Abstract:

The Department Of Electrical Services Engineering, formerly known as the Installation Department, educate Electrical Apprentices to become qualified Electricians. The department has recently started to award level 8 degree in Electrical Services Engineering. These students come from CAO applicants and also from students who have completed phase six of the Electrical apprentice. It is a popular and well subscribed course.

The Electrical Services Engineering degree has a number of modules that involve a significant quantity of math. It is also the case that in order to complete phase four of the Electrical apprenticeship students must complete Electrical Science. This module is math based and it is usually the module with the highest failure rate. To qualify as an Electrician the student must complete phase six also which involves four examinations and as in phase 4 the math element of the exam presents the greatest difficulty.

Math was run as a tutorial for all incoming apprentice electricians in both phase four and phase six but was recently discontinued, it is my contention that the math standard has fallen significantly since it has been discontinued. Foreign and native companies operating in Ireland speak of the crying need to improve the Mathematical ability of our Engineers and Craftsmen.

I set a Math test on 9th.March 2010 for phase four and phase six. The questions came from a past Leaving Certificate ordinary level paper, which most students said they sat. The test was at a standard to which all electrical apprentices should have, but the results were poor. With the results from this test it is my contention that math needs to be reintroduced as a core subject to the electrical apprentices.

This paper proposes to examine how the math should be introduced. The research has examined a number of possible methods of delivering and assessing the module and has recommended the most effective method of delivery and assessment. The paper has examined the possibilities of using the web to deliver the module. Web CT (Dublin Institute of Technology’s web based teaching tool) will be a method examined. This will allow the students to complete tasks online and submit material online. The paper also examines the methods of assessment most suitable to the area of math. Peer and group assessment are examined and feedback from students is taken on board when examining the final module.

Keywords:

Math Education, Apprentice Education, peer assessment, group assessment, virtual learning.