The newsletter of the Maths, Stats & OR Network Volume 11 No. 3 Autumn Term 2011 Mathematical Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation Project Innovation Curriculum HE Sciences Mathematical Guest edited by Peter Rowlett Mapleacademic0411_Layout 1 30/03/2011 16:36 Page 1 MapleSoft Chest Licence now available NEW an innovation in engineering design education MapleSim is a physical modelling tool unlike any other, efficiently managing all of the complex maths involved in developing engineering systems models, including multi-domain systems and control applications. With MapleSim, instructors can quickly demonstrate the connection between theory and physical behaviour. Students NEW spend more time working with design concepts rather VERSION! than the mechanics of mathematical derivations. Bring more complex Researchers can reduce model development time from months to days, while producing better, high- problems to life performance models. Maple 15 lets you explore, visualise and solve even the most complex What's new in MapleSim 5: ■ Over 80 new components to extend your mathematical problems, with fewer errors and greater insight into the modelling applications including magnetics, maths. Teachers can bring complex problems to life and researchers can fluids and thermo fluids develop more-sophisticated algorithms or models. with Clickable ■ Smart Wire routing, diagnostic tools and Math™ and Clickable Engineering™ techniques, students are more for faster model building ■ Code generation for continuous systems instantly productive, engaged and able to focus on concepts rather than with events the mechanics of solutions. With over 270 new mathematical functions ■ Better memory management means you can and hundreds of enhancements to existing algorithms, users can solve simulate larger systems more complex problems faster than ever before. ■ Improved connectivity with DSpace and Modelica Maple is the Find out more and request your uncontested leader for computing symbolic FREE MapleSim evaluation at solutions to differential http://maplesim.adeptscience.co.uk equations. Numerous improvements in Maple 15 further expand the classes of problems that can be handled. 7 Online Testing and Assessment... TM New in Maple 15 is the ability to directly extract data from a plot as well Powered by Maple as new functionality for visualising solutions of differential equations. Maple T.A. is an easy-to-use web-based system Maple offers over 50 for creating tests and assignments, automatically types of 2d and 3d plots to visualise data assessing student responses and performance. Maple 15 provides: across many domains. It supports complex, free-form entry of mathematical equations and intelligent evaluation ■ Learning tools for exploring, visualising and understanding maths concepts of responses, making it ideal for mathematics, ■ An extensive range of resources to help teachers and students science, or any course that requires mathematics. ■ A smart environment that quickly produces rich interactive technical documents ■ Powerful solvers for differential equations that no other system can match What's new in Maple T.A. 7.0 ■ ■ MapleCloudTM technology for quick and simple sharing of worksheets More analysis options of student grades and performance ■ New tools and functionality to extend your problem-solving capabilities ■ New palettes for entering derivatives ■ Better performance that lets you solve more complex problems faster and integrals ■ Automatic parallelism to fully leverage the power of multi-core computers ■ Flexible Matrix questions ■ Define the grading system for an entire course Visit http://maple.adeptscience.co.uk or call our Maple Find out more about Maple T.A. at team on 01462 480055 today to find out how the MapleSoft suite http://mapleta.adeptscience.co.uk can help you and your students achieve greater insight into maths. Copyright © 2011 Adept Scientific plc. All rights reserved. All trademarks recognised. E&OE 04/11 Mapleacademic0411_Layout 1 30/03/2011 16:36 Page 1 MapleSoft Chest Licence now available NEW Vol 11 No 3 Autumn Term 2011 Contents The National HE STEM Programme 3 Alex Fenlon Acting on recommendations from the an innovation in HE Mathematics Curriculum Summit 4 engineering design Peter Rowlett education Published termly by the Maths, Stats & elcome to this special issue of Student mathematical modelling workshops as OR Network. MSOR Connections, themed preparation for study groups with industry 8 MapleSim is a physical modelling W Stephen O’Brien, Joanna Mason, Jean Charpin and Martina O’Sullivan The Network is supported by the four higher around work undertaken as part of tool unlike any other, efficiently Mathematical modelling study group 10 managing all of the complex education funding bodies in England, the National HE STEM Programme. Ben Nuttall maths involved in developing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes work organised by the Enhancing the communication and engineering systems models, Network under the Mathematical including multi-domain systems This newsletter is available free of charge speaking skills of mathematics undergraduates 11 and control applications. With to academics in UK higher education Sciences HE Curriculum Innovation James Groves MapleSim, instructors can quickly institutions. For those outside this sector Project and work organised by other Summer internships in sigma-sw 13 Barrie Cooper, Jonathan Gillard, Dave Graham, Jane White and Rob Wilson demonstrate the connection a paid subscription scheme exists. Please HE STEM partners. between theory and physical behaviour. Students contact the Network for details. Call for Applications: Curriculum Innovation Travel Grants 15 NEW spend more time working with design concepts rather In a break with tradition for Peter Rowlett VERSIO Much of the work reported in this special N! than the mechanics of mathematical derivations. Connections, work is reported Developing Graduate Skills in HE Mathematics Programmes 16 Bring more complex Researchers can reduce model development time issue of MSOR Connections is supported in sections. The first contains an Jeff Waldock from months to days, while producing better, high- by the National HE STEM Programme, Views of HE curriculum from problems to life performance models. account of our HE Mathematics which is funded by the Higher Education ‘Young Researchers in Mathematics’ 20 Funding Councils for England and Wales. Curriculum Summit and work which Peter Rowlett Maple 15 lets you explore, visualise and solve even the most complex What's new in MapleSim 5: addresses the recommendations Assessing student teams developing mathematical models ■ Contributions are invited – please Over 80 new components to extend your for curriculum development made applied to business and industrial mathematics 22 mathematical problems, with fewer errors and greater insight into the modelling applications including magnetics, contact the editors. by that Summit. The remainder of Edmund Chadwick, Kevin Sandiford and David Percy maths. Teachers can bring complex problems to life and researchers can fluids and thermo fluids The articles and reviews from this ■ the articles are arranged according London Metropolitan University Industrial Panel 25 develop more-sophisticated algorithms or models. with Clickable Smart Wire routing, diagnostic tools and newsletter will shortly be published Makhan Singh more for faster model building to several areas of activity: graduate Math™ and Clickable Engineering™ techniques, students are and available for download The University of Greenwich Maths Arcade 26 ■ Code generation for continuous systems skills; employer engagement; instantly productive, engaged and able to focus on concepts rather than with events from the Network’s website at Noel-Ann Bradshaw mathematical thinking; technology; the mechanics of solutions. With over 270 new mathematical functions ■ Better memory management means you can www.mathstore.ac.uk/newsletter. The University of Greenwich Maths Arcade – student view 30 and hundreds of enhancements to existing algorithms, users can solve simulate larger systems The site also gives access to many inclusive curricula; engineering Nick Carpenter more complex problems faster than ever before. ■ Improved connectivity with DSpace and other useful resources and information maths; outreach and widening Development and integration of computer-aided Modelica regarding Network events. participation through schools assessment of discrete mathematics 31 Martin Greenhow, Kinga Zaczek and Abdulrahman Kamavi Maple is the Find out more and request your If you would like to subscribe to receive and colleges. uncontested leader for A Pilot for a Shared Online Statistics Advisory Service 35 computing symbolic FREE MapleSim evaluation at regular paper copies or unsubscribe As well as full articles and short Alun Owen, Peter Samuels, Michèle Wrightham, solutions to differential http://maplesim.adeptscience.co.uk to the newsletter, please email equations. Numerous reports, throughout this issue Bernadette Leckenby and Mollie Gilchrist improvements in Maple [email protected]. Media Enhanced Teaching and Learning 37 15 further expand the ‘Projects in brief’ give a hint of the classes of problems Joel Feinstein and Peter Rowlett that can be handled. Maths, Stats & OR Network, a subject centre wide range of work in mathematics of The Higher Education Academy. Lecture capture technology – technically possible, supported by the National HE but can it be used effectively? 39 School of