Bridging Theory and Practice | Integrated Curricula with MATLAB and Simulink, Part 2

Overview

Discover how to address learning challenges in math and physics courses using practical, conceptual, problem solving within an integrated teaching approach.

Prof. Madden from Imperial College London demonstrates how integrating MATLAB into the math curriculum can help bring students up to speed and engaged in their courses despite a widening skills gap. He uses MuPAD and symbolic math as a low-barrier entry point to technical computing in MATLAB. Sihao Lu, a lead undergraduate teaching assistant at Imperial College, explains how the students find MATLAB particularly useful in their studies.

You’ll discover how to use MATLAB to easily transition from symbolic to numeric problem solving. This empowers students to go beyond pen-on-paper toy problems and towards real-world applications. As examples, we introduce the advanced projectile motion problem with quadratic drag and an RLC circuit lab exercise. The exercise involves pre-lab work, hardware, numerical analysis, and a lab report.

We discuss the different usage levels of MATLAB in teaching: from simple demoing to software development for advanced modeling and simulation. Introducing software tools in teaching at the appropriate level is crucial. As a transferrable skill, technical computing is an essential asset for engineering coursework and therefore fosters integrated curricula through connecting topics and courses with one common set of tools.

Presentation links

201: Projectile app on File Exchange

202: Publish [reports]

203: RLC bundle demo on File Exchange  

204: Hardware support

205: Modeling with Simscape