Embedding English & Maths

Maths and English play crucial roles in the tech and digital industries and they are embedded in various aspects of the field. Maths provides the logical and analytical foundation for solving complex problems in software engineering, while English and communication skills are vital for expressing ideas, documenting processes, and collaborating effectively with team members and stakeholders. Both are integral to the success of digital projects.

Mathematics:

  1. Algorithm Analysis and Design: Mathematical concepts are fundamental to analysing algorithms for efficiency and designing optimal solutions. Big O notation and other mathematical tools help in evaluating the time and space complexity of algorithms.

  2. Data Structures: Mathematics, particularly set theory, is used in the design and analysis of data structures. Understanding mathematical concepts helps engineers choose the most efficient data structures for specific tasks.

  3. Cryptography: Encryption algorithms, an essential part of securing data, are heavily based on mathematical principles. Number theory and other branches of mathematics are applied in the development of cryptographic protocols.

  4. Graphics and Visualisation: Mathematics, especially linear algebra, is foundational in computer graphics and visualization. Transformations, projections, and other graphical manipulations are expressed mathematically to render images on a screen.

  5. Machine Learning and AI: Mathematical concepts, such as statistics, linear algebra, and calculus, form the backbone of machine learning algorithms. Engineers use mathematical models to train and optimize algorithms for tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, etc.

  6. Databases: Database management systems often involve mathematical concepts like relational algebra and set theory for designing and querying databases.

  7. Networking: Mathematical models are used to optimise and analyse network protocols and data transmission.

English

  1. Documentation: Clear and concise documentation is essential in software development. Developers need strong written communication skills to document code, APIs, and system architecture.

  2. Requirements Gathering: Understanding user requirements is a crucial step in software development. Effective communication with clients, stakeholders, and team members, often involving written documentation, is essential to gather and clarify requirements.

  3. Code Comments and Readability: Writing code that is easy to read and understand is a critical skill. Engineers use comments and documentation to explain the logic behind the code, making it accessible to others who may work on the same project.

  4. Collaboration and Team Communication: Software development is a collaborative process. Clear communication through emails, chat, and documentation helps teams coordinate their efforts and work efficiently.

  5. Testing and Bug Reports: Writing clear bug reports and test cases requires strong written communication skills. This helps in conveying issues to the development team and ensuring that bugs are addressed effectively.

Maths Module Mapping

Module Level 4 - First Year
COM411 Problem Solving through Programming Sets are covered in the context of a python program. Unions and intersections are explained.

Ordered lists and data – technically vectors, although not framed as linear algebra.

General logic and Boolean logic as normal in programming.

Assessment involves some mathematical operations, such as working out the average across subsections of a dataset etc.

Assessment involves some minor plotting and visualisation of data.
COM412 Introduction to Networks Has all the mathematics required for network addressing including Number systems especially Binary, and Hexadecimal with all conversions to and from Decimal.

Boolean Operators and practising Bitwise AND. This is then applied by calculating Subnet masks and dividing networks into subnets. Using exponents to calculate the number of Host addresses available on a subnet and calculating the number of subnetworks available from a given network address.
COM421 Data Structures & Algorithms Algorithm complexity (Big O notation).

Calculations of hash codes for hash tables.

Binary trees and sorting algorithms
Module Level 5 - Second Year
COM526 Introduction to AI Probability, vectors, linear algebra
Module Level 6 - Third Year
COM618 Data Science Probability, statistical analysis, linear equation, Bayes’ Theorem, Descriptive Statistics (summarising and describing the main features of a dataset (mean, median, mode, range, variance, standard deviation), regression analysis.

Additionally, tools and libraries in programming languages like Python (e.g., NumPy, SciPy) provide efficient implementations of these mathematical concepts.
COM624 Machine Learning Linear Algebra

Linear and Polynomial Regressions

Descriptive Statistics 2D and 3D geometric analysis and visualisation

Statistical modelling

Matrix operations such as convolutions

English Module Mapping

We deliver an introduction to writing clearly and concisely at Level 4 for all our apprentices in COM423. Most of the coursework modules involve writing either academic or supporting documentation for a digital product/s which they will be supported and assessed on the quality and presentation of the writing. We recap in the support sessions for Synoptic Project (old standard 1.1) and EPA Support COM628 (New standard 1.2)

Module Level 4 - First Year
COM423 Systems Analysis & Design

Also COM625 & new standard BDATS 1.2 COM628		 This module offers apprentices a foundation in writing with clarity to produce clear and concise pieces of work, these skills will be used throughout the apprenticeship building up expertise for what Work Based report for EPA

This module covers academic, referencing/citation technical writing including Topic sentences, Academic paragraphs, and signposting language to make sure report writing is clear and flows well.
Module All Course Work Modules Levels
Levels 4-6 BDATS Duty 40: Produce written documentation to support work, report findings, and present to stakeholders.

BDATS S25: Effectively communicate value add to the client through a variety of media. For example, presentations, written reports, Storytelling in a professional setting through performing socio-technical process improvements in a range of environments.