UTS 60208 Quantitative Skills for Science - Science UTS Handbook PDF

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60208 Quantitative Skills for Science Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject. Subject handbook information prior to 2020 is available in the Archives. UTS: Science: Mathematical and Physical Sciences Credit points: 6 cp Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions. Recommended studies: two units of HSC mathematics

Description Quantitative skills are fundamental for all branches of science. This subject aims to provide students with opportunities to acquire the essential knowledge and skills in fundamental quantitative areas including calculus and introductory statistics.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs) Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to: 1. Apply formal mathematical and statistical terminology to describe the concepts presented in the subject 2. Analyse and solve real world problems in science using mathematical and statistical tools, techniques and resources covered by the subject 3. Communicate mathematical and statistical concepts clearly, logically and critically

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application. A broad introduction to the most important and widely used concepts in mathematics and statistics is provided throughout this subject. Students will explore a range of fundamental topics, with the core disciplinary knowledge presented in lectures used to underpin the development of problem-solving strategies in the tutorials. 2. An Inquiry-oriented approach. During the tutorials, the students will practice in identifying and evaluating alternative approaches to solving problems. Mathematics assignment will help to develop acquisitive, organizational and creative skills required to complete a scientific project. 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application. The subject emphasises the need to critically evaluate the nature of the data in order to ensure that appropriate statistical techniques are used and to report the results of the statistical analysis in appropriate ways. 6. Communication skills. All assessment tasks require appropriate presentation of information, reasoning and conclusions and require students to gain meaning from instructions (written and verbal) and problem statements.

Teaching and learning strategies Lectures: two 90 minute lectures per week.

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Lecture materials including detailed notes are provided in UTSOnline. Concepts and definitions are explored through the use of both pure and applied examples. Students have the opportunity to make notes and question concepts. Students are shown how to provide systematic and detailed answers to problems using standard mathematical notation, thus enhancing their written communication skills. For mathematics lectures students are expected to attempt pre-work problems available on Pearson software platform before they come to the lectures. These pre-work exercises aim to revise basic concepts and skills which are going to be used during the lecture and the tutorial on the topic discussed in lecture. Tutorials: one one-hour tutorial per week Mathematics and Statistics tutorials will run on alternating weeks. Minitab self-paced assignments will be available to attempt for extra practice. Students are encouraged to use resources available on UTS online resources page, while working on these assignments. Each tutorial will include step-by step solution of selected problems and the students will have opportunity to discuss in groups the areas they don't understand and receive a feedback from their peers and the tutor. Review exercises: Each topic in both mathematics and statistics will have a corresponding unit of review exercises. Mathematics review exercisesreview exercises will be available on Pearson software platform and statistics revision questions will be available on UTS online for further practice. Students are expected to complete the review exercises after the tutorial and prior to the test assessing the corresponding topics. The completion of review exercises is a part of the assessment for this subject. Tests: A revision lecture at the start of semester will serve as a refresher for the students on assumed knowledge; the diagnostic test at the start of semester will allow students to identify the gaps in their assumed knowledge; Class tests are compulsory to attempt and they have to be viewed as the opportunity to identify and target the topics requiring extra attention. The students are provided with another opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of these topics during the final exam. Individual Written Report: The assignment will give the students the opportunity to develop the written communication skills required to complete a scientific report. They will explore how the concepts studied in this subject are applied to real life problems from their chosen science discipline. Benchmarking workshop will be conducted to provide guidance on how to work on of assignment and achieve the best possible result; there will be study resources available on UTS online. The assignment is to be submitted via Turnitin on UTS online to ensure originality of the submitted work One of the aims of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills to succeed at university and in the workplace. To determine your current academic language proficiency, you will complete an online language screening task, OPELA (information available at https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/learning-andteaching/enhancing/language-and-learning/about-opela-students). The OPELA will be used to help us identify students who need extra help with English language. If you receive a Basic grade for OPELA, you will attend additional Language Development Tutorials (LDTs). These tutorials are designed to provide personalised support and enhance students’ English language skills. They focus on developing your communication skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) and your independent learning skills, which will help you to prepare for the subject assessment tasks and for professional workplace communication tasks.

Content (topics) Topics include: linear and quadratic equations and functions, logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions, calculus and its applications, differentiation equations and their applications; descriptive statistics, probability distributions, statistical inference. Minitab is used in the statistics part of the subject. Other software will be used as appropriate.

Assessment Assessment task 1: Class test 1 Intent:

This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

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01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): .0, .0 and .0 Type:

Examination

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

10%

Length:

50 min.

Criteria:

Correct interpretation of terminology. Correct choice of problem solving strategies and procedures. Correct choice of reasoning. Clarity of communication.

Assessment task 2: Class test 2 Intent:

This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): .0, .0 and .0 Type:

Examination

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

10%

Length:

50 min.

Criteria:

Correct interpretation of terminology. Correct choice of problem solving strategies and procedures. Correct choice of reasoning. Clarity of communication.

Assessment task 3: Individual Written Report Intent:

This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills

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Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): .0, .0, .0 and .0 Type:

Report

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

30%

Criteria:

The detailed criteria will be available on UTS online. In addition, this assessment will be assessed for English language proficiency. You may be guided to further language support after the completion of this subject if your results in this milestone task indicate you need more help with your language skills.

Assessment task 4: Final Exam Intent:

This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application 6. Communication skills

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): .0, .0, .0 and .0 Type:

Examination

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

40%

Length:

2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time

Criteria:

Correct interpretation of terminology. Correct choice of problem solving strategies and procedures. Correct choice of reasoning. Clarity of communication.

Assessment task 5: Review exercises Intent:

This assessment item addresses the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application 2. An inquiry-oriented approach 3. Professional skills and their appropriate application

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

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01, 02 and 03 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): .0, .0, .0 and .0 Type:

Exercises

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

10%

Criteria:

Correct interpretation of terminology. Correct choice of problem solving strategies and procedures. Correct choice of reasoning. Clarity of communication.

Minimum requirements It is a requirement of this subject that all students complete OPELA. Students who receive a Basic grade in the OPELA task are required to attend the Language Development Tutorials. The Faculty of Science expects that you attend at least 80% (and ideally 100%) of the LDTs. In order to pass the subject: Student MUST attempt EACH assessment item; Students must obtain at least 50% of the available marks after completion of all assessments; Student must obtain at least 40% of the marks available for the final exam. If the 40% is not reached, an X fail grade may be awarded for the subject, irrespective of an overall mark greater than 50. Student must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each of the review exercises.

Recommended texts Greenwell/Ritchey/Lial: Calculus for the Life Sciences, 2/e, Global Edition, Samuels/Witmer/Schaffner: Statistics for the Life Sciences 5th , Global Edition

References Jay Devore: "Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences", 9th edn Cengage; James Stewart: "Calculus, Concepts and Contexts", 4e (2010), Cengage; Claudia Neuhauser: "Calculus for Biology and Medicine", Pearson. Devore, J.L. & Farnum, N.R.: "Applied Statistics for Engineers and Sciences", 2nd Ed. Cengage Learning, 2004; Wlliam Navidi: "Statistics for Engineers & Scientists", 4th Ed. McGraw Hill Education, 2015; Robin H. Lock, Patti Frazer Lock, Kari Lock Morgan, Eric F Lock, Dennis F. Lock: "Unlocking the Power of Data", Wiley, 2013; S.J. Schreiber,K.J.Smith,W.M. Getz: "Calculus for the Life Sciences",2014, Wiley; S. L. Salas and E. Hille: "Calculus: one and several variables",Wiley.

Other resources • Students are encouraged to make use of the collection of online videos made available on UTSOnline. • The UTS Mathematics Study Support Centre operates a Drop-in Room located on UTS City Campus, in Building 4, level 3, room 331 (CB04.03.331). Academic staff members are available from Monday to Friday for one-to-one assistance. Students are advised to bring their notes or textbooks with them. Students can come in at any convenient time and receive on-the-spot help. You do not need to make an appointment and the service is free for all UTS students. Further details, including the drop-in session timetable of opening times is available at: http://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/science/studyresources/mathematics-and-science-study-centre

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