The Project - What is METAL?
METAL (Mathematics for Economics: enhancing Teaching and Learning) provides lecturers and students with a selection of free learning resources designed to engage Level 1 students more fully and enthusiastically in mathematics for economics.
METAL was made possible through a HEFCE funded FDTL5 project, and launched in early 2008. It has been enhanced by the involvement of many dozens of UK economics academics and students, and by exposure and demonstration at regional project workshops and other events around the UK.
Project aim
To maximise student attendance, engagement and participation in mathematics for economics through the provision of an accessible and fully interactive toolkit of varied and flexible resources.
Project outcomes
The project team have produced the following resources:
- an online question bank of mathematics teaching and assessment materials specifically applied to the field of economics
- five interactive video units (covering ten units of study) using streaming video and animation to relate mathematical concepts to the field of economics
- ten teaching and learning guides that provide an extensive bank of teaching activities (for large and small groups) covering all aspects of Level 1 Mathematics for Economics
- economics case studies which place mathematical problems into a real world context
- an interactive website to present the teaching and learning resources, to facilitate distance learning and to foster students' autonomy and ownership of the learning process.
