Meeting expectations – a focus on professional practice in a final year undergraduate mathematics course

Abstract

This paper argues that achievement of many of the attributes required of graduates in professional practice in operations research, or quantitative management science, can be developed best through a learning design that reflects current professional knowledge, skills and values. This necessarily places the focus of the learning design squarely on the student, with technology and communication at the nexus of the subject learning activities, and assessment tasks tailored to reflect this. The first steps in the examination of the effectiveness of this form of learning design are undertaken for a final year capstone subject in the Quantitative Management Science major in a Bachelor of Science program. This examination is undertaken from the perspective of students and teaching staff, through the analysis of discussions with students conducted at milestones throughout the semester. Positive student outcomes can be identified.