| 01/11/2010 | Call for Case Studies of Effective Practice in Student Engagement |
In 2009 the Higher Education Academy identified student engagement as a priority area of work. There is now an impetus to encourage the development of additional mechanisms by which students can become active partners in shaping their learning experience. The MSOR Network is keen to ensure that it plays its part in contributing to this priority area and in raising levels of student engagement in the MSOR disciplines. Several initiatives will be taken forward in 2010/11. One of these is a small-scale research project which sets out to identify existing effective practice and to disseminate this information. * have you engaged with your students in order that they can contribute to some aspect of curriculum development? * have you developed some aspect of staff/student liaison of which you are particularly proud? * do you have novel or inspiring examples of how you engage your students with teaching and learning issues? * do you have examples of how your students have taken the lead and brought about effective change in your department? * have you examples of how your students are active partners, helping to shape their learning environment and experience? If so, we would welcome the chance to talk with you, and maybe even your students, about the experience. If you were to share with us your thoughts, advice, and experiences, we would write up findings in the form of case studies of effective practice. Please do get in touch so that we can arrange to talk, and if appropriate visit you. Further information can be obtained from Tony Croft (maacc[at]lboro.ac.uk or Liz Willis (l.willis[at]bham.ac.uk). | |
| 07/09/2010 | sigma prizes for outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics and statistics support - 2010 |
The sigma prize winners for 2010 have just been announced as: Outstanding Contributor: Dr Christie Marr (University of St Andrews) Rising Star: Dr Ciarán Mac an Bhaird (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) In relation to these prizes mathematics and statistics support refers to activities which support and enhance students’ learning of these subjects (as they occur in many disciplines) in higher education. Support takes place in addition to traditional lectures, tutorials, etc. There has been a huge growth in mathematics support activity over the last few years as universities have responded to the challenges presented by very diverse student cohorts. sigma is a HEFCE designated Centre for Excellence in Mathematics & Statistics Support, based at Loughborough and Coventry Universities. The Outstanding Contributor prize recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to maths support for at least 5 years and influenced others through their promotion of maths support to a wide audience. The Rising Star award is made to someone who has been working in maths support for up to three years and has been an effective champion of this work both within and outside their own institution. The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held at the CETL-MSOR conference in Birmingham on 6/7 September 2010 (http://www.mathstore.ac.uk/index.php?pid=277) | |
| >sigma prizes More info | |
| 13/08/2010 | MSOR Network Assistant Director Job Opportunity….deadline 13 Aug 2010 |
Starting salary in the range of £37,839 - £43,840 a year, the post is fixed-term until July 2011. An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen to work with the the MSOR Network which aims to promote high quality learning and teaching through the development and transfer of good practices and to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ of learning and teaching resources and information for the MSOR HE community. As Assistant Director the postholder will manage the Maths, Stats & OR Network on a day-to-day basis. This includes managing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the Network’s activities and managing the Network’s finances. In addition, the Assistant Director will, in conjunction with the Network Director and Deputy-Director be responsible for developing the strategic direction of the Network as part of the wider Higher Education Academy and the postholder will develop, lead, initiate, manage and engage with discipline specific activities, resources, events and projects on a national and international scale. You will be educated to degree level, preferably in a mathematical sciences or related subject, have excellent communication and administrative skills and experience of setting up and managing systems and budgets. The Network undertakes activities throughout the UK so regular travel, including potential overnight stays, will be required. Informal enquiries for all posts may be made to either Liz Willis (tel: 0121 414 4800 or email: l.willis@bham.ac.uk) or Professor Duncan Lawson (email: mtx047@coventry.ac.uk) Closing date: 13 August 2010 Reference: 2059 To download the details and submit an electronic application online visit: www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs alternatively information can be obtained from 0121 415 9000. | |
| >MSOR Network Assistant Director job opportunity – More info | |
| >MSOR Network Assistant Director job description [pdf format] | |
| >University of Birmingham jobs – More info | |
| 28/07/2010 | NEW JISClegal guidance published….Recording Lectures: Legal Considerations |
NEW JISClegal guidance published….Recording Lectures: Legal Considerations | |
| >JISCleval information: Recording Lectures: Legal Considerations – More info | |
| 04/07/2010 | New guide published….Understanding the UK Mathematics Curriculum Pre-Higher Education – a guide for Academic Members of Staff |
This guide begins with a chapter setting the scene on pre-university qualifications and study. This includes an introduction to the main qualifications, a brief historical review of major developments and an overview of what and how entrants have studied prior to starting higher education. The main content of the guide is encapsulated within a chapter on specific qualifications and the attributes of students who enter with them. Information about qualifications is given in short sections; if the user wishes to refer to a particular qualification it should be straightforward to identify the relevant section of the chapter. A chapter is provided on useful sources of information. This is broken down into two parts, the first giving links to specific references raised in the previous chapter, and the second part on additional links to other documents (useful for gaining a more detailed understanding) and to relevant organisations (where information and updates can be found). The guide concludes with appendices, including one on acronyms used in the guide and one which presents the statistics on the number of entrants to mathematics A Level over the last 20 years. Overall this guide will give an overview of the key qualifications and offers links to further information that should aid the reader to gain an understanding of pre-university mathematics qualifications. | |
| >Understanding the UK Mathematics Curriculum Pre-Higher Education – a guide for Academic Members of Staff – Full report [pdf version] | |
