31081 UNIPREP MATHEMATICS COMMUNICATION LEVEL A

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	31081 	S2  	D 	UNIPREP MATHS COMM LEVEL A	1.00

Contents

STAFFING:

Examiner: L. GALLIGAN
Moderator: J. TAYLOR

RATIONALE:



Students  considering entry into Psychology, Education,  Nursing  and Arts
require some mathematical knowledge and skills if they are to be successful  in
their  chosen field of study.  Students  need  to  be numerate  and  need  to
have  a  basic understanding  of  functional relationships   and  classifying
data  if  they   are   to   operate successfully at the tertiary level.

Students  also  need  to develop and practise  language  and  problem solving
skills in English so that they can build upon their existing knowledge  and
express  themselves adequately  in  the  mathematical context.

SYNOPSIS:



There are two compulsory parts of the unit.

Part  A  consists  of the mastery of the content of  selected  topics within
arithmetic,  algebra, measurement, graphing  and  statistics. Students are also
expected to show competence in communicating  using mathematical language in
English.

Part  B  consists of group work designed to develop the  mathematical
communication  and  problem solving skills of  students.   This  work
utilises the content mastered in Part A of the unit.

OBJECTIVES:

OBJECTIVES PART A
On successful completion of this unit students
should be able to:
Modules 1A,1B,1C

  1. manipulate and perform operations on numbers in the real
    number system including positive and negative integers,
    fractions and decimals;
  2. calculate percentages and ratios;
  3. perform operations on powers with positive, negative, zero
    and fractional indices.
    Modules 2A,2B,2C
    1. identify co-efficients, variables and constant terms in
      expressions;
    2. interpret the meaning of algebraic equations;
    3. simplify expressions involving algebraic symbols;
    4. expand and factorise algebraic expressions;
    5. use Sigma notation;
    6. rearrange algebraic formulae;
    7. solve linear equations;
    8. solve simultaneous equations;
    9. develop equations for practical problems and solve them.
      Module 3
      1. use scientific notation and correct units of the metric
        system;
      2. perform operations on numbers expressed in scientific
        notation;
      3. convert between units of the metric system;
      4. convert between scientific and ordinary notation.
        Modules 4A,4B
        1. plot points on a Cartesian plane;
        2. identify and draw the graphs of linear, parabolic,
          exponential and logarithmic equations;
        3. predict the effect on the graphs of these equations when
          constants and co-efficients are changed;
        4. use graphs to solve simultaneous equations.
          Modules 5A,5B
          1. define and give examples of population, sample, parameter,
            statistic, variable and randomness;
          2. demonstrate an understanding of the methods of collection of
            data;
          3. critically examine procedures used in the collection of data;
          4. use a random number table and a calculator to select a
            sample;
          5. differentiate between discrete and continuous variables;
          6. classify data according to type;
          7. construct and interpret stem-and-leaf plots;
          8. construct and interpret frequency distributions and
            histograms for grouped and ungrouped data;
          9. construct and interpret bar charts and pie charts;
          10. calculate the mean and mode of grouped and ungrouped data;
          11. calculate the median of ungrouped data;
          12. construct and interpret scatter plots;
          13. fit a line of best fit, by eye, to a scatter plot;
          14. make predictions using scatter plots;
          15. demonstrate understanding of the variability and centrality
            of data;
          16. find the range and deviations about the arithmetic average of
            a data set;
          17. perform statistical calculations on a calculator in the
            statistics mode;
          OBJECTIVES PART B
          On successful completion of this unit students should
          be able to:
          1. read tables and graphs from a variety of sources
          2. draw and interpret graphs from a variety of sources
          3. use arithmetic and statistical calculations in problem
            solving situations
          4. use a calculator efficiently
          5. use and develop formulae
          6. communicate confidently in English in pairs and small groups
          7. present results from class work and assignments to whole
            class groups
          8. read, speak and ask questions in class in English impromptu
          9. write sentences and paragraphs in class on class-related
            activities
          10. write prepared sentences, paragraphs and report on class-
            related activities

          TOPICS:

           Description                                                    Weighting(%)
            

          1. Arithmetic (Modules 1A,1B,1C)                                         15.00

            

          2. Algebra (Modules 2A,2B,2C)                                            30.00

            

          3. Measurement (Module 3)                                                5.00

            

          4. Graphing (Modules 4A,4B)                                              30.00

            

          5. Statistics (Modules 5A,5B)                                            20.00

          TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

          Nil - materials will be supplied.

          STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

          	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	60
Private Study                                 	90
Examinations                                  	3
Assessments                                   	12

          ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

          No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   F                        COMPETENCY TESTS 1A                                 N
2   F                        COMPETENCY TESTS 1B                                 N
3   F                        COMPETENCY TESTS 1C                                 N
4   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 2A                                  N
5   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 2B                                  N
6   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 2C                                  N
7   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 3                                   N
8   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 4A                                  N
9   F                        COMPETENCY TEST 4B                                  N
10  F                        COMPETENCY TEST 5A                                  N
11  F                        COMPETENCY TEST 5B                                  N
12  S    20.00     WK 9      ASSIGNMENT 1                              10.00     N
13  S    20.00     WK 11     ASSIGNMENT 2                              5.00      N
14  S    15.00     WK 11     ASSIGNMENT 3                              10.00     N
15  S              END S2    EXAMINATION (3 HOURS)                     75.00     N

          *F=Formative, S=Summative

          OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

          1    Students   are  not  eligible  to  sit  for  the  end  of  semester
     examination  if  they  have not demonstrated  mastery  of  all  the
     required modules and if they have not attended at least 80% of  the
     mathematics communications group work sessions.
Additional Notes:
1    Part  A  is  predominantly  a  self paced  course.   Students  work
     sequentially  through the modules they are required  to  master  at
     their own pace, completing this part of the work by the end of  the
     semester.   Mastery  of  a module is demonstrated  by  the  student
     taking  appropriate tests before proceeding with study  of  another
     module.   (These  tests consist of a skill test  and  a  vocabulary
     test).
2    Part  B consists of different activities each week.  Students  must
     participate  actively  in the group work  of  the  problem  solving
     sessions and the mathematics writing sessions.  Students also  must
     submit written work as required.
3    The end of semester examination takes into account the work of Part
     A and Part B.
          This information is accurate as at 28/11/97