Module MATH4072: PROJECT IV

Department: Mathematical Sciences

MATH4072: PROJECT IV

Prerequisites

• Mathematics modules to the value of 100 or more credits in Years 2 and 3, with at least 40 credits at Level 3.

Corequisites

• One 20 credit Level 4 mathematics module.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Level 4 projects in any other Department.

Aims

• To allow an undergraduate to conduct a substantial piece of mathematical work as an individual initiative, and to write up and present it in a scholarly fashion.
• This will further the students' analytical skills and their abilities in oral and written communication.

Content

• Projects are inevitably and deliberately very varied in the topics they address and in the type of approach required.
• Some projects will need extensive computation or data analysis, some will be entirely theoretical, many will include both sorts of approach.
• All allow opportunity for initiative by the student, and are open-ended in that they offer scope for considerably more work than can be achieved in the available time.
• Some projects may involve an element of group work.
• A first-class project derives not only from technical flair, other important ingredients are good management and organisation.
• Management of the project is the responsibility of the student, however, the student must seek, and take advantage of the advice of the supervisor.
• Project work starts at the beginning of the 4th year.
• A short oral presentation of the work is given near the end of the second term, accompanied by a publicly displayed poster.
• The written report is submitted by the end of the first week of Easter term.
• A report is judged principally on the quality of its content and its structure, good typographical presentation is a minor factor, although poor typography can detract from the report.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will have conducted a substantial piece of mathematical work, as an individual initiative, and have written it up as a project and presented it in a fashion appropriate to an audience of their peers.
• The work will demonstrate understanding of a specialised and complex theoretical mathematics and show mastery of a coherent body of knowledge.

• The students will have enhanced analytical skills and abilities in oral and written communication.
• Students will have the ability to critically review and report on a specialised area of knowledge.
• Students will have the ability to synthesize and integrate material from diverse mathematical sources.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The assessment for the poster and oral presentation of the project (worth 10% of the marks) gives means to measure how well students communicate the results of their investigations to an audience of level 4 mathematics students.
• The assessment of the written project will demonstrate the depth of personal initiative and understanding of the topic material.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Work shown to supervisor at fortnightly meetings

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University