Bridging the Gap

Dr Vivien Easson

Executive Officer (Teaching and Research)

School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary

Bridging the gap…

• between A-level/equivalent maths and university maths• between expectations of university and the reality• between university and later employment or development

Dr Vivien Easson• Grew up in Dundee• Studied maths at Cambridge

then Oxford, worked as a postdoctoral researcher

• Joined the More Maths Grads project at Queen Mary

• Currently manage student administration and teaching/learning strategy

Diversity in maths at QMUL

The School of Mathematical Sciences has over 700 undergraduates, with

– 18% Indian– 17% White (combined)– 14% Chinese – 14% Pakistani– 12% Bangladeshi– 11% Asian (other)– 6% Black African– 8% other / refused to say

Around 45% are female.

Pre-university maths and university maths

First year BSc Mathematics: eight compulsory 15-credit modules• Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations• Geometry I, Introduction to Algebra• Introduction to Probability, Introduction to Statistics• Introduction to Mathematical Computing

Calculus I, Calculus II, Differential Equations(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)

Geometry I, Introduction to Algebra(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)

Introduction to Probability / Statistics(courtesy of http://www.wordle.net)

Quotient rule: “What’s u?”

Students need to be able to differentiate quotients even when not expressed in terms of “u” and “v” – and similarly for other situations.

Abstraction / interview questions

1. What is the final digit of 22010?

2. Sketch the curve sin(x) then, on the same axes, sketch (sin(x)) 2 .

3. If a, b and c are integers whose sum is zero and the sum of whose cubes is 252, what is the product of a, b and c?

Mathematics enrichment sites

• http://plus.maths.org– online mathematics magazine

• http://www.mathscareers.org.uk– lots of careers articles, for 11-14, 14-16, 16-19, …

• http://www.nrich.maths.org– thousands of free mathematics enrichment

materials (problems, articles and games) for teachers and learners from ages 5 to 19 years

Expectations of university

Students choose to do maths because they enjoy it and are good at it.

They expect to be taught in lectures – although it can be a shock!

They can find it hard to adapt to having more independence.

We can help encourage students to develop social support groups.

We can try to understand pre-university maths/environment better.

Beyond university

• 70 applicants/place for graduate jobs• Graduates need good communication skills• Graduates in numerate disciplines have an

advantage

• Numbers taking A-level maths, further maths and mathematics degrees all rising

Bridging gaps…Aiding understanding not teaching rules

Motivating and explaining subtleties

Recognising language barriers

Using rich maths tasks and adding context

Avoiding stereotypes: using ambassadors

Working with other organisations and disciplines