Paper ID #41309On Teaching and Learning the Fundamentals of L’Hopital’s Rule in Visualand Intuitive WaysJuan David Yepes, Florida Atlantic UniversityDr. Daniel Raviv, Florida Atlantic University Dr. Raviv is a Professor of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University. In December 2009 he was named Assistant Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With more than 30 years of combined experience in th ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Work-in-Progress: On Teaching and Learning the Fundamentals of L’Hopital’s Rule in Visual and
Mathematical Analysis course for sophomore engineering students at Fairfield Universitymajoring in electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering. Previously, MATLAB wastaught in later years of the engineering program. Now, it is introduced in the first-year course,“Fundamentals of Engineering”, and then fully integrated into the sophomore-level“Mathematical Analysis” course. This redesign prepares students for their future courses.MATLAB provides a diverse array of application-specific functions, graphical user interfaces,debugging tools, and facilitates advanced visualization and matrix manipulation. Additionally, itincludes App Designer and Simulink providing essential programming tools for developingcoding skills and solving complex
IntroductionLinear algebra is a fundamental area of study that has applications in a wide range of disciplines.It provides the principles and techniques necessary for analyzing vector spaces, lineartransformations, and systems of linear equations. This knowledge serves as a foundation foradvanced studies in fields such as computer science, physics, engineering, data science,economics, and more. Additionally, it equips individuals with essential tools for data analysis,including tasks like dimensionality reduction, data compression, and data visualization. Thesetechniques are particularly important in areas like machine learning, data mining, and signalprocessing, where concepts from linear algebra, such as singular value decomposition (SVD) andprincipal
, interesting, motivated, and efficient. Secondly, the aimwas to better illustrate the power of linear algebra to explain fundamental principles andsimplify calculations in various fields, including engineering, computer science, mathematics,physics, biology, economics, and statistics. Thirdly, the focus was on better communicatingthe importance of linear algebra in the applied field, reflecting it as a scientific tool. Lastly,the objective was to empower students’ abilities to solve more complicated and applicableproblems in the real world. This paper’s primary focus is on the redesign effort, whichincorporates MATLAB and introduces active learning into the course, while still coveringall the core topics in any basic linear algebra class. This
spaces of the mathematicalfunctions, students are asked to write rules to communicate the utility of the models to otherstakeholders including healthcare professionals or basic biomedical scientists.In summary, we have created a unique BME focused text for differential equations and linearalgebra that encourages students to harness their knowledge of physics, biology, physiology,engineering, and mathematics to formulate dynamic models of physiological systems. Our overallaim is to enhance students’ ability to apply and foster a deep appreciation of the power ofmathematics in addressing real-world BME challenges.Background:Ordinary differential equations are ubiquitous for understanding various topics and systemsstudied as part of the
Paper ID #42816Rethinking Precalculus: A Thematic ApproachMr. Carl Boyet, Louisiana Tech University Carl Boyet is an Instructor of Mathematics who has worked for Louisiana Tech University for nine years.Dr. Jonathan Walters, Louisiana Tech University Senior Lecturer at Louisiana Tech UniversityChristian Smith, Louisiana Tech University ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Rethinking Precalculus: A Thematic ApproachAbstract: Over the last decade, Precalculus at Louisiana Tech University has seen manyrevisions as needs and demands shift for the many STEM majors it services
the useof effective learning strategies [23]. Therefore, identifying appropriate strategies in the classroomto alleviate anxiety and enhance mathematical achievement is crucial [25]. Classroom-Level Factors Influencing Course Performance In addition to psychosocial factors, classroom-level factors also significantly impactstudents' performance in calculus courses.Active Engagement Practices A growing body of scholarship has advocated for the adoption of active learningstrategies in higher education, especially within STEM disciplines. Active learning refers to aneducational approach where students actively participate in activities such as reading, writing,discussions, or problem-solving that promote analysis
considerations.Assessments:Low-stakes check-for-understanding quizzes are given every other week to assist students ingauging their grasp of fundamental concepts. Mid-terms and the final exam present students witha series of problems to evaluate their ability to integrate concepts and methods from classdiscussions and group work. Each exam is divided into three sections: Section I includesconceptual questions (True/False and/or multiple-choice), Section II involves essential problemsrequiring students to show their work and display their understanding, and Section III involvesthe application of concepts. Students are encouraged to articulate their thought processes, andcredit is awarded for effort and the quality of their exploration.MethodsThis study was conducted at
engineering students and now includes four practical components, incorporating MATLABas the primary tool for numerical computations. These numerical components have beenintegrated extensively throughout the course, from daily lectures to homework and projects. Wewill refer to this course as Redesigned Linear Algebra (RDLA) hereafter; for more informationabout the course, see [13] (RDLA here is CALM in [13]).Class FormatRDLA incorporates four essential numerical components: 1. Students engage in active learning by solving worksheet problems in MATLAB ("solve WS"), addressing complex issues collaboratively during in-class group sessions. 2. Students write MATLAB codes for fundamental linear algebra concepts (“code core concepts