Students

FOSE1005 – Mathematical Concepts for Science

2022 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Christopher Gordon
Ross Moore
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
An introduction to the basic quantitative methods and techniques common to much of science. You will learn how to formulate scientific problems using mathematical language, use a range of techniques to analyse and solve these problems, and gain an understanding of how to interpret the solutions. Amongst other topics, this unit will cover rates of change, graphical display and interpretation of mathematical concepts, logarithmic and exponential scales, all in the context of scientific measurement and analysis. In the process, this unit introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to your success in future careers.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • ULO2: Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • ULO3: Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • ULO4: Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

General Assessment Information

HURDLES: Attendance at, and reasonable engagement in, Small Group Teaching Activities (SGTA) classes in all first year mathematics and statistics units is compulsory. Attendance and reasonable engagement in the class activities in at least 8 out of 11 of the SGTA classes are requirements to pass the unit. This is a hurdle requirement.

ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: Please contact the unit convenor as soon as possible if you have difficulty attending and participating in any classes. There may be alternatives available to make up the work. If there are circumstances that mean you will miss a class, you can apply for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION: Assignment submission will be online through the iLearn page.

Submit assignments online via the appropriate assignment link on the iLearn page. A personalised cover sheet is not required with online submissions. Read the submission statement carefully before accepting it as there are substantial penalties for making a false declaration.

  • Assignment submission is via iLearn. You should upload this as a single scanned PDF file.
  • Please note the quick guide on how to upload your assignments provided on the iLearn page.
  • Please make sure that each page in your uploaded assignment corresponds to only one A4 page (do not upload an A3 page worth of content as an A4 page in landscape). If you are using an app like Clear Scanner, please make sure that the photos you are using are clear and shadow-free.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure your assignment submission is legible.
  • If there are technical obstructions to your submitting online, please email us to let us know.

You may submit as often as required prior to the due date/time. Please note that each submission will completely replace any previous submissions. It is in your interests to make frequent submissions of your partially completed work as insurance against technical or other problems near the submission deadline.

LATE SUBMISSION OF WORK: 

Scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide/iLearn. The timed assessments are the two tests. All untimed assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

For the assignments and the vodcast, a 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five calendar days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of three (3) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 12/20.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation in SGTA classes 0% Yes Weekly
Foundation activities 0% Yes ongoing
Test 1 (online) 20% Yes Week 6
Assignment 1 20% No Week 7
Test 2 (online) 20% No Week 10
Assignment 2 20% No Week 11
Vodcast 20% No Week 12

Participation in SGTA classes

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to engage with the unit by participating in SGTA classes.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Foundation activities

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Activities related to foundational employability and self-directed learning skills

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Test 1 (online)

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

This online quiz will test the ability of the students to represent and interpret scientific data and create and manipulate mathematical information in the form of graphical information, data, and equations.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Assignment 1

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

Problems are chosen to explore mathematical concepts and techniques pertaining to the mathematical content of discipline specific material. Students are expected to demonstrate logical mathematical aruments and submit clearly written solutions.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Test 2 (online)

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 20%

 

This online quiz will test the ability of the students to recognize, use, and manipulate a variety of mathematical functions, including the use of the derivative and the integral, in the context of discipline-specific problems.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Assignment 2

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%

 

Problems are chosen to explore mathematical concepts and techniques pertaining to the mathematical content of discipline specific material. Students are expected to demonstrate logical mathematical aruments and submit clearly written solutions.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

Vodcast

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

 

A 3 to 5 minute vodcast prepared in a group of 3 to 4 students, presenting a mathematical model utilizing the content taught in the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze problems in multiple science disciplines, at foundation level, using mathematical concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate mathematical concepts in a variety of ways using formal and informal presentations including the use of graphical methods and appropriate software.
  • Identify the mathematical principles underlying basic discipline-specific problems.
  • Create and interpret the content of mathematical models relevant to foundation level science topics.
  • Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

One 2 hour lecture per week.

One 2 hour Small Group Teaching Activity (SGTA) per week.

Resources

No single book covers the content of FOSE1005 precisely.  Each of the following books contains material useful and relevant to the unit.

Recommended books

  1. Mathematics for Sustainability (free download from Macquarie University internet connection) The book's website.
  2. Maths for Chemists
  3. Active Prelude to Calculus by Boelkins. Extensive videos here.
  4. Active Calculus by Boelkins et al
  5. Modeling Life by Garfinkel et al (free download from Macquarie University internet connection)
  6. MUMS modules. Material from the Numeracy Centre.
  7. Precalculus by Stitz and Zeager. See 3rd corrected edition.
  8. Precalculus by Collingwood et al

Unit Schedule

Unit Schedule

Week Lecture topic
1

Computation and Measurement

2

Equations, symbolic representation and manipulation

3

Displaying data and interpreting graphs

4

Oscillatory behaviour

5 Growth and decay
6

Rates of change: use and interpretation

7

Calculation of rates of change

Mid Session Break  
8 Optimization
9

Accumulation of change

10

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus: connecting rates of change and accumulated change

11 Employability
12 Employability
13 Employability

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Test 2 is no longer a hurdle.

The weekly assessments of Lecture Activity Quizzes have been removed.  


Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook