Virtual laboratory for the introductory engineering course

Abstract

The new version of our introductory course for engineering students gives the students experience with virtual (physical) devices and has them also learn about computer-based tools for working with the underlying mathematics and physics, and for reporting their accomplishments. Students still learn about programming, but without much of the syntactic and semantic rigors of a computer language per se, as was previously emphasized. The course includes sections on document preparation, worksheets, matrix mathematics and Visual Basic, but the emphasis is on the mathematics and science as they support engineering design.