Engineering Mathematics

Introduction
The past decade has seen a serious decline in students' basic mathematical skills and level of
preparation on entry into higher education in the UK, causing many students to embark on
engineering degree programmes without the necessary maths skills required for the course. It is
considered that the 'maths problem' has arisen from a number of factors including:
Widening of access to higher education - resulting in the acceptance of students with much more
diverse backgrounds and experiences of mathematics than previously.
Inadequate mathematics preparation in pre-18 education - due to a variety of causes including
curriculum shortcomings, emphasis on assessment and league tables, shortage of mathematically
qualified teachers, and social influences.

Unfortunately, the 'maths problem' is unlikely to be resolved at school level, at least in the medium-
term - although the governments 'Post-14 Mathematics Inquiry' should make recommendations
that begin to address the balance. Therefore, for the time being, the responsibility lies with
universities to combat this issue.
www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/engmath/post14_inquiry.asp

In June 2000, the Engineering Council (UK) recommended to all universities in their report
'Measuring the Mathematics Problem' that students embarking on mathematics-based degree
courses should have a diagnostic test on entry, and that prompt and effective support should be
available to students whose mathematical background is found wanting by the tests.
www.engc.org.uk/publications/pdf/mathsreport.pdf

In April 2001, the engineering and mathematics higher education communities were surveyed to
investigate how departments were responding to these issues and the EC(UK)'s
recommendations. The survey received an excellent response and as a result, the LTSN
MathsTEAM project was been developed to provide national resources to allow the transfer and
embedding of both diagnostic testing and follow-up support into the UK engineering and
mathematics higher education communities. The LTSN MathsTEAM Resources are now available.
http://www.ltsn.ac.uk/mathsteam

Diagnostic Testing for Mathematics

Today, throughout the UK Engineering, Science and Mathematics departments are carrying out
such tests to assess the current mathematical ability of students. 'Diagnostic Testing for
Mathematics', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM Project draws together a
collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how academics are using
diagnostic tests with students.
www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/diagnostic_test.pdf

Maths Support for Students

As Engineering and Science Departments face the problem of inadequate mathematical
preparation by students, many are setting in place networks of support-based activities. 'Maths
Support for Students', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM Project draws
together a collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how academics are
providing maths support for students.
www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/student_support.pdf
Maths for Engineering and Science
'Maths for Engineering and Science', commissioned and published by the LTSN MathsTEAM
Project draws together a collection of case studies from across the UK providing examples of how
learning activities can be executed, the support needed and suggestions of how other academics
could reproduce the activity.
www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/mathsteam/engineering_science.pdf

Nationally Funded Engineering Maths & Stats Projects

mathcentre
mathcentre is the web-based UK Mathematics Learning Support Centre and has been set up to
deliver mathematics support materials, free of charge, to students, teachers, lecturers and
everyone looking for post-GCSE maths help. mathcentre gives opportunities to study important
areas of pre-university mathematics which students may have studied before or may be new to
them.
www.mathcentre.ac.uk

HELM
The HELM project is novel, major attempt to ensure that the Engineering Council [UK]'s
requirements continue to be met at a time when many undergraduates entering university to study
engineering lack the basic skills and aptitude which could be relied upon in the past. The project is
supported by a £250,000 HEFCE- FDTL4 grant for the period Oct 2002-Sept 2005.
The output will consist of Workbooks, CAL segments and an Assessment Regime (detailed below).
Nothing on this scale has been attempted before for free dissemination across the HE sector. The
emphasis is on flexibility - the work can be undertaken as private study, distance learning or can be
teacher-led, or a combination, according to the learning style of the student and the approach of
the particular lecturer.
http://helm.lboro.ac.uk/

Maths for Engineers Webdisk

The Maths for Engineers Webdisk project set out to create an innovative multimedia resource to
engage, teach and test students wanting to improve their mathematical skills in engineering. The
project was funded through the DfEE HEFCE Innovations Fund and was completed in Summer
2002.
The result is the Maths for Engineers Webdisk - a DVD-Rom combining the educational power of
video with the flexibility and convenience of computer-based learning. The Webdisk is made up of
15 maths modelling video case studies, text solutions, explanatory video seminars, and a built-in
CAL programme, with links to a related website.
www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/engmath/webdisk.asp

STARS
The STARS project is creating statistical resources from real datasets. The object is to identify real
datasets, of relevance to various disciplines, and develop web-accessible worksheets using these
datasets and popular statistical packages. These discipline-specific and level-specific worksheets
will use real, in-context, scenarios and can be tailored to satisfy individual preferences. Ultimately,
individualised assignments can be produced, together with (for staff only) suggested "solutions".
The project is supported by a £250,000 HEFCE- FDTL4 grant for the period Oct 2002-Sept 2005.
The materials will be accessible electronically for use by both staff and students. All materials will
reflect real, in-context, scenarios so they will address a number of issues, including professional
development for lecturers, and student motivation and retention.

http://www.stars.ac.uk/