Undergraduate Course: Communicating Mathematics to the Public (MATH10103)

Course Outline
School	School of Mathematics	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	This project based module will allow students to develop expertise in Mathematics Outreach and knowledge transfer, as well as developing industrially and academically relevant skills. In the first semester students will attend workshops led by science communicators and public engagement practitioners, and explore relevant theories. Then, they will liaise with clients, plan and deliver their own activities. The course provides the time to research, develop and deliver resources and materials to a very high level and in great depth, thanks to literature-based or action-based research on relevant or wider aspects of the project.
Course description	During the first semester students will attend interactive workshops, aimed at exploring the theory and literature behind public engagement, as well as getting relevant training. The workshops will be led by public engagement practitioners. Topics may include contextual science education; interdisciplinary and cross curricular science education; critical review of public engagement principles and practice; the relationships between science engagement and education sectors; health, safety and child protection. The second semester will include two or three workshops, and will be mostly dedicated to the design and delivery of a project. A project will consist of a specific package of Maths outreach and engagement, designed for and in collaboration with a specific client. Clients may include schools, museums, local libraries or local communities. Researchers within the School and University, or even the Mathematics Outreach Team, may also act as clients in relation to the communication (impact) of their research programmes to appropriate audiences. Outputs will be diverse, and may include, for example, exhibits, workshops or presentations to be delivered in schools, work with local communities, online activities and digital apps to be posted on the School of Mathematics website. Students will reflect on their work, on the basis of the theory they have learnt, literature-based or action-based research. They will then present their work in written form, and as seminar and/or poster form at a student conference.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Create learning resources or educational material, communicate mathematical knowledge and understanding in unfamiliar contexts and to unfamiliar audiences Work on outreach activities with clients or communities in unfamiliar environments Undertake literature-based or action-based research on aspects of outreach and public engagement, understand best practice, self-evaluate and reflect on their project design and delivery process. Demonstrate key communication skills such as verbal, visual, video, or online/social media communication