TFCMATHS 89F : Mathematics for Arts

Science

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Aimed at linking mathematics to the world of students who are likely to be non-STEM majors. Includes several important mathematical ideas within historical, environmental, societal, political, financial, justice, entertainment and cultural contexts. The course will also be guided by the interests of its learners as citizens and consumers, who will be encouraged to draw on the mathematics they are already familiar with.

Course Overview

MATHS 89F is a one-semester 15-point course designed for students who have yet to meet the necessary background for tertiary courses in mathematics and plan on studying an Arts degree programme. The aim is to build confidence using Mathematics while demonstrating the role mathematics plays in understanding and guiding human activity. Mathematics embedded within familiar environmental, societal, justice and political contexts will be explored. Problem solving and mathematical modelling using number, measurement, exponentials, and probability and statistics, will support our investigations. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Use a calculator proficiently, apply large and small numbers to recognise or estimate a reasonable answer. (Capability 1 and 4)
  2. Investigate proportional situations including percentage problems (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  3. Solve problems choosing relevant maths formulae (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  4. Actively contribute to team collaborative activities by helping to arrive at group solutions to a number of tasks (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Use straightforward graphs and relate to rates, time, and other quantities (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  6. Be able to express maths in written form to communicate mathematical and statistical ideas to solve problems (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  7. Interpret the mathematics in real-life situations then reflect critically on how well their solutions match up. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  8. Use any of several possible problem-solving strategies to answer problems. (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 10.5% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 3% Individual Coursework
Presentation 7.5% Group Coursework
Laboratories 9% Group Coursework
Test (mid semester) 20% Individual Coursework
Final Test 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Assignments
Quizzes
Presentation
Laboratories
Test (mid semester)
Final Test

Key Topics

Chapters or modules for the course are:
1. Problem Solving
2. Gaming and chance
3. Politics and votes
4. Environmental ideas
5. Societal, educational and legal matters

Learning Resources

Course book
Calculators
Excel spreadsheet availability
Desmos graphing package (in class)

Special Requirements

Expect full attendance and participation in lectures
Each aspect of course work is compulsory.
Must attempt Final test and achieve a minimum mark of at least 35%. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard [15] point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect [3-4] hours of lectures, a [1] hour tutorial, [6] hours of thinking and working on problems about the content and [4] hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Other Information

Ensure you become familiar with the lecture schedule. This will be available two weeks before the course begins and will provide you with all the dates of assessments, and approximately when chapters begin for the whole course.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Ensure you know the difference between what is acceptable when working together versus what is considered as copying or cheating.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

If you are absent for one of the Collaborative group tasks, these assessments cannot be repeated since it requires a whole team effort. 

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

As this course has had only one previous iteration, there is not yet much feedback to share.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 12:48 p.m.