Augmenting Mathematics Courses by Problem-Based Learning

Abstract

We describe a project that aims to motivate undergraduate engineering students to participate more in mathematics courses. Our approach shares characteristics of active, project-based and problem-based learning. We have developed interactive projects that deal with the mathematics behind real-world applications. In this paper, we describe one example project in detail, and discuss our guiding principles in designing projects. The projects are open in the sense that there are many possible solutions, and several possible follow-up questions. We use a MATLAB environment, which helps intuitive understanding of mathematical notions, lowers the barrier to programming, and provides many interfaces. Our activities are bundled in an education lab, which we also briefly describe. We conclude with an assessment of the impact of the supplementary courses.