This document is intended to help teachers of mathematics in the physical sciences. It brings together relevant reports and information about useful resources with hyperlinks to allow further investigation or downloading of materials.
Contents:
Tackling the Mathematics Problem
London Mathematical Society, Institute of Mathematics and its
Applications, Royal Statistical Society
1995 ISBN 0 7044 16247
There is unprecedented concern amongst mathematicians, scientists and
engineers in higher education about the mathematical preparedness of new
undergraduates. There is also a very long-standing worry about the numbers of
prospective students in these disciplines. This report, on behalf of the London
Mathematical Society, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and
the Royal Statistical Society, explains these concerns and suggests some
actions.
http://www.lms.ac.uk/policy/tackling/report.html
Measuring the Mathematics Problem
Engineering Council, LTSN Maths, Stats & OR Network, Institute of
Mathematics and its Applications, and London Mathematical Society.
1999
A two-day seminar held in Cambridge last year focused on the mathematical
attainment of young people entering tertiary education to study subjects that
call for a good grasp of mathematics - subjects such as Engineering, Computer
Science, Physics, Statistics, and of course Mathematics itself.
Practitioners from a range of disciplines and institutions came together to
discuss the mathematical capabilities of today's 18-year-olds and to deliberate
on the mathematical state of the nation as shown in the abilities of students
admitted to science degrees.
Full Report:
http://www.engc.org.uk/publications/pdf/mathsreport.pdf
Executive Summary:
http://www.engc.org.uk/publications/pdf/mathssummary.pdf
Post-sixteen mathematics within Curriculum 2000
A5 booklet in the occasional series Learning and Teaching in Mathematics,
Statistics and Operational Research, ISSN 1476-1378
Available on request from
info@mathstore.ac.uk, quoting reference number 1/01
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
Publication
Web-based Learning Tools for Maths
This project
aims to help first and second year students who struggle with specific
calculations that form the foundation of most University Physical Chemistry
modules / courses.
Karl Ryder, De Montfort University (now moved to Loughborough
University)
LTSN Physical Sciences Development Project
LaTeX Support material for
Learning Maths
A
library of portable, interactive, web based support packages to help
students learn various mathematical ideas and techniques is being constructed
in Plymouth.
Simon Belt, Robin Horan & Martin Lavelle, University of Plymouth
LTSN Physical Sciences Development Project
Modular Library of
Resources for Development of Maths Skills in Physical Sciences
This resource
has been designed to address the need to improve the mathematical skills of
students in the physical sciences.
Paul Yates, University of Keele
LTSN Physical Sciences Development Project and
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
Mathletics
The Mathletics program comprises a suite of mathematics tests for
diagnostic, formative and summative assessment in commonly-taught areas of
number, algebra and calculus from GCSE to year 2 undergraduate level.
Martin Greenhow, Mathematical Sciences, Brunel University
LTSN Physical Sciences
Teaching and Learning Database (effective practice entries)
Getting to Grips with the Maths Problem
Mike Savage,
University of Leeds
The Physics department in Leeds have implemented diagnostic testing and operate
a "streaming" process which has reduced dropout and failure rates.
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
What Can We Learn from Diagnostic Testing?
John Appleby, University of
Newcastle
Information about the latest version of his diagnostic test "Diagnosys",
which has some significant advantages over the previous version; in particular,
a self-remediation package, where students can test their progress over the
year.
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
also
Co-ordinated Development and Evaluation of Courseware for Basic Mathematical
Skills in the North-east:
DIAGNOSYS: Basic Mathematical Skills
TLTP project
Post-Diagnosis - "Off-the Peg" Thoughts on Remedial Work
Joe Kyle,
LTSN Centre for Mathematics, Statistics
and OR
Discussion of 4 different diagnostic tests...
MATHLETICS,
AIM,
LATEX/PDF, TAL
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
A Minimal Effort Math-Test Environment
Thomas Wolf, Queen Mary and
Westfield College
Software that allows
lecturers to prepare their own diagnostic tests.
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
Diagnostic Testing for Mathematics
LTSN MathsTEAM. An in-depth
review of current diagnostic testing.
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
A Maths Toolkit for Scientists
This primer comprises a list of software, web-based and book resources for
use in teaching mathematics.
LTSN Physical Sciences Primers
Algebra Refresher
Material to help students prepare for a university mathematics course. The
current cost is £125 for 100 copies to members of staff in UK HE institutions.
As an alternative, a PDF version can be downloaded for in-house printing and
distribution. Contact
info@mathstore.ac.uk for login and password.
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
Publication
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics 'The web's most extensive maths resource' - maintained by Wolfram Research
Some mathematics education sites maintained at Birmingham University
Basic mathematics for the physical
sciences
This book covers basic mathematics for all students post O-level, in the
physical sciences be they in physics, chemistry or engineering.
LTSN Physical Sciences Book Reviews
Further Mathematics for the
Physical Sciences
This book offers material from teaching resources designed to enable a
wider intake of students to enter and benefit from Higher Education in physical
science, specifically by providing basically "self-help" support for individual
students from within a wide spectrum of prior learning.
LTSN Physical Sciences Book Reviews
Studying mathematics and its
applications
This book is a study guide to enhance undergraduate learning skills in
mathematics. (Includes article by the author Peter Kahn entitled
Solving the mathematics problem)
LTSN Physical Sciences Book Reviews
Facts and Formulae
These six fold leaflets are available free of charge to lecturers in higher
education, on request from
info@mathstore.ac.uk
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
Publication
Mathwise: UK Mathematics
Courseware Consortium
TLTP project
STEPS: Statistical
Education through Problem Solving
TLTP project
The Transitional Mathematics
Project: Experiments in Undergraduate Mathematics: A Mathematica-Based
Approach
TLTP project
Transmath: CBL Modules for
the Remedial Teaching of Mathematics to Scientists and Engineers
TLTP project
Computer-aided Mathematics and Physics
Uses Mathcad to solve physics and maths problems - used with 15-20 3rd year
students to improve problem solving skills
Aster Case Study
SCHOLAR Physics and Mathematics
Cliff Beevers, Andrew Tookey, Jane Paterson and
Mike Steele, Heriot Watt
University
SCHOLAR is an interactive on-line
learning and assessment resource for use in schools, colleges and universities
developed at Heriot-Watt University.
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
Derive 5
A mathematical assistant for the PC.
LiveMath
A computer algebra system.
MathType: The Mathematical Equation
Editor for Windows software
Replaces Equation Editor for professionals
Mathematica
A mathematics package combining interactive calculation, visualisation
tools and a programming environment
LTSN Physical Sciences Courseware
database
A list of mathematics based software packages.
A Holistic View of Mathematics Support in Higher Education
Tony Croft, Loughborough
University
An overview of the provisions in place for
mathematics support at
Loughborough University.
LTSN Workshop: A Maths Toolkit for
Scientists
Guidelines for
Introducing Groupwork in Undergraduate Mathematics
A5 booklet in the occasional series Learning and Teaching in Mathematics,
Statistics and Operational Research, ISSN 1476-1378
Available on request from
info@mathstore.ac.uk, quoting reference number 2/01
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
Publication
Good Practice in the Provision of Mathematics Support Centres
A5 booklet in the occasional series Learning and Teaching in Mathematics,
Statistics and Operational Research, ISSN 1476-1378
Available on request from
info@mathstore.ac.uk, quoting reference number 3/01
LTSN Centre for Maths, Stats and OR
Publication
Virtual Engineering Mathematics Learning Support Centre at the University of Loughborough
Mathematics Support Centre at Coventry University
Maths Support for Students
LTSN MathsTEAM. An in-depth
review of current support initiatives.
Maths for Engineering and Science
LTSN MathsTEAM. Looks at
approaches to teaching maths, using technology to teach maths and teaching
maths in context.