Developing an ‘outdoor-inspired’ indoor experiential mathematical activity

Abstract

The issue of poor retention and achievement rates is one that plagues many British universities. While well documented and researched, there is still need for innovative practices to address this problem. This article outlines the theoretical underpinning of the Activity Guide, a tool the authors developed to support mathematics departments in order to make the transition to university easier for students and thus increase retention and attainment. Some of the topics covered here include reflective practise, experiential learning and independence; topics adapted from an outdoor frontier education course that had been specifically tailored by the authors to target and develop study skills particularly important for mathematics subjects. To allow for transferability and use by the entire higher education mathematics community the Activity Guide was produced to bring a similar course on university campuses, or even in classrooms, to better cater for resources and the scale the institutions’ facilities allow. The Activity Guide contains all that lecturers will need to plan, set up and deliver a range of activities to their students.