Interactive programming activities for 1st year tudents of calculus in civil engineering

Abstract

In Engineering, traditional approaches for teaching Calculus include a sequential development of proofs and exercises related to functions, differentiation, integration and partial differential equations. Often, in the specific case of functions and differentiation, lessons include programming in different coding languages as well. In this paper, a set of interactive activities in which programming, art and mathematics is presented. These activities represent one alternative among the palette of exercises developed by 1st year students at the School of Civil Engineering in Barcelona, Spain in the area of Calculus. These activities belong to the “MATES to STEAM” project, whose aim is to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths together not only through outside activities but encouraging a more interdisciplinary curriculum for regular subjects. Seldom, the use of interactive programming with a focus on artful outcomes is present in engineering schools. The paper describes the lessons learned during the implementation of teaching experiences within the framework of a basic course of Calculus. The course is prepared for civil engineering students and it includes both theoretical and programming methodologies as part of the preparation for more advanced courses throughout the degree.

This experimental programme was developed in the frame of the Project “de las MATES al STEAM” funded by Institut de Ciencies de la Educació, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona Spain.

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de Qualitat

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura

Postprint (published version)