Overview

"It is mathematics that reveals the simplicities of nature, and permits us to generalise from simple examples to the complexities of the real world," Ian Stewart

This quotation reflects the Mathematics Education Group's philosophy that mathematics is a subject to be enjoyed and used and seen to have a relevance to the world around us.

The members of the group are staff members of the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with interests in mathematics education research and the development of teaching and learning resource material.

The group's aims are :

developing and promoting the effective use of computer technology in student learning,
conducting research into the teaching and learning of mathematics,
providing INSET opportunities for school teachers,
providing mathematical enhancement opportunities for local school children.

The work of the group is helping to establish standards for the use of technology in mathematics education, to shape understanding of the ways in which students develop an understanding of mathematical concepts and to produce innovative curriculum and assessment material.

Final thoughts

An occasionally updated section of problems, some of which we use to assess our students and some to tease them.

An example of a CAS assisted investigative assessment:

Explain the dramatically different behaviour near x = 1 of the two expressions :

Show that

What would your students consider to be a proof of the above - substitution or graphical argument? Reopens the debate of the position of proof in the current curriculum.

If you would like to know more about our work or exchange ideas or just talk math ed, please email us.