Mathematical Mondays! The METAL project
I came across this fabulous website over the weekend. The METAL project (or, Mathematics for Economics: enhancing Teaching and Learning) is supported by the University of Bristol, and provides a course in the fundamental maths required to be a successful economist at university starting from the absolute basics (below GCSE standard!).
There are supporting teacher notes, lots of activity sheets, brilliant video clips that really enhance the subject material, insightful case studies and a massive question bank. My own opinion is that this is one of the most useful resources I’ve seen in a long time, as it can be used by teachers to develop some extension material yet remains highly accessible by students of a range of abilities who might be seeking to get ahead in terms of university preparation. Indeed, an economics careers talk at my college last week pointed out that most economics degrees do not require maths A-level (although I think I’m right in saying that all of the Russell Group university economics courses certainly do) but that the first year will be tough for those without it - this website will certainly help students to get up to speed. I have to say that there are some bits and bobs on there that I’ve not come across before so I’ll be working through some of the material myself!
Mathematical Monday - Price Elasticity of Demand
This week’s stretch-and-challenge mathematical activity looks at some of the algebra behind the concept of price elasticity of demand. As with last week’s activity, nothing more advanced than higher level GCSE maths is needed to complete the exercise, although it’s still something you probably will want to use as extension material. I’ve also included some hints, tips and possible ways of reaching the answers.
maths_for_PED_hints_and_answers.pdf
Introducing Mathematical Monday!
Over the course of what remains of this academic year, I’m planning to run a series of blog entries that teachers can use to enrich the content that they deliver to their most able students, or those who are considering reading economics at university.
Today’s introductory Mathematical Monday resource uses some public-domain lecture notes from Essex University, in which students can work through applying simple linear equations to basic demand and supply. Students with a good grade at GCSE maths should be able to manage this part! The notes and activities then move on to macroeconomics, making use of the 45 degree line, which few teachers use now but keen and able students will manage to work it out. The notes can be found here
