MA3PPR: Portfolio of Projects

Module code: MA3PPR

Module provider: Mathematics and Statistics; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Sarah Dance, email: s.l.dance@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have completed two years of a single or joint honours Mathematics degree. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module, students will carry out a series of projects on mathematical or statistical topics. Students will gain experience in group working and independently researching new topics. They will further develop a range of skills required of mathematics and statistics graduates working in professional roles including written and verbal communication, team working and time management.    

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify, research and synthesise literature relevant to a given mathematical or statistical topic and apply their findings to address a mathematical or statistical question;
2. Report the results of their studies thoroughly and succinctly, and to discuss and present them to other parties in a variety of media;
3. Critically appraise and reflect on their own work

Module content

Students will undertake three projects during the module: two short projects in semester 1, and a longer project in semester 2.  For each project students will be set a mathematical or statistical topic by a staff member (the project supervisor) with some structured questions to address. The mathematical or statistical content will be defined by the individual projects.

The projects will be supported by skills lectures that will cover research methods and professional skills including: project planning and documenting of work, time management, library & information systems, reading techniques, avoiding plagiarism and copyright infringement, referencing, writing a poster, writing a report, presentation skills, communicating material to a technical or non-technical audience, critically appraising the work of others, team-working and giving and receiving feedback.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will complete three projects, supported by skills lectures, project workshops and supervisions. Students are expected to spend the majority of their time in this module on guided independent study.  

The first project (Semester 1) will be a group project, where students will work together to produce a mathematical or statistical poster. The posters will be formally assessed. In addition, students will present their posters to their peers and staff at a poster conference. The conference offers the opportunity for formative peer assessment and feedback, and for students to reflect and build on their skills for the next project.  

The second project (Semester 1) will be carried out in small groups, where students will work together to produce a presentation on an assigned mathematical or statistical topic. Students will also be asked to reflect on their research and project management skills in their continuing professional development.

The third project (Semester 2) will be an individual project on an assigned mathematical or statistical topic. Students will be asked to produce a technical written report and a short lay summary about their topic.

Study hours

At least 16 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Poster conference - peer assessment and feedback

Reassessment

Additional costs