Learners collaborating in the Maths and Science corner
There are 16 Learning Advisers in our Student Success team – most of them focusing on providing literacy support for learners. Two of them, however, are experts in maths and science, and they’ve created a buzzing hub of collaborative learning in the students’ ‘Maths and Science Corner’ in Te Puna.
Between them, Margaret Evans and Lance Laulala, our resident Maths and Science Advisors, have been at Unitec for over 35 years, so working with learners is second nature. They share their time across Mt Albert and Waitakere, and offer a variety of options for engagement. Students can book 1:1 and small group booked appointments at both campuses or by Zoom. At Mt Albert the Maths and Science Corner is an additional feature offering students a space to work collaboratively with their peers on a drop in basis.
The learners who access the service include engineering students who need help with physics and maths; Business learners wrangling with statistics, and at Waitakere, nursing students who need help with drug calculations and biology. Sometimes post-grad students also need help with a statistical component of their research.
A comfortable learning space
Margaret and Lance set up the dedicated space on Level 2 of Te Puna as an open, accessible space.
“We’ve got tables and white boards, so the students can work collaboratively. They work in groups around white boards or on the big screens. They share knowledge with each other to piece together and form their own understanding ‘ako’ – we wanted this space to develop ako.”
The learners feel very comfortable at the Maths and Science corner space and Margaret says the learning advisor network is part of what makes a rich student experience for them.
“We have up to 50 students calling in each day during busy times! They tell us that this space ‘feels right’ as a learning space. They like being able to work with other students. It’s quite sociable, but it is a working space. They bring their lunch, talk, network, and share experiences in both learning and their lives.”
The right support at the right time
The Maths and Science Corner has recently had the addition of smart glass walls and signage
Margaret says Lance is an amazing support for our ākonga.
“He can pick up the conversations from across the room and can hear if they need a bit of steer in a different direction. For example, a louder student might be going off track, so Lance will step in at the right time and nudge them in the right direction.”
When Margaret is working with an ākonga she likes to see them in a holistic manner – the full person, not just the question they’ve come with. Students comment that she helps them beyond the subject matter – she might mention a scholarship they could be interested in, or another study option that would suit them, once she gets to know them.
Having taught a range of courses in maths, chemistry and biology over years of classroom teaching, Margaret is in a position to help students across a wide range of courses – ranging from calculus to business statistics to endocrine systems and beyond!
Wonderful work Margaret and Lance