Mathematical Communication and Group Projects

MATH20062 Mathematical Communication and Group Projects 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 2 Neil Morrison Unit coordinator Gabor Megyesi Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-element:para-border-div;padding:1.0pt 6.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">In the Group Project, students will work together in small groups to produce two written accounts of topics of mathematical interest and give a presentation.  Students will develop skills in researching mathematics, mathematical communication, and working together as a group; these are graduate skills that are important and in demand for mathematical practitioners in both industry and research and in other numerate professions.The project takes place in Semester 2. During Semester 1, students submit their preferences on project topics. Students are then assigned to groups of size 4—5 based on these project preferences.  Projects will be across the spectrum of mathematical sciences and may include: traditional areas/problems in mathematics; data analysis; mathematical modelling; history of mathematics; ethical and societal uses of mathematics; interdisciplinary projects across the University.The mini-project is intended to be an introduction to working together as a group and mathematical writing.  The group will agree, in consultation with their group mentor, a straightforward topic of mathematical interest (this could be a topic covered at A-level/high-school or in our 1st year) and write a report in a style that would be of interest to non-mathematicians, for example suitable for publication in a high-school magazine.The main project and presentation will train students in researching and communicating more advanced mathematical ideas.  Students will have already picked a topic for the project (see above).  The presentation takes place in Week 12 or Week 13 in front of the project mentor and another academic.  The presentation could be an oral presentation but need not be (it could also be a video presentation, podcast, poster, etc); but it must be able to be delivered within 10 minutes and must be in a medium other than a written report.Each student will complete a weekly reflective log.  Students will comment on their contributions to the group project that week, their plans for the following week, and reflect on their and others’ contributions to the project.</div> In the Group Project, students will work together in small groups to produce two written accounts of topics of mathematical interest and give a presentation.  Students will develop skills in researching mathematics, mathematical communication, and working together as a group; these are graduate skills that are important and in demand for mathematical practitioners in both industry and research and in other numerate professions.The project takes place in Semester 2.  During Semester 1, students submit their preferences on project topics. Students are then assigned to groups of size 4—5 based on these project preferences.  Projects will be across the spectrum of mathematical sciences and may include: traditional areas/problems in mathematics; data analysis; mathematical modelling; history of mathematics; ethical and societal uses of mathematics; interdisciplinary projects across the University.The mini-project is intended to be an introduction to working together as a group and mathematical writing.  The group will agree, in consultation with their group mentor, a straightforward topic of mathematical interest (this could be a topic covered at A-level/high-school or in our 1st year) and write a report in a style that would be of interest to non-mathematicians, for example suitable for publication in a high-school magazine.The main project and presentation will train students in researching and communicating more advanced mathematical ideas.  Students will have already picked a topic for the project (see above).  The presentation takes place in Week 12 or Week 13 in front of the project mentor and another academic.  The presentation could be an oral presentation but need not be (it could also be a video presentation, podcast, poster, etc); but it must be able to be delivered within 10 minutes and must be in a medium other than a written report.Each student will complete a weekly reflective log.  Students will comment on their contributions to the group project that week, their plans for the following week, and reflect on their and others’ contributions to the project.Each group will have a project mentor.  The role of the project mentor is to ensure that the group is on track to complete their project and is functioning well as a group, including monitoring the reflective log; the mentor is not there to provide detailed help on the mathematics or to proof-read drafts.Students with DASS support plans that advise against group work activities may be offered (in consultation with the unit leads and project mentors) an individual project instead.This course unit is mandatory for students on the BSc/MMath Mathematics, BSc/MMath Mathematics & Statistics, and BSc Mathematics & Philosophy programmes.  It is not available to students on other degree programmes.   <div> The unit aims to: develop students’ mathematical research skills, group-working skills, and communication skills. </div>  On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:<ol><li>Research topics of mathematical interest, as part of a group</li><li>Communicate mathematics via a variety of media</li><li>Reflect on their own approach to independent study and their approach to group work</li></ol>  Students will select their preferences for main projects during Semester 1.  Students will be allocated to groups based on this information ahead of the start of Semester 2.Week 1: Introductory talk and ice-breaker sessions (2 x 2hrs) by unit leads on how the group project unit works, writing mathematics, how to find and cite appropriate sources, how to work well together as a group, and signposting of further resources on Blackboard.Week 2: Group meeting with project mentorWeeks 2-4:  Group write the mini-project, deadline end of Week 4Weeks 5-10:  Groups work on their project and presentation, deadline end of Week 10Week 6 or 7: Group meeting with project mentorWeek 10: Talk and workshop on presenting mathematicsWeek 11-12/13:  Groups finalise presentations and give presentations in front of their peers and a member of staff.Weekly in Weeks 2-12: individuals record progress in their reflective logs on Blackboard.   0 Other 100% A short article (‘mini-project’), written as a group, on an elementary topic of mathematics, submitted at the end of Week 4.2,000 words max, 20% weightingA group report (‘main project’) on a topic of mathematical interest, submitted at the end of Week 116,000 words max, 50% weightingA group presentation on the group report in Week 12/1310 min presentation + 5 min questions, 20% weightingAn individual reflective logForm completed on Blackboard, 10% weightingMarking: Students will receive an individual mark for each component.  First, a group mark is awarded for each piece of work.  Each group member will evaluate their and other group members’ contribution to the piece of work and this (together with input from the Project Mentor via the reflective logs, if necessary) will allow adjustments to be made for each individual.  The reflective log is marked out of 10. Students gain 1 mark for each week that they make a serious attempt at completing the reflective log (capped at 10) A short article (‘mini-project’), written as a group, on an elementary topic of mathematics, submitted at the end of Week 4.Feedback is provided in Week 5/6 from the project mentor.A group report (‘project’) on a topic of mathematical interest, submitted at the end of Week 11Feedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit, from the project mentor via BlackboardA group presentation on the group report in Week 12Feedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit.An individual reflective logFeedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit, from the project mentor via Blackboard MATH11022 Linear Algebra Pre-Requisite Compulsory MATH11121 Mathematical Foundations & Analysis Pre-Requisite Compulsory MATH11411 Introduction to Vector Calculus Pre-Requisite Compulsory MATH11711 Probability I Pre-Requisite Compulsory BSc(Hons) Mathematics BSc (Hons) Mathematics Second Year Mandatory BSc(Hons) Mathematics BSc (Hons) Mathematics w PY Second Year Mandatory BSc(Hons) Maths & Philosophy BSc(Hons) Maths & Philosophy Second Year Mandatory BSc(Hons) Maths & Philosophy BSc(Hons) Maths & Philosophy P Second Year Mandatory MMath (Hons) Mathematics MMath (Hons) Mathematics Second Year Mandatory MMath (Hons) Mathematics MMath (Hons) Mathematics w PY Second Year Mandatory BSc(Hons)Mathematics and Stat BSc(Hons)Mathematics and Stat Second Year Mandatory BSc(Hons)Mathematics and Stat BSc(Hons)Mathematics and Stat Second Year Mandatory MMath(Hons) Maths & Stats MMath(Hons) Maths & Stats Second Year Mandatory N N.J. Higham, Handbook of writing for the mathematical sciences (3rd ed), SIAM (2020).F. Vivaldi, Mathematical Writing, Springer (2014) 0 0 100