REGULATIONS FOR THE BACHELOR OF EDUCATION HONOURS DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS AND APPLIED STATISTICS (EDU26)

Duration:     2 years

Actual Credit Load   276

Minimum Credit Load:    240

Maximum Credit Load: 300

Total MBKS Credit Load:     192

ZNQF Level: 8

1.0   PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

To prepare in-service teachers to teach Mathematics up to ‘A’ Level and produce highly qualified personnel for educational institutions, government departments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

2.0   ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Normal Entry:

Diploma/Certificate in Mathematics Education or equivalent from an accredited and recognised institution.

3.0   Programme Characteristics

Areas of Study:Mathematics Education.

Specialist Focus:Training Mathematics Education Teachers.

Orientation: Teaching and learning that is research and innovation-oriented.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Employability:

Graduates can be employed as teachers, lecturers, education inspectors, training officers, consultants, technicians in related industries etc.

Further Studies:

Master’s and Doctoral studies in Mathematics Education.

5.0   PROGRAMME DELIVERY

Teaching and Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes, seminars, group work, industrial visits, micro-teaching, teaching practice, research project, individual independent study, and virtual and online learning.

Level 1 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Credits
BED133	Information Communication Technology in Education	12
BED144	Schools Curriculum Competencies and Innovation	12
BCHS131	Culture and Heritage Studies	12
SEMA101	Calculus	12
SEMA102	Linear Mathematics	12

Level 1 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Credits
SEMA103	Applied Statistics	12
SEMA104	Numerical Methods	12
SEMA105	Applications of Ordinary Differential Equations	12
SEMA106	Mathematics Teaching for Sustainable Development	12
BED231	Assessment and Evaluation Techniques	12
BED131	Research Methods and Statistics	12

Level 2 Semester 1

Code	Module Description	Credits
BEFM231	School Administration & Financial Management in Education	12
EDGS231	Gender Studies for Educators	12
SEMA201	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics	12
BEIE501	Entrepreneurship and Industrialisation in Education	12
SEMA202	Advanced Pedagogics in Mathematics	12

Level 2 Semester 2

Code	Module Description	Credits
SEMA203	Statistical Inference	12
SEMA204	Introduction to Numerical Methods	12
SEMA205	Real Analysis	12
BED232	Research Project	24
BED135	Contemporary Issues in Education	12

Electives

Code	Module Description	Credits
EFS 131	Sociological Issues in Education	12
EFPS 131	Psychological Issues in Education	12
EFPH 131	Philosophical Issues in Education	12

Module synopses

BED133: Information Communication Technology in Education

This module employs a hands-on approach to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the innovative use of information communication technology to enhance classroom teaching and learning. Topics include the role of ICT in education, software application in education, multimedia learning, the internet of things and emerging technologies and their application in classroom teaching.

BED144: Schools Curriculum Competencies and Innovation                                                                                                                                        

The module introduces students to the schools’ curriculum and basic theories of curriculum development. It explores the philosophy of the Zimbabwean competence-based curriculum and its implications for teaching. The specific competencies in the curriculum are analysed in relation to how they empower students with life-long competencies that prepare students for sustainable livelihoods inside and outside formal employment. Such competencies include but are not limited to creativity, innovation, industrialisation, and entrepreneurship.

BCHS131: Culture and Heritage Studies

The module examines the concepts of culture and heritage as they relate to unhuism/ubuntuism, innovation and industrialisation. Emphasis is placed on the values of social, historical, architectural, scientific and cultural heritage that can be capitalised on for socio-economic development. The module further explores landscapes that contain cultural heritage associated with knowledge, songs, stories, art objects and human remains.     

SEMA101: Calculus

The module exposes number systems: natural, integral, rational and irrational, the principle of mathematical induction, the real number system: decimal and geometrical representation, inequalities and their solution sets, functions: different types of functions and their inverses, limits of functions, continuity, sequences and series, differentiation, integration and their applications and the mean value theorems.

SEMA102: Linear Mathematics

The module focuses on complex numbers: geometric representation, algebra, De Moivres theorem polynomials and roots of polynomial equations, matrices and determinants: algebra of matrices, inverses, definition and manipulation of determinants, solutions of simultaneous linear equations, applications to geometry and vectors, differential equations: separable, homogeneous, exact, integrating factors, linear equation with constant coefficients.

SEMA 103: Descriptive Statistics

This module covers data analysis; variables and graphs, numerical summary of data, spread using quartiles, box plots, standard deviation, normal distributions, standardised observations, normal approximation, sampling distribution for the mean and standard deviation, sampling distribution, central limit theorem, confidence intervals confidence intervals in general, confidence interval for a population mean, and how confidence Internals. data analysis using statistical software packages.

 SEMA104: Probability Theory

The module covers Axiomatic probability, sets and events, sample space, conditional probability, independence, laws discrete and continuous random variables, probability density functions, mean, variance, expectation, Independence, Chebyshev’s inequality, moments and moment generating functions, common discrete distributions and continuous Distributions.

SEMA105: Applications of Ordinary Differential Equations

The module examines the basic techniques for the solution of first and second-order differential equations, method of undetermined coefficients and method of variation of parameters, the Existence and Uniqueness of solutions, Series solution, Differential equations of special functions and Laplace transforms to the solution of ODEs.

SEMA106: Mathematics Teaching for Sustainable Development

The module focuses on global and national policies on development and sustainability. It explores how mathematics can be taught to enhance sustainability, and promote sustainable development competencies such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving, modelling, leadership, collaboration, enterprise skills etc. The module also explores how mathematics teaching and learning can integrate national and global issues.

BED231: Assessment and Evaluation Techniques

The module covers assessment and evaluation issues in education across all subject areas. The content of the module includes an analysis of the concepts of evaluation, assessment and measurement in education; contemporary ideas on how to improve assessment and evaluation in schools; test designing; analysis of test results; national examinations and grading.

BED131: Research Methods and Statistics

The module introduces students to the basic principles of research. It develops the students’ knowledge and skills in the following areas: identification of research problems in education; selection of appropriate research designs and data collection tools; data analysis techniques; research findings and conclusions; and research report writing. The module also introduces students to educational research that is aligned with sustainable development issues such as environmental conservation and poverty eradication.

BEFM231: School Administration and Financial Appreciation

The module introduces students to sound administration and financial management practices followed in schools and other educational institutions. It tackles the basic tenets of the nature and purpose of administration and familiarises students with skills in budgeting and budgetary control. Students are further introduced to the accounting systems in schools and the interpretation of policies and statutes that govern financial and asset management in educational institutions.

 EDGS231: Gender Studies for Educators

The module exposes students to the concept of gender and its significance to education. It also exposes students to how education spaces construct gender differences and the implications of these differences on learners and staff, and how schools can close the gender gap by studying theoretical perspectives on gender, cultural dimensions and their implications to education. It also exposes students to different empowerment frameworks and legislation.

SEMA201: Introduction to Discrete Mathematics

The module covers sets: formulae, propositions, Boolean Algebra and its applications, logic, mathematical reasoning and proof, relations: binary, n- ary, reflexive, symmetric, transitive, equivalence relations and classes, partitions, order relations, inverse relations, functions: one to one, onto, inverse functions, operations: sets with one or two binary operations: permutations, symmetry groups, and modular arithmetic.

BEIE501: Entrepreneurship and Industrialisation in Education

The module equips the students with entrepreneurial skills on how to set up and successfully operate business/production units within and outside educational environments. Students are expected to develop a conceptual framework for entrepreneurship and distinguish between wage employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship. Familiarisation with the incubation hub and the transformation of education into an industry are considered.

SEMA202: Advanced Pedagogics in Mathematics

This module is designed to meet the practical needs of in-service classroom science teachers. The purpose of the module is to reflect on real classroom situations in comparison to the theoretical, perspectives taken in the methodology module on becoming mathematics teachers. The module focuses on classroom techniques, instructional procedures and languages, and teacher/learner interactions. The teachers need to share challenges, useful ideas, suggestions, demonstrations, and examples of teaching science.

EFS131 & EFPS131 & EFPH131: Applied Educational Foundations

This module enhances students with basic philosophical, psychological and sociological theories that are central to the learning and development of learners from diverse backgrounds. The module also interrogates the interconnection between educational foundations and innovation, thereby further equipping students with vibrant critical thinking skills to awaken the creative capabilities inherent in them.

SEMA203: Statistical Inference

The module covers population and sample concepts as the basis of statistical inference, parameters and statistics, review of probability theory, Central Limit Theorem, Chi-square, student-t and F distributions, distribution of min and max, estimation, interval estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, parametric and non-parametric tests, composite hypothesis, sampling from the normal distribution and tests of equality of two multinomial distributions and statistical inference using statistical software Packages like SPSS, Minitab and Stata.

SEMA204: Introduction to Numerical Methods

The module introduces students to modern methods, techniques, and computational methods for solving problems in linear algebra, nonlinear equations, interpolation, approximation and integration. It will also involve the presentation of basic mathematical foundations of numerical methods and computing. Students will get hands-on experience in solving problems and give useful scientific tools for scientists, and engineers and others. Matlab software is of prime importance in this module.

SEMA205: Real Analysis

The module covers a firm foundation in the theory of real analysis and uses definitions and logical reasoning to prove mathematical results or theorems. The students shall develop strong analytical skills which are useful in students’ day-to-day lives. It provides students with various techniques for solving mathematical problems and prepares students for higher studies in mathematics and related fields.

BED232: Research Project

In this final year, two-semester module each student carries out a research project in an area of his/her choice under the guidance of a supervisor. Through the study, students are expected to apply their knowledge and skills in research in the resolution of an identified research problem, as well as showing their appreciation of research as a viable process of addressing contemporary challenges and issues in education and their local environments.

BED135: Contemporary Issues in Education

The module exposes students to the most current global trends like globalisation, Sustainable Development Goals, gender, human rights, and health pandemics and how these feed into and also how they affect the Zimbabwean Education system.  The thrust is to leverage current trends in promoting innovation, industrialisation and modernisation through Education 5.0.