An introductory mathematics computer course as a supplement to a mathematical bridge course

Abstract

At the beginning of their studies the majority of freshmen are overcharged in the transition from high school to academic education. The biggest continual problems appear in mathematics for engineering students or natural scientists. This is based on the high degree of abstraction and on the fact that the mathematical education takes place at the beginning of their studies. Thus deficiencies become apparent at an early stage. In order to facilitate freshmen's transition from high school to the university the Department of Mathematics of Technische Universität Berlin offers a four-week introductory course to mathematics before the beginning of each semester. The course is addressed particularly to freshmen of engineering, natural sciences and mathematics. Additionally, a so-called mathematics computer course is offered with capacity for a part of the participants of the introductory mathematics course. In this two-week course the participants learn how to handle the Linux operating system, how to employ a computer algebra system (Maple) and they obtain an introduction to the scientific text processing system LATEX. We investigated if the mathematics bridge course and the mathematics computer course lead to a better academic performance by the students in their later courses. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.