Lectures

In the lecture sessions, we introduce the key concepts and methods that define the course contents. Before each face-to-face class, students are expected to familiarize themselves with the material made available in the form of notes, videos, or recommended readings.

Problem-Solving Sessions

The problem sets illustrate the application of the concepts learned to specific problems of pedagogical or practical relevance. They are also intended to help students strengthen their mathematical skills.

Some of the problems are solved in class by the instructor. Students are expected to have attempted these problems beforehand so that they can assess the accuracy of their solutions and incorporate any necessary corrections. Other problems are to be solved independently and submitted directly to the instructor.

A series of quizzes covering the different topics of the course will be available on the Moodle platform. These quizzes are designed to help students assess their level of understanding of the concepts throughout the semester. The quizzes are not graded; however, some of the topics covered may be included in the assessment tests.

Approximately four sessions of two hours each are scheduled during the semester in which students work on problems in randomly assigned groups of three to four members. These problems address selected topics in greater depth and provide opportunities to explore the application of concepts more thoroughly, as well as to learn new techniques.

Tutorials

Individual tutorials (and, when appropriate, group tutorials) will be used to address students’ questions and clarify doubts.

Non-Presential (Independent) Activities:

• Study and preparation of lecture material.
• Study and solution of the assigned problem sets prior to class.
• Completion of Moodle quizzes.
• Peer review and assessment of the special problem-solving sessions.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

All evaluations will be written. Exams will be split into a Theory and Problems part of the same weight. Support texts may not be used during the exams, except for a mathematical formula sheet that will either be attached to the exam or prepared beforehand by the student. The first evaluation (with Theory and Problems) will be done after about 7 weeks and will include approximately half of the syllabus. The second will be done about 7 weeks later and will include the other half.

Both the first and the second partial exams will be redeemable (and with the possibility to improve the grade) at the end of the semester with a final evaluation or make up exam. In other words, there will be two partial exams and for those who want it or need it, there will be a make-up exam for the relevant parts. It is necessary to have a grade of at least 3 for each of the parts. In general, it is necessary to sit in both partials in order to be able to take the make-up exam. Special circumstances may be considered. The problem sessions will contribute up to two points to the mark of the partial examinations (not to the one of make-up exam). The student will be considered assessable if any of the partial or final examinations are handed in.

With respect to students approved for partials who present themselves to upload a grade (of the partials or overall), if the grade is higher than the previous one, the latter will be considered, and if it is lower, an average will be made at 75% previous grade 25% recovery grade. Students will a period of 15min period to decide if they go ahead with the final examination.

Single assessment

Students who have requested the single assessment modality will have to take a final test which will consist of: (i) a theory exam with theoretical questions of the whole course (ii) solve a series of exercises similar to those worked on in the Classroom Practice sessions, and (iii) once finished, will have to answer some oral questions about concepts developed in the seminar sessions. These tests will take place on the same day, time and place as the tests of the second part of the continuous assessment modality. The student's grade will be the weighted average of the three previous activities, where the theory exam will account for 40% of the grade, the problem exam 40% and the oral questions 20%. If the final grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject through the recovery exam that in general will coincide with the date of the retake exam, or on a date set by the degree coordinator. In this test 70% of the grade corresponding to the theory and the problems can be compensated. The oral part is not redeemable.

Note: Any irregularity committed in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that assessment being graded with a 0. If the course syllabus stipulates that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.