Engineering Mathematics

Introduction
The past decade has seen a serious decline in students' basic mathematical skills and level of preparation on entry into higher education in the UK, causing many students to embark on engineering degree programmes without the necessary maths skills required for the course. It is considered that the 'maths problem' has arisen from a number of factors including: Widening of access to higher education - resulting in the acceptance of students with much more diverse backgrounds and experiences of mathematics than previously. Inadequate mathematics preparation in pre-18 education - due to a variety of causes including curriculum shortcomings, emphasis on assessment and league tables, shortage of mathematically qualified teachers, and social influences. Unfortunately, the 'maths problem' is unlikely to be resolved at school level, at least in the mediumterm - although the governments 'Post-14 Mathematics Inquiry' should make recommendations that begin to address the balance. Therefore, for the time being, the responsibility lies with universities to combat this issue. www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/engmath/post14_inquiry.asp In June 2000, the Engineering Council (UK) recommended to all universities in their report 'Measuring the Mathematics Problem' that students embarking on mathematics-based degree courses should have a diagnostic test on entry, and that prompt and effective support should be available to students whose mathematical background is found wanting by the tests. www.engc.org.uk/publications/pdf/mathsreport.pdf In April 2001, the engineering and mathematics higher education communities were surveyed to investigate how departments were responding to these issues and the EC(UK)'s recommendations. The survey received an excellent response and as a result, the LTSN MathsTEAM project was been developed to provide national resources to allow the transfer and embedding of both diagnostic testing and follow-up support into the UK engineering and mathematics higher education communities. The LTSN MathsTEAM Resources are now available. http://www.ltsn.ac.uk/mathsteam Diagnostic Testing for Mathematics Today, throughout the UK Engineering, Science and Mathematics departments are carrying out such tests to assess the current mathematical ability of students. 'Diagnostic Testing for Mathematics', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM Project draws together a collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how academics are using diagnostic tests with students. www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/diagnostic_test.pdf Maths Support for Students As Engineering and Science Departments face the problem of inadequate mathematical preparation by students, many are setting in place networks of support-based activities. 'Maths Support for Students', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM Project draws together a collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how academics are providing maths support for students. www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/student_support.pdf

Maths for Engineering and Science 'Maths for Engineering and Science', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM Project draws together a collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how learning activities can be executed, the support needed and suggestions of how other academics could reproduce the activity. www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/engineering_science.pdf

Nationally Funded Engineering Maths & Stats Projects

mathcentre mathcentre is the web-based UK Mathematics Learning Support Centre and has been set up to deliver mathematics support materials, free of charge, to students, teachers, lecturers and everyone looking for post-GCSE maths help. mathcentre gives opportunities to study important areas of pre-university mathematics which students may have studied before or may be new to them. www.mathcentre.ac.uk HELM The HELM project is novel, major attempt to ensure that the Engineering Council [UK]'s requirements continue to be met at a time when many undergraduates entering university to study engineering lack the basic skills and aptitude which could be relied upon in the past. The project is supported by a 250,000 HEFCE- FDTL4 grant for the period Oct 2002-Sept 2005. The output will consist of Workbooks, CAL segments and an Assessment Regime (detailed below). Nothing on this scale has been attempted before for free dissemination across the HE sector. The emphasis is on flexibility - the work can be undertaken as private study, distance learning or can be teacher-led, or a combination, according to the learning style of the student and the approach of the particular lecturer. http://helm.lboro.ac.uk/ Maths for Engineers Webdisk The Maths for Engineers Webdisk project set out to create an innovative multimedia resource to engage, teach and test students wanting to improve their mathematical skills in engineering. The project was funded through the DfEE HEFCE Innovations Fund and was completed in Summer 2002. The result is the Maths for Engineers Webdisk - a DVD-Rom combining the educational power of video with the flexibility and convenience of computer-based learning. The Webdisk is made up of 15 maths modelling video case studies, text solutions, explanatory video seminars, and a built-in CAL programme, with links to a related website. www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/engmath/webdisk.asp STARS The STARS project is creating statistical resources from real datasets. The object is to identify real datasets, of relevance to various disciplines, and develop web-accessible worksheets using these datasets and popular statistical packages. These discipline-specific and level-specific worksheets will use real, in-context, scenarios and can be tailored to satisfy individual preferences. Ultimately, individualised assignments can be produced, together with (for staff only) suggested "solutions". The project is supported by a 250,000 HEFCE- FDTL4 grant for the period Oct 2002-Sept 2005. The materials will be accessible electronically for use by both staff and students. All materials will reflect real, in-context, scenarios so they will address a number of issues, including professional development for lecturers, and student motivation and retention. http://www.stars.ac.uk/