How To Do A Bibliometric Analysis Of Your HEI

Author: Charles Oppenheim

There has been a lot of publicity regarding bibliometrics in relation to the forthcoming REF in recent months. In this publication, the background to the use of bibliometrics in the REF is given, and then advice is given on how someone could carry out a bibliometric analysis on staff within their own HEI.

Last updated: October 2010

Study Skills Online

Author: Martin Greenhow

This highly-rated and popular site offers study advice for university students throughout their studies. It is written specifically for science and technology students whose needs are not covered by more generic sites. The site has 10 sections: introduction, time management, lectures, reading, set work, experiments, presentations, revision, exams, getting a job and help available; there is also a postgraduate section and a link to a handy study skills leaflet aimed at freshers.

Last updated: July 2010

Mathletics tests downloads

Author: Martin Greenhow

This site offers free downloads of a suite of fully-functional tests spanning mathematics for GCSE students to level 2 undergraduates. The tests access a huge database of questions, each question coding producing thousands or millions of realisations presented to students where random parameters continually change. Randoms are used in all aspects of the questions, including MathML equations and SVG diagrams, and are carried through to the very full feedback screens (these also link to further web resources). Accessibility features act on all aspects of the question too. The tests comprise GCSE numbers, GCSE algebra, number systems, A level algebra, A level calculus and functions, decision maths, graph theory, matrices, mechanics and advanced calculus. Further links are given to tests specifically written for physics and economics students.

Last updated: July 2010

Understanding the UK Mathematics Curriculum Pre-University - A Guide for Academic Members of Staff (PDF 1 MB)
and Covers (outside spread PDF 1 MB and inside spread PDF 666 KB)

Author: Mathematics in Education and Industry

A considerable number of pre-university mathematics qualifications are available within the UK and, for those working within the Higher Education sector, it is not always clear what mathematics content, methods and processes students will have studied or indeed can be expected to know and understand as they commence their university programmes.

The Maths, Stats & OR Network, in conjunction with the Subject Centres for Bioscience, Engineering, Information and Computer Sciences, Materials and Physical Sciences commissioned Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) to construct a guide, written for those within the Higher Education sector, to outline what students with given prior qualifications in mathematics are likely to know and be able to do.

Last updated: February 2010

Project Management Teaching Materials for ILS Students
(Link to page with further details)

Author: Barbara Chivers

Project management is used increasingly in the information and library sector (ILS) as an effective approach for: developing new initiatives to improve service delivery; achieving goals within a framework of public sector management; managing change within information related organizations.

Several resources have been developed as an ILS commissioned project for the Higher Education Agency. They provide concise introductions to project management set within the context of the information and library sector. Their purpose is not to replicate the wide range of literature and web resources on project management, but to provide useful content and case studies suitable for use with students on ILS professional educational courses. These resources can also be used for staff training within ILS organizations and can be adapted by trainers and educators to fit the user group.

Last updated: February 2008

Analysis of accessibility issues for creating and deploying on-line assessment tools
(PDF 249 KB)

Author: Dr Jim Smith, School of Computer Science, University of the West of England, Bristol

This work was conducted as part of the HEA project “Creation of OnLine Assessments for Teaching Artificial Intelligence”. One of the specific aims of that project was to consider the impact of switching to computer-based assessment on students with disabilities, in particular visual disabilities and dyslexia. A secondary aim was to reflect on existing guidelines on the presentation of materials. To that aim the author worked with the University’s Disability Resource Centre (DRC) and the Web-standards group to formulate a set of issues to be considered, and guidelines when creating the assessment questions and test. The short-term and practical nature of the project is such that this report is intended to provide details of the specific issues identified, and of the evaluation of the materials developed, rather than being a more comprehensive review or study of the topic.

Last updated: February 2008

Making the most of your library – a guide for ICS lecturers
(PDF 46 KB)

Authors: Ruth Stubbings, Loughborough University; Joanne Marsh, Higher Education Academy ICS Subject Centre.

The aim of this guide is to provide a better understanding of library services and to help academic staff consider how they can make effective use of the knowledge and expertise of library staff to support and enhance the students learning experience and their development of information handling skills.

Last updated: November 2007

Getting Started in Computer Science Education Research
(PDF 2.3 MB)

Authors: Mike Joy, Shanghau Sun, Jirarat Sitthiworachart, Jane Sinclair and Javier López.

This guide is aimed at academics who are interested in developing their teaching activities with a view to research leading to publication. As well as the pdf version the guide is also available in the form of a website.

Last updated: July 2007