| Unit name | Research Skills in Mathematics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MATHM0054 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Koivusalo |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Mathematics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Mathematics in all its flavours is unbounded, and will forever keep on challenging our imagination and logical thinking skills, as well as our technical competence. This unit will provide you a chance to practice what to do when faced with a piece of mathematics that you cannot, on first glance, understand. Together we will study, discuss, write about, and present a broad range of research articles in mathematics. Learning like this will help bridge the gap between degree-level and research-level mathematics, allow you to appreciate different kinds of mathematical research, train your skills in mathematical research, but also build your competence in working as a team, and expressing yourself professionally. These are the building blocks also to planning and carrying out your own research projects in any mathematical subject.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit builds and broadens your subject knowledge, and your independent study skills (identifying knowledge gaps, finding and reading references of textbook level and beyond), as well as your professional interpersonal skills (discussing and exhibiting mathematics both in written form and in presentations). These skills will be broadly applicable in all of your other units, and beyond academia to your working life, but support your research project work in particular.
An overview of content
Together we will work through a broad range of research articles in mathematics, getting comfortable with the process of skimming through unfamiliar material, identifying any background knowledge that we need to improve upon, finding and studying relevant resources, and, finally, applying them in context. The activities include a mix of lectures, independent study and accompanying reflective learning journal, workshops/tutorials, written work/problem sheets, and presentations.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will know what kind of discoveries constitute `mathematical research’, and will be confident with the process of overcoming any barriers to understanding when encountering a mathematical challenge. You will be more comfortable discussing complex, abstract concepts with colleagues, and well-equipped to share ideas and uncertainty, including presenting your work in front of an audience, or written form
Learning outcomes:
After completing this unit successfully, the student should be able to:
The activities include
The aim of the unit is to build independent research skills relevant to an academic:
Tasks which will help you learn and prepare for summative tasks (formative)
Formative written work/problem sheets and structured discussion in workshop/tutorial meetings.
Tasks which will count towards your unit mark (summative)
This unit is assessed 100% from coursework, split over the components as follows:
When assessment does not go to plan
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. Reassessment options will be decided on a case-by-case basis and include repeating any failed components of assessment, or components of assessment that haven’t been completed, in such a way as to demonstrate all intended learning outcomes; for example extended written work or oral examinations. The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MATHM0054).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
