University of Canterbury uses Maple T.A. to deliver innovative math courses online

Being innovators paid off in a time of real need for the University of Canterbury, based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The University was one of the first institutions in New Zealand to adopt and utilize Maple T.A. to deliver their mathematics based course material and was quick to realize that they could use the software to avoid any disruption to their classes following a sizeable earthquake in Christchurch on February 22, 2011.

Phillipa Williams, from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, used Maple T.A. to create weekly online modules to support student learning. The previous year, Maple T.A. had been used primarily for summative assessment, measuring the progress of student learning. Since the success of the weekly online modules, the faculty has used Maple T.A. as a core formative assessment tool.

Students used home computers/laptops for online sessions and assignments, working through each of the online modules. Maple T.A. proved to be a perfect tool to help both students and teachers because its web-based interface promotes learning anytime, anywhere.

To learn more, read the full user case study.

3rd Annual Maplesoft Academic Summer Workshop at McMaster University
Thursday, July 19th, 8:30am-5:30pm - Friday, July 20th, 8:30am-12:00pm

This workshop is a continuation of the successful second workshop held in June of 2011, also hosted by McMaster University. The goal is to constructively engage engineering professionals exploring new techniques to improve engineering education through modeling and simulation, and the MapleSim technology in particular.

This year, the theme will be the use of engineering technology used in undergraduate engineering courses. McMaster University will present their results with regards to their dynamic modeling and simulation freshman design projects using MapleSim. As a group, we will then discuss and debate the various dimensions of the pedagogy and technology and ultimately aim for concrete conclusions and recommendations on the potential, implications, and methodologies inherent in introducing MapleSim into the curriculum.

Additional sessions include presentations from other user campuses and updates from Maplesoft on technology enhancements and roadmaps. There will also be a half-day hands-on tutorial on Maple and MapleSim on the second day. This will be a chance for new users to get a compact introduction to the key techniques.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Recorded Sponsored Webinar: Educational Techniques for the Next Generation of Engineers

This webinar highlighted the work of three engineering educators:

1. Dr. Thomas Doyle:
Transforming the freshman ‘cornerstone’ design course through modeling and simulation.
2. Dr. Venkat Krovi:
The use of symbolic computation to enhance robotics education and control education.
3. Dr. James Andrew Smith:
The benefits of using a dynamic modeling software package in electrical engineering courses.

In this panel discussion lead by Tim Vrablik of Maplesoft and moderated by Scott Williamson of ASEE, learn firsthand how advanced physical modeling and simulation technology can enrich your classroom and accelerate learning.