which mathematical skills can be taught at secondary schools in Schleswig-Holstein and which can be assumed at the start of a university STEM degree course?

Approach

In November 2018, a workshop was held with STEM lecturers from all state universities in Schleswig-Holstein, high school mathematics teachers and employees of the MBWK, IQSH and IPN in order to specify the learning requirements for STEM studies. All institutions involved in the transition from school to university should be equally involved. The participants met to discuss the issue of mathematical learning prerequisites for STEM studies in detail. The first version of a task collection specifying the MaLeMINT learning prerequisites was created at the workshop, which was further extended and refined in course of several revision loops and a second conference in November 2019. The IPN also conducted an accompanying study, which provided evidence of the predictive power of the task collection for academic success in the first semester.

Outlook

The joint participation of schools and universities in the development process of the task collection allows to address the transition between the educational institutions in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein from two perspectives. Universities can, for example, include the task collection in preparatory and bridging courses or in academic advising. Schools can specifically point out the learning requirements and tasks to interested students or address them in math clubs. This allows to communicate expected learning requirements to prospective students consistently by both educational institutions, allowing graduates with a university entrance qualification to obtain specific information before starting their studies at a university in Schleswig-Holstein.

Researchers

Aiso Heinze, IPN Kiel, Department of Mathematics Education
Irene Neumann, IPN Kiel, Department of Physics Education/Mathematics Education
Femke Sporn, IPN Kiel, Department of Mathematics Education
Birke Weber, IPN Kiel, Department of Mathematics Education

Research collaboration

Dr. Maike Abshagen, Institute for Quality Development in Schools Schleswig-Holstein (IQSH)
Dr. Kai Niemann, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the State of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWK)
Helmut Mallas, Institute for Quality Development in Schools Schleswig-Holstein (IQSH)

Contact email address

malemint@leibniz-ipn.de