THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Communicating Mathematics to the Public (MATH10103)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis 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:
  1. Create learning resources or educational material, communicate mathematical knowledge and understanding in unfamiliar contexts and to unfamiliar audiences
  2. Work on outreach activities with clients or communities in unfamiliar environments
  3. 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.
  4. Demonstrate key communication skills such as verbal, visual, video, or online/social media communication
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsOutreach,Science Communication
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