Recent changes in A-level Mathematics: is the availability and uptake of mechanics declining yet more?
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[1] Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Charnwood District, Reino Unido
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- Localización: Teaching mathematics and its applications, ISSN 0268-3679, Vol. 26, Nº. 3, 2007, págs. 111-118
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
In the past 6 years changes have occurred in GCE A-levels. In particular, there have been several major changes in A-level Mathematics courses. As engineering students are usually required to have studied A-level Mathematics, or its equivalent, these changes have had an effect on their prior mathematical knowledge. Moreover, engineering students traditionally obtained a good grounding in mechanics as part of their A-level Mathematics qualification. However, mechanics, which was once included in the core syllabus, is now optional. This article investigates the current availability and uptake of mechanics modules within A-level Mathematics courses in schools. Comparisons are drawn between these results and results of a survey of schools in 2004 and surveys of first year engineering students conducted in 2004 and 2005. It is found that there is a decline in the availability of mechanics modules and the uptake of more than one mechanics module has also decreased. The implications of these findings for engineering educators are discussed.
