|
Mathematics
Department
College
of Science Discipline Sub-Committee in Mathematics
Meeting 2009-02
12noon- 2pm Tuesday 9th June 2009
Room John Dedman Seminar Room G35
Agenda/Minutes
1. Welcome/Apologies
2. Minutes of Meeting
Notes
of previous meeting
3. Matters arising
4. Report from the Chair
University Calendar
The consensus of the discussion
was that a 12 week semester would be possible, but that the
syllabus of our courses would have to be reviewed, either reducing
content or concentrating on depth on fewer areas. It was supported that
the start of the academic year should not impinge on the ARC grant
period in February. It was felt that it was important to even up the
lengths of the terms in each semester, then to try to cover commom
university breaks, and then only if the previous two conditions could
be met, that the breaks should coincide with ACT school
breaks.
5.
Learning Management system
Linda Stals reported on
the progress with wattle. Linda had run a wattle tutorial based on the
idea of a maths course template. Another tutorial will be held later in
June to look at tutorial setup and grade sheets.
6. Honours.
Alex Isaev discussed the requirements for submission of a draft
thesis and supervisor comments a month before the formal submission
date. Also there is the requirement of a penalty for later submission
of thesis. Alexander will remind supervisors of these requirements.
7. First Year teaching and WebAssign
There wasa range of commennts on the use of
WebAssign in our first year courses. It was argued that the system was
not well used by our math1115 class. There was a problem with students
having problem with the syntax but this will be improved with better
introductions to the system both for students and tutors. At present we
will probably need a person to help with supporting webassign in the
next semester.
Plagarism: There was a discussion on how to provide better feedback to
students regarding the vexed problem of students collaborating in study
groups and also providing assignment solutions whichj are their own
work. Also the problem of accepting correct proofs of results
where the methods are obtained from attribuated sources. Suggestion
that an oral presentation of material would be useful. Also that it was
necessary for studetns to attribute ideas not just from written
sources, also from other students. Resolved to improve our assignment
cover sheet.
8. Analysis
Stream
Adam Rennie suggested that geometry should be introduce earlier in the
honours stream. Members of the analysis stream should discuss possible
changes to the content of the stream.
9. Algebra
Stream
Jim Borger introduced the roposal for new Algebra 3 course. There was
general support for this as it was seen to complement the current
Analysis stream. Comment was made that geometry could also be
introduced into the algebra stream to provide a motivating application
of algebraic techniques. This would also complement the research
profile of the school.
10. Applied
Stream
Discussed the competition between our third year modelling and
scientific computing courses, math3501, math3062 and math3511. These
courses should be spread between first and second year. We need to look
at the where thes students are coming from.
11. Any other business
|
