“Lightboard” for connected learning in applied mathematics and theoretical physics: Dermot gives talk at the UK Teaching and Learning Mathematics Online Workshop

For the TALMO Website click here

Dermot’s talk can be accessed here

(apologies for the poor sound and video quality in places… this is not representative of the lightboard, but reflects poor recording from the live workshop):

The talk was based on Dermot’s experience of online mathematics teaching via lightboard delivery, part funded by the QUB Engineering and Physical Sciences Faculty at QUB.

Conscious of the possible disconnect between lecturer and students in fully online delivery of mathematics/physics lectures, Andrew Swann and I proposed the development of a lightboard for the School of Mathematics and Physics. We secured £2,000 from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences to build a working prototype. Dermot build his own at home, and the Physics workshop manager Philip Orr built a second one on campus, available for the EPS staff. Andrew and I delivered our Tensor Field Theory Course via lightboard to 3rd year Mathematics and Theoretical Physics students. (See the example below, which shows one of Dermot’s pre-recorded video lectures using his home-made lightboard.) Dermot used his during live tutorials also.

Via anonymous quantitative feedback, the students overwhelmingly found the lightboard delivery led to a greater feeling of connectedness, that it was a superior mode of delivery than screencasting/voice-over-powerpoint or tablet.