Linking mathematics with engineering applications at an early stage

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

authored by: 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.
External Organisation(s): Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Type: Article
Journal: European journal of engineering education: EJEE ; official journal of SEFI
Volume: 41
Pages: 172-191
No. of pages: 20
Publication date: 2016
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Education, Engineering(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2015.1056095 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{2f1c48a24c5649d3b80c1a05c4ad06c4,
title = "Linking mathematics with engineering applications at an early stage: implementation, experimental set-up and evaluation of a pilot project",
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-Universit{\"a}t 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.",
keywords = "differential equations, first-year students, mass damper, mathematics, motivation, oscillation, practical orientation",
author = "Aeneas Rooch and Philipp Junker and J{\"o}rg H{\"a}rterich and Klaus Hackl",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 SEFI.",
year = "2016",
doi = "10.1080/03043797.2015.1056095",
language = "English",
volume = "41",
pages = "172--191",
journal = "European journal of engineering education: EJEE ; official journal of SEFI",
number = "2",
}