BSc Mathematics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Mathematical Communication and Group Projects

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATH20062
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

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 who have selected this course unit choose which project they want to take.  Students are then assigned to groups of size 4—5 by project choice.  Projects will be across the spectrum of mathematical sciences and may include: traditional area/problems in mathematics; data analysis; mathematical modelling; history of mathematics; ethical and societal uses of mathematics; projects with industrial partners; 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 other students taking the group project.  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.

Aims

The unit aims to: develop students’ mathematical research skills, group-working skills, and communication skills. 

 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Researchm as part of a group, topics of mathematical interest
  • Communicate mathematics via a variety of media
  • Reflect on their own approach to studying and their approach to group work

Teaching and learning methods

As this is a mandatory unit for students ont he BSc and MMath Mathematics programmes, students will select their preferences for main projects during semester 1. Students will be allocated to groups using this information ahead of the start of semester 2.

Week 1: Introductory talk and ice-breaker session (2 x 2 hrs) by unit l eads on how the group project works, how to work well together as a group, signposting of resources on Blackboard (inc. how to run meetings, time-management, how to use LaTeX, how to cite sources, expectation of reflective log etc).

Week 1-2: Group meeting with project mentor

Week 2-4: Group write the mini-project, deadline end of week 4

Weeks 5-11: Groups work on their project and presentation, deadline end of week 11

Week6/7: Group meeting with project mentor

Week 9: Talk and workshop on presenting mathematics (2hrs)

Week 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.

Assessment methods

A short article (‘mini-project’), written as a group, on an elementary topic of mathematics, submitted at the end of Week 4.

1,500 words max, 20% weighting

A group report (‘project’) on a topic of mathematical interest, submitted at the end of Week 11

6,000 words max, 50% weighting

A group presentation on the group report in Week 12

10 min presentation + 5 min questions, 20% weighting

An individual reflective log

Form completed on Blackboard, 10% weighting

Marking:  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)

Feedback methods

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 11

Feedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit, from the project mentor via Blackboard

A group presentation on the group report in Week 12

Feedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit.

An individual reflective log

Feedback is provided at the end of the semester, following completion of the unit, from the project mentor via Blackboard

Recommended reading

N.J. Higham, Handbook of writing for the mathematical sciences (3rd ed), SIAM (2020).

F. Vivaldi, Mathematical Writing, Springer (2014)

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 100

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Neil Morrison Unit coordinator
Charles Walkden Unit coordinator

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