sigma: Network for excellence in mathematics and statistics support

sigma Network One Day Event on GeoGebra and ICT for Mathematics Support
2015-05-15 10:30 - 16:00 UTC | Essex University, Colchester Campus
The Eastern sigma Hub is planning to run a free Workshop on GeoGebra and ICT for Mathematics Support , on 15 May at Essex University, Colchester Campus from 10:30 to 16:00.
This one day event on ICT in the support of mathematics at University will focus on the free software GeoGebra (https://www.geogebra.org/) and how it can be used to support teaching and learning of mathematics and statics. This event is ideal for people who have not used GeoGebra before but will also be of interest to more experienced users. The day will close with time for people to practice their new GeoGebra skills along with a discussion of the implications and use of ICT in the support of mathematics and statistics at university. If you would like to prove a short talk in this last session, please let event organiser Abdel Salhi as@essex.ac.uk know.
The GeoGebra sessions will be run by Tom Button from MEI (http://www.mei.org.uk/consultancyTB).
The programme for the day is as follows:
1030: Arrivals + refreshments
1100: Introduction to GeoGebra
1230: Lunch
1300: Further GeoGebra hands-on practice
1430: Discussion of ICT in undergraduate Maths Support
1600: Close
For those working towards HEA Fellowship, attendance at and engagement with this event, and reflection on its implications for practice, could help to provide evidence towards elements of the UK Professional Standards Framework: A1, A4, A5, K1, K2, K3, K4, V2, V3.
Please contact Abdel Salhi or Dan Brawn for further information and to book your place.

sigma Newsletter contributions deadline
2015-05-15 00:00 - 23:59
Contributions for the June issue of the sigma Newsletter are due today. Please contact Janette Matthews.

sigma Midlands Hub Networking event
2015-05-08 12:30 - 16:00 | Halesowen College
The sigma Midlands Hub is holding a Maths Support Networking Event at Halesowen College on Friday 8th May, starting at 12:30pm.
This event is aimed at those who would like to network with other Mathematics and Statistics support practitioners, share good practice and discuss common issues. This is an ideal opportunity for Institutions who have recently received sigma funding to set up a mathematics support provision to get together, as well as the ‘old hands’ at mathematics support to pass on their wisdom.
This will be a very informal event, including lunch and refreshments.
sigma may be able to assist with the cost of transport in cases of hardship if your institution is in England and is unable to cover this. If you would like to attend, please book by emailing Ruth Fairclough at r.fairclough@wlv.ac.uk.

sigma Hub Co-ordinators online meeting
2015-04-23 09:15 - 10:15, 2015-03-05 09:15 - 10:15, 2014-11-20 09:15 - 22:15, 2014-10-09 09:15 - 10:15

sigma Student Summer Internship Initiative – Successful proposals announced
2015-03-02 00:00 - 23:59

sigma Newsletter contributions deadline
2015-02-13 00:00 - 23:59
Contributions for the March issue of the sigma Newsletter are due today. Please contact Janette Matthews.

sigma Student Summer Internship Initiative – Call for Proposals – closing date
2015-02-12 00:00 - 23:59

sigma Midlands Tutor Training
2015-01-29 10:30 - 16:00 | Coventry University
A free training day is being held on 29th January 2015 at Coventry University for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills.
The course will be delivered by members of sigma, based around the sigma guide “Tutoring in a Mathematics Support Centre“. The training is ideal for tutors new to mathematics and statistics support, for example postgraduate students who take on this work, but is open to anyone who wishes to reflect on the ways in which mathematics and statistics support differs from traditional lecturing.
This event is being hosted by the sigma Midlands hub.
To reserve a place at this FREE event, please email Trevor Hawkes aa5864@coventry.ac.uk.
Financial support to assist with travel costs may be available (to delegates from the Midlands hub region only) if tutors would otherwise be unable to attend. Please contact Ruth Fairclough r.fairclough@wlv.ac.uk, sigma Midlands Hub Co-ordinator, for information.

Embedding & sustaining maths & stats support
2015-01-23 11:00 - 16:00 | University of Bath
The sigma South West and South Wales Hub is holding an event on Embedding and sustaining mathematics support, at the University of Bath on Friday 23rd January. The main focus of the meeting is to consider how the community of mathematics and statistics support practitioners may best embed and sustain mathematics support locally in their own institution and within our regional hub. This meeting will also have plenty of time for networking and sharing information and ideas between attendees. Please note the requests for short talks, activities and discussion points to enable this and consider volunteering!
Abdel Salhi, Professor of Operational Research and Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Essex, will open the day. He will describe how his department has designed and delivered sustainable maths and stats support including offering consultancy services to local businesses. This will be followed by short talks offered up by attendees to highlight work they have completed to ensure their maths or stats support is embedded and sustainable. In the latter part of the day there will be activities and discussion with a focus on local and regional embedding, sustainability and sharing of practice. For further information and to register for the event please see http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/sigma-sw/events/sustain-2015.html.
For further details please contact the sigma South West and South Wales Hub co-ordinator Emma Cliffe (E.H.Cliffe@bath.ac.uk).

Being inclusive in math and stats support
2015-01-19 10:00 - 16:00 | University of Sheffield
The sigma North East and Yorkshire Hub are arranging an event at the University of Sheffield on Monday 19 January 2015, starting at 10am and finishing at 4pm. The day will be a combination of talks and activities and aims to give delegates an opportunity to consider their inclusive practice of mathematics and statistics support and learn ways of developing it further.
Widening participation initiatives and changes in confidence in our society has led to an increase in numbers of students from non-traditional backgrounds. In the maths support community we are good at helping students get to a level playing field when it comes to mathematics and statistics skills but I think we have yet to engage as a whole community with the trickier support for students with challenging mental and physical health conditions. This event hopes to not only increase awareness but will help to take us forward pre-empting the increase in student numbers and support needs.
Clare Trott from Loughborough University has played a leading role in developing methods for helping students with dyscalculia and low maths confidence, Victoria Mann (Specialist SpLD tutor) with 14 years of experience from University of Sheffield and Dylan Griffiths from Bangor University will be some of the speakers at the event. The full programme is yet to be finalised.
There is no charge for attending and refreshments including lunch will be provided. Preliminary enquiries can be sent to Chetna.patel@sheffield.ac.uk.

sigma Hub Co-ordinators away day
2015-01-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Solihull

sigma Student Summer Internship Initiative – Call for Proposals
2015-01-12 00:00 - 23:59

Workshop for Tutors In Mathematics and Statistics Support Centres
2014-12-16 10:30 - 16:00 | Coventry University
A free training day is being held on 16 December 2014 at Coventry University for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills.
The course will be delivered by members of sigma, based around the sigma guide “Tutoring in a Mathematics Support Centre“. The training is ideal for tutors new to mathematics and statistics support, for example postgraduate students who take on this work, but is open to anyone who wishes to reflect on the ways in which mathematics and statistics support differs from traditional lecturing.
This event is being hosted by the sigma Midlands hub.
Date: Tuesday 16 December 2014
Time: 10.30 – 16.00
Place: Coventry University
To reserve a place at this FREE event, please email Trevor Hawkes aa5864@coventry.ac.uk.

Models for the delivery of Maths/Stats support
2014-12-16 10:30 - 15:00 | University of East London (UEL)
The sigma Eastern England Hub will be holding an event at the University of East London (UEL).
This will be a networking event for people involved in the provision of mathematics and statistics support in higher education. Attendees will have the opportunity to share experiences, explain what works well for them, and seek ideas for the further development of their service. More details..
To book a place, or for further information, please contact:
Dan Brawn, sigma Eastern England Hub Assistant Co-ordinator: dbrawn@essex.ac.uk

sigma North West and North Wales Tutor Training
2014-12-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Lancaster University
A free training day is being held on 16 December 2014 at Lancaster University for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills.
The course will be delivered by members of sigma, based around the sigma guide “Tutoring in a Mathematics Support Centre“. The training is ideal for tutors new to mathematics and statistics support, for example postgraduate students who take on this work, but is open to anyone who wishes to reflect on the ways in which mathematics and statistics support differs from traditional lecturing.
This event is being hosted by the sigma North West and North Wales hub.
Date: Tuesday 16 December 2014
Time: 10.00 – 16.00
Place: Lancaster University
To reserve a place at this FREE event, please email Sharon McCulloch s.mcculloch@lancaster.ac.uk
Financial support to assist with travel costs may be available (to delegates from the sigma NWNW hub region only) if tutors would otherwise be unable to attend. Please contact Leslie Fletcher L.R.Fletcher@ljmu.ac.uk, sigma NWNW Hub Co-ordinator, for information.

SPSS Bootcamp
2014-12-03 00:00 - 23:59 | University of Northampton
The Midlands regional hub of sigma is running a free training event at the University of Northampton on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2014 which is aimed at tutors who would like to improve their statistics knowledge for working within a Maths Support Centre setting. The sessions will be delivered by statistics support practitioners from the sigma network. One or both sessions may be attended.

Session 1 (2 December) – Statistics for Mathematicians
Session 2 (3 December) – SPSS Boot Camp

Overnight accommodation is available at the University of Northampton – accommodation bookings must be made by 1 November.
To book onto one or both sessions, or if you have questions, email Ruth Fairclough r.fairclough@wlv.ac.uk.
For more information click here.

Statistics for Mathematicians
2014-12-02 00:00 - 23:59 | University of Northampton
The Midlands regional hub of sigma is running a free training event at the University of Northampton on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2014 which is aimed at tutors who would like to improve their statistics knowledge for working within a Maths Support Centre setting. The sessions will be delivered by statistics support practitioners from the sigma network. One or both sessions may be attended.

Session 1 (2 December) – Statistics for Mathematicians
Session 2 (3 December) – SPSS Boot Camp

Overnight accommodation is available at the University of Northampton – accommodation bookings must be made by 1 November.
To book onto one or both sessions, or if you have questions, email Ruth Fairclough at r.fairclough@wlv.ac.uk.
For more information click here.

sigma Resource Development Call – Successful proposals announced
2014-12-01 00:00 - 23:59

Using Online Resources and the Virtual Learning Environment to Promote and Enhance Maths Support
2014-11-28 10:30 - 16:00 | Central St. Martins, Archway Campus, London
The SE Sigma Hub is organising a free workshop entitled ‘Using Online Resources and the Virtual Learning Environment to Promote and Enhance Maths Support’ at Central St. Martins, Archway Campus, London on Friday 28th November from 10:30-4pm (room TBA and directions to follow). Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Speakers will include:

Nigel Atkins (Kingston University) ‘The Evolution of a Support Centre: MathsAid online’
Leslie Fletcher (Liverpool John Moores) ‘Problems and solutions navigating to maths support resources’
Inna Namestnikova (Brunel, University of London) Title TBA
Chetna Patel (Sheffield University) ‘Use of diagnostic testing to improve access to maths support’
Joe Ros (HowCloud) ‘HowCloud: a new teaching and learning tool for mathematics’
Allison Smale (Bucks New University) ‘Flipping classrooms – using online resources with Excel and VLE to enhance Maths support’

This workshop should be of interest to anyone involved in a maths support centre whether this is new or has been running for many years. The workshop will also include plenty of time for discussion to enable the sharing of ideas.
Although this is organised by the South East Hub it is open to any maths support practitioner. Please pass on to anyone that you think would enjoy attending.
Please email Noel-Ann Bradshaw (n.bradshaw@gre.ac.uk) if you would like to attend giving details of any dietary requirements.

sigma NW&NW Meeting the needs of pharmacy students
2014-11-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Liverpool John Moores University
The sigma North West and North Wales Hub, the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society are arranging an event Meeting the mathematics needs of pharmacy students at Liverpool John Moores University on Wednesday 19 November, starting at 10am.The aims of the day are :

To acquaint the maths support community of the needs of pharmacy students
Provide an opportunity for pharmacy academics to understand how the maths support community can help overcome issues with mathematics learning in pharmacy degrees

Planned for the morning programme are presentations from:

Professor Tony Croft, Director of the Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University
Education officer of the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Representative from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

In the afternoon there will be an opportunity for presentations from colleagues around the UK on their experience in developing or using resources to support the mathematical needs of pharmacy students. We hope this will help identify gaps in the resources which are available and stimulate further activity in this area.
If you would like to contribute to the afternoon session, please tell Leslie Fletcher the Hub coordinator at L.R.Fletcher@ljmu.ac.uk
There is no charge for attending this event and refreshments and lunch will be provided. Full registration details will be provided in early September. Preliminary enquiries can be sent to Leslie Fletcher or Bob Morris, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University (R.Morris1@ljmu.ac.uk)

sigma Newsletter contributions deadline
2014-11-14 00:00 - 23:59
Contributions for the December issue of the sigma Newsletter are due today. Please contact Janette Matthews.

sigma Advisory Group Meeting
2014-11-13 00:00 - 23:59 | University of Birmingham

sigma Resource Development – Call for Proposals – closing date
2014-11-07 00:00 - 23:59

sigma Eastern England Tutor Training
2014-11-05 10:30 - 16:00 | University of Lincoln
A free training day is being held on 5 November 2014 at the University of Lincoln for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres, or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills.
The course will be delivered by members of sigma, based around the sigma guide “Tutoring in a Maths Support Centre“. The training is ideal for tutors new to mathematics and statistics support, for example postgraduate students who take on this work, but is open to anyone who wishes to reflect on the ways in which maths support differs from traditional lecturing.
This event is hosted by the sigma Eastern England hub.
Date: Wednesday 5th November 2014
Time: 10.30 – 16.00
Place: University of Lincoln
To reserve a place at this FREE event, please email Phil Assheton passheton@lincoln.ac.uk
Financial support to assist with travel costs may be available (to delegates from the Eastern England hub region only) if tutors would otherwise be unable to attend. Please contact Abdel Salhi as@essex.ac.uk , sigma Eastern England Hub Co-ordinator, for information.

sigma NE and Yorkshire Tutor Training
2014-10-29 10:30 - 16:00 | University of Sheffield
A free training day is being held for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres, or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills. For further Information and to register please follow the link : sigma Network Tutor Training Event or contact Chetna Patel, the Hub co-ordinator.

sigma SE and SW&SW Tutor Training
2014-10-15 10:30 - 16:00 | University of Portsmouth
This sigma Network Tutor Training event is for mathematics and statistics support centres in the South East, South West and South Wales who wish to access sigma training for their tutors. It will be held at the University of Portsmouth on Wednesday 15th October. The training will be delivered by members of sigma and is based around the sigma guide.
Further information, contacts and forms at http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/sigma-sw/events/training-2014.html
Mathematics and statistics support centres in the SE or SW&SW hub regions should estimate likely attendance from their centre as soon as possible using the estimation form and tutors attending should then each register. Both forms are available at the above link.

sigma SE Tutor Training
2014-10-06 00:00 - 23:59 | Kings College, London
A free training day is being held for tutors who work in mathematics and statistics support centres, or who otherwise support students to enhance their mathematical skills. For further details, please contact Noel-Ann Bradshaw, the Hub co-ordinator.
