Resumen de Making engineering mathematics more relevant using a computer algebra system
One of the uses of Engineering Mathematics is to provide underpinning knowledge which is useful and often essential forEngineering modules later in an undergraduate engineering degree course. It can be the case, however, that students perceivedistinct boundaries between an Engineering Mathematics module and Engineering modules and fail to link what is being taught inboth. The purpose here is to help alleviate this problem by incorporating a computer algebra system into an EngineeringMathematics module, so making the teaching and learning process more accessible and meaningful, providing students with a morerealistic way of how professional engineers tackle problems today, increasing student skills, hopefully increasing their interest andfinally breaking down the boundary alluded to above. The inclusion of the computer algebra system gave students a betterappreciation of how essential Engineering Mathematics is within Engineering modules in general. However, its inclusion had adetrimental effect on interest. It was noted from the survey that the students liked the hands-on and self-discovery approach.
