Evaluate Mathematical Competencies in Engineering Using Video-Lessons

Abstract

There are eight Mathematical competencies proposed by B. Alpers et al. in the Framework for Mathematical Curricula in Engineering Education, previously proposed in the Danish KOM. However, some of the competencies identified are difficult to evaluate in higher education since there is a large number of students in the classrooms and therefore the personal contact between the teacher and the students is limited. When we want to evaluate the competency “communicating in, with, and about mathematics” or “make use of aids and tools for mathematical activity”, we need other moments of evaluation besides written exams. With this intention we developed a practical project during the semester for all the students who wanted a continuous evaluation. The project consisted in the development of a video lesson about one of the contents studied in the curricular unit. The students had to create an initial script and then produce the video where we were able to evaluate the referred mathematical competencies. At the end of the semester, we identified if the content developed in the video lesson by the student was acquired and is a part of their knowledge. For this, in the written evaluations made by each student the exercises that contained the video lesson content were analysed and verified if they were correctly solved. Students also presented their videos to their peers and to the teachers and their presentation was also evaluated.