Research Project
in
Mathematics
Thursdays, 3:30-5 PM, CAB 549
www.math.ualberta.ca/~thillen/winter11/math499.html
Instructor
Dr. Thomas Hillen
(Prof, Grad Chair)
CAB 575,
thillen@ualberta.ca
780-492-3395
Office
hours:
by
appointment
Course description from the calendar
This course provides students in Specialization and Honors programs an opportunity to pursue research in mathematics under the direction of a member of the Department. Course requirements include at least one oral presentation and a written final report. Students interested in taking this course should contact the course coordinator two months in advance. Credit for this course may be obtained more than once. Prerequisites: a 300-level MATH course and consent of the course coordinator.
Structure of the course
- Students
are
expected
to
spend,
on
average,
6 hours per week on their research project, in
consultation with their project supervisor.
- In
addition,
there
will
be
a
weekly
seminar (Thursday afternoons, 3:30 - 5 PM) during which
students will learn about and practice good communication skills in
mathematics.
Course objectives
- The course will provide students with a research
experience in
mathematics.
- Students will learn deeply about a topic in mathematics that is not available through regular course offerings.
- Students will sharpen their scientific writing skills, with particular attention to writing in the field of mathematics.
- Student will learn about and practice effective oral presentation skills.
The
material for this course was developed by Dr. G. de Vries, who taught
this course in Winter 2010. see http://www.math.ualberta.ca/~devries/math499/winter2010/
If this page
appears
out-of-date, please press the reload/refresh button on your web
browser.
Thanks!
This schedule
is
subject to change, especially during the first few weeks of the course.
| Week |
Date |
Topic/Event |
|
| 1 |
Thu Jan 13 |
Introduction |
|
| 2 |
Thu Jan 20 |
Reading assignment: The
Science
of
Scientific
Writing In-class: Group discussion and editing/revision exercise |
|
| 3 |
Thu Jan 27 |
Assignment 1 due: One-page
description
of
your project In-class: Peer review activity |
|
| 4 |
Thu Feb 3 |
Reading assignment:
Chapter 12
from Scientists Must Write In-class: Group discussion and exercise |
|
| 5 |
Thu Feb 10 |
In-class: Mathematicians
Must
Speak (the DOs and DON'Ts of Giving Effective Mathematical
Presentations) |
|
| Beamer example: tex-file, pdf-file, figure-file, beamer web-link |
|||
| 6 |
Thu Feb 17 |
Assignment 2 due: Blitz
presentations
and peer
review |
|
| Thu Feb 24 (reading week) |
No Class |
||
| 7 |
Thu Mar 3 |
Assignment 3 due: Project
Report
Introduction and peer review In-class: Introduction to academic posters |
|
| 8 |
Thu Mar 10 |
Assignment 4 due: Critique
of
a research poster In-class: Poster field trip to floors 4-6 of CAB |
|
| 9 |
Thu Mar 17 |
Reading assignment: D.R.
Hess,
How to Write an Effective Discussion, Respiratory Care 49:1238-1241,
2004 In-class: Group discussion |
|
| 10 |
Thu Mar 24 |
Due: Draft of Project
Report In-class: Activity on writing an effective abstract |
|
| 11 |
Thu Mar 31 |
Ethics
Class,
room
TBA |
|
| 12 |
Thu Apr 7 |
Assignment 5 due: peer review of draft project In-class: Consultation for poster, presentation and report |
|
| 13 |
|||
| Thu Apr 14 |
12 noon due: Poster,
Final Report, Final Oral Presentation Public poster presentations and oral presentations: Time and place TBA |
|
Final grades will be decided based on University of Alberta Policy. Final grade allotment will be based on a combination of the relative and absolute academic performance of each student. Due Dates for Major Course Components:
Learning Resources: http://www.math.ualberta.ca/~devries/math499/winter2010/ Students with Disabilities: Students who require accommodation in this course due to a disability are advised to discuss their needs with Specialized Support & Disability Services (2-800 Students’ Union Building). Academic Support Centre: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Academic Support Centre (2-703 Students’ Union Building). Absences: Students are expected to attend all scheduled seminars and participate actively in discussions and activities. Missed Term Work: A student who cannot complete a term assignment due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for extension of time to complete the assignment. Applications for a deferral must be made to the course instructor within 48 hours of the missed assignment due date. Deferral of term work is a priviledge and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious break of the Code of Student Behaviour. Academic Integrity and Honesty: The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/governance/studentappeals.cfm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. Cell Phones and Laptops: Cell phones and laptops are to be turned off during seminars. Recording: Recording is permitted only with the prior written consent of the professor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan. Copyright: Dr. Thomas Hillen, Department of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta. Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. Policy
about
course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University
Calendar.
|