UK Centre for Materials Education
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Working with you to enhance the student experience
A UKCME Academic Time Saving Workshop
Teaching
Mechanics to Scientists and Engineers
To understand a number of important topics in materials science our students must first develop at least a basic knowledge of mechanics.
In the past school leavers would have been introduced to important mechanical concepts as part of their A-level mathematics course. However an increasing number of students are not now studying mechanics, but are taking options such as statistics or decision maths instead. There are indications that following the introduction of new A-Level syllabi in September 2004 this situation is likely to worsen.
In the very near future some of our undergraduates could well be arriving without the foundations in mathematics and mechanics required to study our subject. If they do then you, the lecturer, will need to provide significant additional support outside the core curriculum.
The purpose of this workshop is to preserve your valuable time by helping you prepare to deliver this support and by equipping you with some useful resources.
Workshop sessions will provide some background information on national trends in the study of mechanics at A-Level; will explore the issues arising from a lack of mechanics capability; and will characterise the potential problems to be faced.
A range of existing resources to support both lecturers in their teaching and students in their learning will be described and demonstrated. Delegates will then have the opportunity to consider what new resources could usefully be developed and explore how this might be achieved in partnership with the Subject Centres.
A full programme is available at the bottom of this page.
Of course this issue is also faced by other disciplines; most obviously engineering, sports science, physics and applied mathematics. We have therefore partnered with the Subject Centers for Engineering, Physical Sciences and Maths, Stats & Operational Research to organise a series of three identical workshops around the country:
23 February 2005 Sheffield Hallam University
9 March 2005 University of Birmingham
4 May 2005 University of Glasgow
Registration
These workshops are aimed primarily at admissions tutors, lecturers and support staff in higher education, but a limited number of places are available to members of the School/FE community.
Attendance is free of charge and lunch will be provided.
To register please use the online form:
Registrations
for workshop in Sheffield
Registrations
for workshop in Birmingham
Registrations
for workshop in Glasgow
| 10.00 - 10.30 | Arrival and Coffee |
| 10.30 - 10.45 | Welcome and Introduction (Higher Education Academy Subject Centre) |
| 10.45 - 11.15 | Who needs Mechanics - and why? |
| 11.15 - 11.45 | A view from the schools (Michael Grove) |
| 11.45 - 12.30 | Repercussions of recent changes in schools’ delivery
of mechanics teaching (Stephen Lee, Carol Robinson, Martin Harrison, Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University) |
| 12.30 - 13.45 | Lunch |
| Resources available to support mechanics teaching: | |
| 13.45 - 14.15 | Video support - Maths for Engineers (Jim Stevenson, EBS Trust) |
| 14.15 - 14.45 | Modular support - 'Mathletics' (Mundeep Gill and Martin Greenhow) |
| 14.45 - 15.15 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15.15 - 15.45 | Web-based support - mathcentre (Tony Croft/Sarah Williamson) |
| 15.45 - 16.15 | Final Discussion |
| 16.15 | Close |
