Linking mathematics with engineering applications at an early stage

implementation, experimental set-up and evaluation of a pilot project

verfasst von
Aeneas Rooch, Philipp Junker, Jörg Härterich, Klaus Hackl
Abstract

Too difficult, too abstract, too theoretical – many first-year engineering students complain about their mathematics courses. The project MathePraxis aims to resolve this disaffection. It links mathematical methods as they are taught in the first semesters with practical problems from engineering applications – and thereby shall give first-year engineering students a vivid and convincing impression of where they will need mathematics in their later working life. But since real applications usually require more than basic mathematics and first-year engineering students typically are not experienced with construction, mensuration and the use of engineering software, such an approach is hard to realise. In this article, we show that it is possible. We report on the implementation of MathePraxis at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. We describe the set-up and the implementation of a course on designing a mass damper which combines basic mathematical techniques with an impressive experiment. In an accompanying evaluation, we have examined the students' motivation relating to mathematics. This opens up new perspectives how to address the need for a more practically oriented mathematical education in engineering sciences.

Externe Organisation(en)
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Typ
Artikel
Journal
European journal of engineering education: EJEE ; official journal of SEFI
Band
41
Seiten
172-191
Anzahl der Seiten
20
Publikationsdatum
2016
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Ausbildung bzw. Denomination, Ingenieurwesen (insg.)
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2015.1056095 (Zugang: Geschlossen)
 

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