Undergraduate Course: Mathematical Education (MATH10010)
Course Outline
| School | School of Mathematics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | ** In order to participate in the school experience required for this course, you may be asked to apply to join the 'Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme'. If it is needed, advice on how to do this will be given at the start of the course. **
This course surveys theories of learning and teaching mathematics. The ideas encountered will be considered both in relation to a project involving the preparation of lessons on a selected topic in mathematics and to the students own experiences in learning mathematics. The classroom project entail engagement with the mathematics itself and ideas from the education research literature about the teaching of the topic, as well as consideration of the wider context and applications. The part related to university mathematics will be supported by group activities in class concerning university mathematics teaching and learning. Students will have the opportunity to think critically about mathematics education and make links between theory and practice. This course has a quota.
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| Course description |
This is an optional course for Honours Degrees in Mathematics and/or Statistics. Through assigned reading, small-group activities and tutorials, the course provides opportunities to consider theories relating to the learning and teaching of mathematics. Students develop their own views of the theory through reading as well as discussion and debate. In addition, during Semester 1, students work in small groups to plan and deliver lessons on a given topic to an appropriate audience (e.g. local school pupils). In the second semester students will engage with the research related to the teaching and learning of mathematics at the university level and will be encouraged to relate their own experience as learners to the research findings that will be discussed through readings and other activities each week.
The course will consider questions such as: 'What is mathematics?', 'Why do we teach mathematics?', 'How do people learn mathematics?', 'How should mathematics be taught?', 'How can we assess mathematical understanding?', 'What motivates mathematics learning', What are the issues related to the transition to university mathematics? What is students understanding of proof and of its role in university mathematics?
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | This is a Year 4, Honours level course. Visiting students are expected to have an academic profile equivalent to the first three years of the BSc (Hons) Mathematics programme (UTMATHB). Students should have passed courses equivalent to Proofs and Problem Solving (MATH08059), Introduction to Linear Algebra (MATH08057) and Calculus and its Applications (MATH08058); or Accelerated Proofs and Problem Solving (MATH08071) and Accelerated Algebra and Calculus for Direct Entry (MATH08062). |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 50 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 28,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 14,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 2,
Fieldwork Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
145 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Work collaboratively to research a chosen mathematical topic and teach an appropriate audience about it, paying particular attention to the wider context and applications of the topic.
- Plan mathematics lessons on a given topic (with support) and present a rationale for pedagogical decisions.
- Critically analyse theory about the learning and teaching of mathematics, and make links between theory and practice.
- Develop skills in laying out a non-mathematical argument in a way that makes clear the evidence or argument for different statements.
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Reading List
| https://eu01.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/leganto/public/44UOE_INST/lists/26183665250002466?auth=SAML |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | MEd |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paola Iannone
Tel: (01316) 505085
Email: piannon2@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Frances Reid
Tel: (0131 6)50 4883
Email: f.c.reid@ed.ac.uk |
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