Programming in the Mathematics Curriculum at Manchester Metropolitan University

Stephen Lynch

Abstract


An increasing number of schools are teaching programming to their pupils and there is also an increase in programming in Higher Education with recent reports recommending this approach. At Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) we wanted to attract and retain mathematics students and prepare them for careers upon graduation. By integrating Mathematics/Statistics/Operational Research packages across the curriculum and by solving real world problems we have managed to make the course highly desirable and loved by our students. In this case study, we show how it is possible to integrate programming and mathematical/computational modelling across the curriculum.


Keywords


Coding; computational modelling; real-world problems

Full Text:

PDF

References


Balon, B. and Simic, M., 2019. Using Raspberry Pi computers in education. 42nd International Convention on Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics, pp.671-676. https://doi.org/10.23919/MIPRO.2019.8756967.

Bond, P. ed., 2018. The Era of Mathematics – Review Findings on Knowledge Exchange in the Mathematical Sciences. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Knowledge Transfer Network. Available at: https://admin.ktn-uk.co.uk/app/uploads/2018/04/KE-booklet-for-web.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Buteau, C., Muller, E. and Ralph, B., 2015. Integration of programming in the undergraduate Mathematics program at Brock University. Online Proceedings of the Maths + Coding Symposium. London (Canada). Available at: http://researchideas.ca/coding/docs/ButeauMullerRalph-Coding+MathProceedings-FINAL.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Cline, K., Fasteen, J., Francis, A., Sullivan, E. and Wendt, T., 2019. Integrating programming across the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. PRIMUS: Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies, 30(7), pp.735-749. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2019.1616637.

Jones, L.B. and Hopkins, B.J., 2019. Teaching a course in mathematical programming. PRIMUS: Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies. Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2019.1619207.

Lynch, S., 2018. Dynamical Systems with Applications using Python. New York: Springer International Publishing.

Nyamapfene, A. and Lynch, S., 2016. Systematic integration of MATLAB into undergraduate mathematics teaching: Preliminary lessons from two UK institutions. IEEE Educon 2016, pp.1145-1148. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON.2016.7474699.

Peplow, M. ed., 2018. Computational Modelling: Technological Futures. Government Office for Science and Council for Science and Technology. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/computational-modelling-blackett-review [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Sangwin, C.J. and O’Toole, C., 2017. Computer programming in the UK mathematics curriculum. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 48(8), pp.1133-1152. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2017.1315186.

Scratch.mit.edu, 2019. Community statistics at a glance. Available at: https://scratch.mit.edu/statistics/ [Accessed 25 March 2020].




DOI: https://doi.org/10.21100/msor.v18i2.1105

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.