Education Projects in Undergraduate Curricula Dr. Tim Swift Senior Lecturer Mathematics Programme Leader BSc Mathematics 2018 June 07

Running a successful discipline-specific, final year undergraduate education project. Embedding an education project in an undergraduate curriculum. Working in partnership: UWE subject cluster (e.g., Mathematics); UWE Employability and Enterprise Team; UWE Department of Education and Childhood; local school teachers.

Desirable opportunities for undergraduates in a given academic discipline: to explore the possibility of a career in teaching; to experience an interview process; to engage in work-based learning (observer/classroom assistant rôle); to reflect on the nature of education, both theoretical and practical, at different levels, including the interaction between learning the subject in school and at university; to develop core skills, including communication and professional conduct.

Mathematics Education Project (UFMFH9-30-3) Blends outreach, work-based learning, research and mathematical exposition. Level three option module (30 credits) for BSc (Hons) Mathematics. Part of our Mathematics Education portfolio of modules/programmes. Entry via application form, references request, interview and DBS. Involves educational theory and practice. Involves a classroom delivery in the placement school. Involves research and communication of an advanced undergraduate Mathematics topic.

Current Module Team Module Leader Tim Swift Interview Panel Paul Ryan and Tim Swift Individual Meetings and Group Sessions Education Group Sessions Aidan Farrell Placement Organisation, DBS and School Liaison Julie Gwatkin Work-based Learning Sessions Assessment Tim Swift and Emily Walsh

Assessment Essay 15% Report 70% Presentation

Placement Delivery Topic Project Topic Choices Essay Topic Within the general theme of ‘Children’s Misconceptions in Learning Mathematics’. Mathematics Topic At final year undergraduate level (or higher). Placement Delivery Topic After discussions with the school link teacher and with the module leader.

Report Structure Title Page. Contents Page. Section One: Context. Section Two: Delivery. Section Three: Mathematics. Section Four: Reflection. References. Bibliography. Appendix One: Weekly Log Sheets. Appendix Two: Observation Log Sheets. Appendix Three: Personal Development Log Sheet. Appendix Four: Lesson Plan. Appendix Five: Delivery Worksheet. Appendix Six: Post-Delivery Feedback Questionnaire.

Finally … Our students speaking about their experience of the module, https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/G101/mathematics. If anyone is interested in the possibility of designing such a module for their own subject area, then please get in touch, tim.swift@uwe.ac.uk. Questions and Discussion.