Bridging the
Dr Vivien Easson
Executive Officer (Teaching and Research)
School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary
Gap
Bridging the gap…
•
•
•
between A-level/equivalent maths and university maths
between expectations of university and the reality
between university and later employment or development
Dr Vivien Easson
• Grew up in Dundee
• Studied maths at Cambridge
then Oxford, worked as a
postdoctoral researcher
• Joined the More Maths Grads
project at Queen Mary
• Currently manage student
administration and
teaching/learning strategy
Diversity in maths at QMUL
The School of Mathematical Sciences
has over 700 undergraduates, with
– 18% Indian
– 17% White (combined)
– 14% Chinese
– 14% Pakistani
– 12% Bangladeshi
– 11% Asian (other)
– 6% Black African
– 8% other / refused to say
Around 45% are female.
Pre-university maths and university maths
First year BSc Mathematics: eight compulsory 15-credit modules
•
Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations
•
Geometry I, Introduction to Algebra
•
Introduction to Probability, Introduction to Statistics
•
Introduction to Mathematical Computing
Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations
(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)
Geometry I, Introduction to Algebra
(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)
Introduction to Probability / Statistics
(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)
Quotient rule: “What’s u?”
Students need to be able to differentiate
quotients even when not expressed in terms of
“u” and “v” – and similarly for other situations.
Abstraction / interview questions
1. What is the final digit of 22010?
2. Sketch the curve sin(x) then, on the same
axes, sketch (sin(x)) 2 .
3. If a, b and c are integers whose sum is zero
and the sum of whose cubes is 252, what is
the product of a, b and c?
Mathematics enrichment sites
• http://plus.maths.org
– online mathematics magazine
• http://www.mathscareers.org.uk
– lots of careers articles, for 11-14, 14-16, 16-19, …
• http://www.nrich.maths.org
– thousands of free mathematics enrichment
materials (problems, articles and games) for
teachers and learners from ages 5 to 19 years
Expectations of university
Students choose to do maths because they enjoy it and are good at it.
They expect to be taught in lectures – although it can be a shock!
They can find it hard to adapt to having more independence.
We can help encourage students to develop social support groups.
We can try to understand pre-university maths/environment better.
Beyond university
• 70 applicants/place for graduate jobs
• Graduates need good communication skills
• Graduates in numerate disciplines have an
advantage
• Numbers taking A-level maths, further maths
and mathematics degrees all rising
Bridging gaps…
Aiding understanding not teaching rules
Motivating and explaining subtleties
Recognising language barriers
Using rich maths tasks and adding context
Avoiding stereotypes: using ambassadors
Working with other organisations and disciplines