Faulkner, F,Hannigan, A,Gill, O,Pytlak, M,Rowland, T,Swoboda, E

THE CHANGING PROFILE OF THIRD LEVEL SERVICE MATHEMATICS IN IRELAND (1997-2010)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (CERME 7)

2011

November

Published

1

()

Student profile at risk diagnostic testing

1992

2001

In 1997 diagnostic testing was introduced in the University of Limerick (UL) to identify and notify students who were likely to require help to complete first year service mathematics courses successfully and proceed through to second year. A database of diagnostic test and end of semester examination results was initiated in 1997 and is updated annually by the authors. It has been observed by the authors that the student profile and their needs have changed in the 13 years since the initiation of the database. In this paper the authors describe the profile of the current student cohort in first year service mathematics courses in UL and how it has changed in the last 13 years. Furthermore the implications of such changes are outlined.