Abstract: Prototype web based resources have been developed for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods. The web modules are holistic, that is they include pre-requisite information, real-life applications, presentations and notes, simulations, and self-assessment. The student interest and learning are maximized by providing customization of content based on a student’s engineering major and computational system of choice.

Index Terms – Computational Systems, Holistic Approach, Numerical Methods, Web Based Resources

Description

Funded by the NSF CCLI-EMD (National Science Foundation, Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement, Educational Materials Development) program, web based resources have been developed for an undergraduate course in Numerical Methods (http://numericalmethods.eng.usf.edu) [1]. Prototype resources are available for topics in nonlinear equations and interpolation.

The innovative feature of the web modules is that they are holistic as well as customizable.

From a holistic perspective, they provide a contextual background and history of numerical methods, and further motivate students to learn fundamentals through real life applications, presentations, textbook style notes, simulations of methods including convergence and pitfalls, and self-assessment.

Customization of modules maximizes student interest and learning as they are based on 28 tracks

· seven engineering majors (Chemical, Civil, Computer, General, Industrial, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering), and

· four mathematical packages (Maple, Mathcad, Mathematica and Matlab).

A student or instructor can pick any of these 28 tracks based on student’s major and/or interest, and what mathematical package is available or taught to them.

The project is being assessed by several mixed evaluation instruments including

· surveys taken by students to measure the impact of the web-based resources on reading assignments, class presentations, and problem sets.

· performance of students in multiple choice question examinations designed using Bloom's taxonomy [2], with and without the web resources

· summative rating by students of online content of the website

On proving the success of these modules at University of South Florida, resources will be developed for other Numerical Methods topics including simultaneous linear equations, regression, integration, differentiation, and differential equations.

Acknowledgment

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. We also want to thank the financial support of the REU program of the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida.

References

[1] HNMI – Holistic Numerical Methods Institute: Committed to Bringing Customized Numerical Methods Holistically to Undergraduates.

See http://numericalmethods.eng.usf.edu.

[2] Bloom, B.S., Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Handbook I: Cognitive Domain, David McKay Co., 1956.

[1] Autar Kaw (Corresponding Author), Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-5350 kaw@eng.usf.edu

[2] Michael Keteltas, Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-5350 keteltas@helios.acomp.usf.edu

[3] Jai Paul, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-5350 jppaul@eng.usf.edu

[4] James Eison, Professor, Adult, Career and Higher Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620 jeison@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

[5] Glen Besterfield, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-5350 besterfi@eng.usf.edu