Holistic Numerical Methods – A Prototype

 

Autar Kaw, Glen Besterfield, Jim Eison

University of South Florida

 

2002 NSF ECEG conference in Washington DC, September 30 - October 1, 2002

 

The mission of the project is to bring holistic coverage of a course in numerical methods through a customized approach. Holistic approach
From alpha to omega, the logo represents the holistic nature of the project.
involves reviewing pre-requisites, learning the course material, and seeing how it is applied in real life. Customized approach involves simulations using a language of your choice - Mathcad, Maple, Mathematica or Matlab, and using examples from the major of your choice - Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, General, Industrial or Mechanical Engineering.

 

The web site is a single self-sufficient resource for enhancing numerical methods education that is wide in scope and at the same time customized to an individual. It will be a life long source of information and reference for a practicing engineer.

The new approach was motivated by students who have taken pre-requisite materials at different times and colleges, being skilled in diverse mathematical package languages, and their desire to appreciate what they are learning through applied examples. Its success will be demonstrated through exit surveys as well as examinations in Spring 2003.

 

The target groups include all engineering and physical science students that take a course in Numerical Methods, or are applying numerical methods in higher level courses. The resources developed currently will be implemented in Spring 2003, and it will be then we can assess the effectiveness of the project. Anecdotal evidence is already showing benefits to international graduate students in their coursework.

 

Keywords:
Instructional Materials
Undergraduate Students
Research Institutions
Other

Principal Investigator: Professor Autar K Kaw
Institution: University of South Florida
Tel: 813-974-5626
Fax: 813-974-3539

 

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0126793.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.