MMath Mathematics and Statistics

Year of entry: 2027

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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
Offered by	Department of Mathematics
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 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.

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:

Research topics of mathematical interest, as part of a group
Communicate mathematics via a variety of media
Reflect on their own approach to independent study and their approach to group work

Syllabus

The project takes place in Semester 2. During Semester 1, students are surveyed on 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; 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 involve researching and communicating more advanced mathematical ideas. Students will have already been assigned a topic for the main projectbased on the preferences survey. The presentation takes place at the end of the course. The presentation could be an oral presentation but need not be (it could instead be a video presentation, podcast, poster, etc.); but it must be able to be delivered within 10 minutes, must be in a medium other than a written report, and the group must answer questions from the assessors.

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; 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 will be offered (in consultation with the unit leads) 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.

Teaching and learning methods

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 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.

Week 2: Group meeting with project mentor

Weeks 2-4: Groups write the mini-project, deadline end of Week 4

Weeks 5-10: Groups work on their project and presentation, deadline end of Week 10

Week 6 or 7: Group meeting with project mentor

Week 10: Workshop on presentations

Week 11-12/13: Groups finalise and deliver their presentations.

Weekly in Weeks 2-12: individuals record progress in their reflective log online.

Assessment methods

Mini-project (20% weighting) - a short article, written as a group, on an elementary topic of mathematics, submitted at the end of Week 4. Feedback per group from the project mentor, and cohort feedback from the unit leads.

Main project (50% weighting) - a group report on an assigned topic of mathematical interest, submitted at the end of Week 10. Feedback per group from the project mentor, and cohort feedback from the unit leads.

Presentation (20% weighting) - a group presentation on the group report delivered in Week 12/13. Feedback per group from the presentation assessors, and cohort feedback from the unit leads.

Reflective log (10% weighting) - individual online written reflections on project work, with a group video log in one of the weeks. Feedback per student from the unit leads.

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 unit leads and the reflective log) will allow adjustments to be made for each individual.

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