Keele Badge

MAT-10069 - Module Specification
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

MAT-10069 - Mathematical Communication, Investigations and Problem Solving
Coordinator: Michael Nieves Tel: +44 1782 7 34779
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733075

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module is designed specifically to help you develop mathematical communication and problem-solving skills. In this module, you will be presented with unfamiliar and less structured problems that may be open to several different approaches. This module will enhance your employability skills through teamwork on several group projects and focus on mathematical communication and presentation of your results. It will also help you appreciate mathematics as a powerful method for describing and solving real-world problems.

Aims
The first aim of this module is to develop your problem solving abilities that are essential to success in a single-honours mathematics degree, but that are not developed at pre-university level. Specifically, your ability to solve unfamiliar and less structured problems which may be open to several different approaches.
The second aim of this module is to develop your communication and employability skills in key areas such as presentations, working in a team and computer literacy, providing you with key elements of the journey through your degree programme.
The third aim of this module is to enhance your skills at using mathematics as a tool to (i) synthesise mathematical models to describe real-world problems, (ii) develop the corresponding mathematical solutions and (iii) validate and use these models in a predictive sense.

Intended Learning Outcomes

create strategies and select appropriate abstract mathematical tools to develop solutions to real world problems, presenting solutions to meet short deadlines: 1,2
critically analyse suitable frameworks for modelling real world problems
: 2
communicate, in an appropriate form, mathematical results to a variety of audiences: 1
demonstrate your team working, communication and organisational skills: 1,2

Study hours

Semester 1:
44 hours classes, including:
4 hours of lectures,
4 hours of tutorials
36 hours of computer-based activity in labs to facilitate group work
106 hours of private study, including
8 hours of individual learning
12 hours of practice group work
60 hours focused on group work required for assessments
26 hours of training in computer-based and collaborative skills required for group work
Semester 2:
24 hours lectures
24 hour computer lab tutorials aimed at solving continuous assessments
24 hours exercise preparation
78 hours private study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Portfolio of 3 Group Assignments
Three group assignments, involving you working within a group of approximately 4-6 students to solve and report on both abstract and real-world problems. Each assignment has a different output that needs to be prepared, which includes: (i) a typeset report, with an appropriate style used for the presentation of mathematical documents, detailing the method of solution to a collection of abstract mathematical problems (weighted 20% towards this component). (ii) creating a poster accompanied by a five-minute in-person/virtual/pre-recorded video presentation that provides a detailed overview of the poster's content (weighted 40% towards this component). (iii) a 10 minute in-person/virtual/pre-recorded group presentation discussing outcomes of the project's investigation (weighted 40% towards this component). Output (i) will be marked against a definitive mark scheme with marks awarded for format, style and presentation of mathematical solutions, methodology and conclusion. Outputs (ii) and (iii) are marked according to the University Generic Assessment Criteria. Your individual mark for the output will then awarded through a combination of the overall project mark and peer assessment.

2: Problem Sheets weighted 60%
Möbius assessments testing knowledge and application of course content
Problem sheet portfolio formed from approximately 7 online Möbius computer-based assessment points over a period of 12 weeks. Each assessment point involves approximately 4 to 5 Möbius assignments. They provide you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge and understanding of the material in that period within an assessment window of typically 2 weeks for each assessment point. Attempts are graded automatically through Möbius and feedback is instant.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025