Academic Development Resourcesmaths and numerical literacy
Maths and numerical literacy is about gaining or refreshing skills in everything that it number-based.
This means becoming more competent with numbers and concepts ranging from basic numeracy to calculus and particularly includes statistics and data analysis.
Many university courses include elements of maths or statistics and usually assume a basic understanding of the maths that underpin them. The resources here can plug gaps in knowledge or help to refresh maths concepts or techniques long-since forgotten. Guidance here also develops your ability to think and talk about numbers, data and mathematical ideas and concepts with confidence - a key workplace skill in many professions. Click a resource below to explore, or read more first ...
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iMaths
Digital Learning Resources
This collection brings together a diversity of well-designed and comprehensive resources with the aim of developing learner engagement with the Maths, Numeracy or Statistics that is required on many University courses.
It showcases, carefully selected, mostly free-to-use resources found elsewhere on the web into a 'one-stop-shop' with links to the original sites.
Additionally, the 'Library Topics' panel features new or interesting standalone resources recently unearthed or developed.
Digital Learning Resources
This collection brings together a diversity of well-designed and comprehensive resources with the aim of developing learner engagement with the Maths, Numeracy or Statistics that is required on many University courses.
It showcases, carefully selected, mostly free-to-use resources found elsewhere on the web into a 'one-stop-shop' with links to the original sites.
Additionally, the 'Library Topics' panel features new or interesting standalone resources recently unearthed or developed.
iMaths Resource Library Topics:
Dealing with Data: ->
Statistics for Science: ->
Maths for Engineers: ->
Dealing with Data: ->
Statistics for Science: ->
Maths for Engineers: ->
- an extensive library of video tutorials covering all skill levels from basic maths to 1st-year university topics Here are just two examples of video tutorials from Khan Academy
The first one takes us back to primary school to explain how to convert fractions to decimals,
whilst the second reminds us about one of the core A-level topics, differentiating a product:
Converting fractions to decimals
Applying the product rule for derivatives:
The first one takes us back to primary school to explain how to convert fractions to decimals,
whilst the second reminds us about one of the core A-level topics, differentiating a product:
Converting fractions to decimals
Applying the product rule for derivatives:
- very lively video presentations on elementray numeracy topics for refreshing long-forgotten basic skillsAnother resource of short video tutorials originally aimed at primary and lower secondary students
but the lively presentation style should engage learners of all ages. Full access to all the tutorials requires a small subscription.
This example explains the relationship between fractions and percentages:
but the lively presentation style should engage learners of all ages. Full access to all the tutorials requires a small subscription.
This example explains the relationship between fractions and percentages:
- provides suites of diagnostic assessments, video tutorials and worksheets on core concepts from arithmetic to calculusMathtutor is a UK-based self-learning resource developed by teachers and tutors from the Universities of Leeds, Loughborough and Coventry with HEFCE funding that is designed to provide maths learning development to university students looking for 'top-up' or 'knowledge-hole-filler' kinds of support.
The resources are organized into 7 topic areas covering: ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA, FUNCTIONS & GRAPHS, GEOMETRY & VECTORS, TRIGONOMETRY, DIFFERENTIATION, INTEGRATION.
Each topic area is divided down into sub-topics which all have a video tutorial, a diagnostic test, some examples and some exercises to try with some sections also presenting innovative aminations to make a topic clearer. The screenshot here is the 'home' page for the ALGEBRA section. Click the Mathtutor logo underneath the screenshot to visit the mathtutor webpages.
The resources are organized into 7 topic areas covering: ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA, FUNCTIONS & GRAPHS, GEOMETRY & VECTORS, TRIGONOMETRY, DIFFERENTIATION, INTEGRATION.
Each topic area is divided down into sub-topics which all have a video tutorial, a diagnostic test, some examples and some exercises to try with some sections also presenting innovative aminations to make a topic clearer. The screenshot here is the 'home' page for the ALGEBRA section. Click the Mathtutor logo underneath the screenshot to visit the mathtutor webpages.
- is an resource of study tutorials ranging from basic numeracy to A-levels and includes access to 'online' tutorsMath Captain presents 'How To' tutorials on major maths and stats topics through a menu system and also a daisy-chain of linked documents.
Essentially the resource is quite an extensive e-Book and worthy of exploration.
The novel feature is access to 'online tutors' which is free but untested (so far).
Essentially the resource is quite an extensive e-Book and worthy of exploration.
The novel feature is access to 'online tutors' which is free but untested (so far).
- is a terrific web-resource for practicing loads of core skills; the games are great fun!Mathopolis is a highly interactive maths learning resource that, although aimed at young mathematicians, provides an extensive library of questions to try and games to play that will enhance and develop the maths and numeracy skills of anyone.
The resource is free and you don't have to register and log-in if you don't want to.
The resource is free and you don't have to register and log-in if you don't want to.
- 'Analyse This!' is a stats resource for developing understanding of working with qualitative and quantitative data'Analyse This' is free online tutorial that aims to develop data analysis skills for coursework studies, projects, and dissertations. The tutorial looks at quantitative and qualitative data analysis, with some practical examples and advice on effectively analysing data.
The resource is accessible through use of simple language but may be considered limited by some as it doesn't explore statistical theory in much depth.
Most of the downloadable resources are in 'Word' format and the webpages have some interesting Quizes both to get started and also to test basic understanding.
The resource is accessible through use of simple language but may be considered limited by some as it doesn't explore statistical theory in much depth.
Most of the downloadable resources are in 'Word' format and the webpages have some interesting Quizes both to get started and also to test basic understanding.
- is a huge statistics support resource designed to complement SPSS but also explains fundamential ideas in statistical testingIf you are working with data, collecting it, sorting it, looking for patterns, trying to identify statistical significance then one of the best software applications for handling data and applying statistical tests is IBM's SPSS.
For students who are less than familiar with statistical processes but are nevertheless required to apply them to their data - collected as part of a dissertation or thesis perhaps - gaining a core understanding of which statistical tests of significance are applicable and what the test results mean is essential for understanding what your data is telling you.
Laerd Statistics is an online guidance resource designed to complement SPSS and one of its most useful features is a Statistical Test Selector which asks you key questions about the nature of your data and what you are trying to find out to guide you to the correct statistical test to apply. The first screenshot shown here is the 'Start' screen and the second is an example of how the selector helps you to identify the correct route by showing examples to compare to your own data and enquiry.The resource isn't free but a subscription for 3 months unlimited access costs just $7.99.
For students who are less than familiar with statistical processes but are nevertheless required to apply them to their data - collected as part of a dissertation or thesis perhaps - gaining a core understanding of which statistical tests of significance are applicable and what the test results mean is essential for understanding what your data is telling you.
Laerd Statistics is an online guidance resource designed to complement SPSS and one of its most useful features is a Statistical Test Selector which asks you key questions about the nature of your data and what you are trying to find out to guide you to the correct statistical test to apply. The first screenshot shown here is the 'Start' screen and the second is an example of how the selector helps you to identify the correct route by showing examples to compare to your own data and enquiry.The resource isn't free but a subscription for 3 months unlimited access costs just $7.99.
- is a resource of case studies, video tutorials, tests & quizzes and other teach-yourself material to support university-level statsStatstutor has been developed by maths and stats tutors at the Universities of Coventry and Loughborough materials to enhance the understanding of many of the core concepts and processes required for university statistics.
An interesting 'Case Study' approach is provided as one way of accessing the website's resources or choosing from an excellent list of topics that are all pertinent to typical stats tools frequently required for university projects and extended studies, or the 'Let me choose' link lists the entire bank of tutorial resources.
An interesting 'Case Study' approach is provided as one way of accessing the website's resources or choosing from an excellent list of topics that are all pertinent to typical stats tools frequently required for university projects and extended studies, or the 'Let me choose' link lists the entire bank of tutorial resources.
- is a comprehensive but accessible online 'basic' stats text bookStatsoft, now part of the Dell Corperation, is a comprehensive, hyperlinked online statistics text-book that explains in detail how to tackle a wide range of so-called 'basic' statistical functions and calculations.
Each section of the guide provides a relatively simple explanation of theory which is illustrated using examples from a wide range of sciences and social sciences.
Each section of the guide provides a relatively simple explanation of theory which is illustrated using examples from a wide range of sciences and social sciences.
- a resource of 'threads' covering a wide variety of university undergraduate-level maths topicsMaths Insight is an electronic text book that appears to cover everything in maths that you are likely to need at university. It is aimed at higher level maths, that is, GCSE & A-level upwards so isn't suitable for refreshing basic numeracy skills.
It has a comprehensive index so you can look up a topic that you want help with and most sections include superb 'Applets' that run interactive animations of the idea, principle or math topic being presented and many include short video presentations too. The resource includes 'thread' navigation so once you have found the main page on the topic you are interested to learn more about, the 'threads' take you to the next stage and in many cases to examples for you to view with worksheets of questions you can try.
The screenshot here presents an introduction to the determinants of matices - a topic common to many 1st year undergraduate engineering courses:
It has a comprehensive index so you can look up a topic that you want help with and most sections include superb 'Applets' that run interactive animations of the idea, principle or math topic being presented and many include short video presentations too. The resource includes 'thread' navigation so once you have found the main page on the topic you are interested to learn more about, the 'threads' take you to the next stage and in many cases to examples for you to view with worksheets of questions you can try.
The screenshot here presents an introduction to the determinants of matices - a topic common to many 1st year undergraduate engineering courses:
- resources to support the transition from GCSE and A-level to undergraduate maths for science or engineeringImperial College's METRIC maths resource is also an electronic textbook and is designed to support students making the transition from A-level to university-level maths.
The topics covered are divided into well-organized sections which are targetted to guide students on science-based or engineering courses at university.
Many of the resources are open-access and freely available on the internet although the main resource is exclusive to Imperial's 'BlackBoard' VLE.
The topics covered are divided into well-organized sections which are targetted to guide students on science-based or engineering courses at university.
Many of the resources are open-access and freely available on the internet although the main resource is exclusive to Imperial's 'BlackBoard' VLE.
- is a problem solving application: ask it a question, it provides an answerWebmath is a problem-solving resource that provides instant answers to relatively straightforward maths questions
For example, it will convert a fraction into its lowest terms, or provide a result for a definite integral or calculate many other mathematical computations. Except in cases where a simple, straightforward answer is the result of your question, the solution engine will present details of the computational process leading to the answer so you can follow it through.
The example here shows how to reduce a fraction to its lowest terms but you can try out something different using the drop-down menu: 'Quick! I need help with...'
For example, it will convert a fraction into its lowest terms, or provide a result for a definite integral or calculate many other mathematical computations. Except in cases where a simple, straightforward answer is the result of your question, the solution engine will present details of the computational process leading to the answer so you can follow it through.
The example here shows how to reduce a fraction to its lowest terms but you can try out something different using the drop-down menu: 'Quick! I need help with...'
- is an extraordinary 'computational knowledge engine' that calculates things or answers questionsWolfram Alpha is a 'knowledge engine' which means you can ask it to calculate a sum, explore statistics, tell you about a science topic, find out about an historical figure or interrogate many other topic areas or broad subject ranges.
As a maths resource, you can use it to help with algebra, explore calculus, plot graphs and a great deal more besides.
It is a freely available resource although the 'Pro' version (which requires a (student) subscription at $3.75 per month) adds extra functionality, particularly in maths as it will provide 'Step-by-Step' problem-solving capability and includes a 'Problem Generator' for trying your new knowledge and understanding.
As a maths resource, you can use it to help with algebra, explore calculus, plot graphs and a great deal more besides.
It is a freely available resource although the 'Pro' version (which requires a (student) subscription at $3.75 per month) adds extra functionality, particularly in maths as it will provide 'Step-by-Step' problem-solving capability and includes a 'Problem Generator' for trying your new knowledge and understanding.
Scoping, Thinking and ResearchOrganization and Time ManagementMaths and Numerical LiteracyExpressing Ideas