About the Course

Computing for Mathematics: Introduction to the course

This course will follow 3 mains texts:

1. A book covering the use of a programming language called Python: vknight.org/pfm/
2. A set of short tutorials showing how to use the mathematical typesetting language LaTeX: vknight.org/tex/
3. A document with guidelines for writing mathematics.

All course materials are available online at vknight.org/cfm/. You can also find all the source files that create that website at github.com/drvinceknight/cfm/.

Virtual board

I will use a virtual board throughout class:

• This will allow you to see the board more clearly on the class recordings.
• I will share a copy of the board with you after each class.

Technology in class

Please use whatever resources you need to be successful in this class. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Office hours

I will not hold specific office hours: please email me to arrange a time to come and see me.

Kindness

In this course every participant (including myself) will be having many interactions with other participants. Some potential examples of this:

• Peer to peer discussions during classes;
• Me explaining a given topic.

I expect every participant (including myself) to act with kindness during these interactions.

Some examples of how this applies to me:

• When a student is late or absent at a class I will assume they have good reasons. If this happens regularly
• I will first be concerned for their well-being.
• Ask how I can help them catch up.
• If a student asks for an explanation of a topic that has been covered multiples times I will assume that some set of circumstances has prevented them from seeing these explanations and:
• will explain the topic.
• also point them at the explanations in the course materials and/or class recordings. If this is a regular occurrence I might ask if there are any circumstances that I can help with.
• If I make a mistake in a class explanation and someone helpfully points it out. I will listen and thank them for pointing it out and either go over the mistake then and there or go over it again at a future meeting.

Structure of the course

The course runs over a single semester and is divided into two halves.

In the first half (Weeks 1 to 6), we cover the mathematical and computational foundations of the module in scheduled classes.

In the second half (Weeks 6 to 11), the emphasis shifts to self-directed group work. Groups meet independently each week to study the Python for Mathematics book content and to make progress on their group project. There is a single one-hour contact session per week in the second half; this session is used to hand in the week's meeting minutes and to ask questions. Groups are formed during Week 1 so that you have your group from the very start of the module.

Each week in the group project phase has a minutes template linked in the schedule. One member acts as secretary for the meeting (the role rotates each week) and is responsible for completing the minutes. The group prints the minutes and submits the hard copy as a group during the contact hour. The attendance recorded in the minutes is the evidence used for the individual component of the group project mark.

Assessment

There are three pieces of assessment in this course:

• Individual coursework (20%)
• A collection of individual quizzes (20%)
• Group coursework (60%)

More information about assessment: here

Log of past relevant classes

2025-05-26: Group Project Feedback

In this post I will discuss the performance of the class for the group coursework.

2024-12-06: Summary of mock coursework session and clarification about question 4b

In class today I went over the mock coursework.

2024-12-04: Summary of release of individual coursework

In class yesterday we took a look at the individual coursework.

2024-10-22: Mid module feedback and brief introduction to Combinatorics

In class today carried out the mid module feedback and briefly introduced the combinatorics chapter.

2024-10-18: Review of Calculus

In class today we reviewed the calculus content of the course.

2024-10-01: Overview of the class 2024

Thanks all for your presence in class today.

2024-09-30: Welcome to the Computing for Mathematics class 2024

This is a brief message before our first class.

2024-05-21: Overview of assessment performance

In this post I will discuss the performance of the class:

2024-02-16: Mid module feedback and documentation

On Friday we discussed documentation and your mid module feedback.

2023-12-08: Summary of mock coursework session

In class today I demonstrated how to submit and went over the mock coursework.

2023-12-04: Summary of release of individual coursework

In class yesterday we took a look at the individual coursework.

2023-10-20: Review of Calculus

In class today we discussed mid module feedback and reviewed the concepts from the Calculus chapter.

2023-10-02: Overview of the class 2023

Thanks all for your presence in class today.

2023-01-30: Welcome to the Computing for Mathematics class 2023

This is a brief message before our first class.

Facilitator notes: About the course