Engineering Analysis Tools and Techniques

Learning culture of engineering, engineering use of computer tools, and computer modeling as applied to engineering analysis and design.

I. Learning Culture
A. Principles of cooperative learning
B. Cooperative learning environments vs. competitive learning environments
C. Social skills necessary to be successful in cooperative settings
D. Self-assessment techniques
II. Engineering Tools
A. Engineering/mathematical modeling software
i. General syntax and structure
ii. Expression syntax
iii. Function definition
iv. Plotting of functions
v. Solution of a linear equation
vi. Solution of a nonlinear equation
vii. Solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations
viii. Plotting discrete data sets
ix. Algorithmic structure (If, For, While, etc.)
x. Uses in computer modeling
B. Spreadsheet
i. General spreadsheet structure
ii. Expressions and cell references
iii. Manipulation of cells and ranges of cells
iv. Conditional structures
v. Graphing sets of data
vi. Importing and exporting data
vii. Uses in computer modeling
III. Computer Modeling
A. Principles of the modeling process
B. Heuristics and how they are used in the modeling process
C. Interpretation of results and solutions from computer models
D. Stochastic and deterministic computer models
E. Organizing and representing data effectively
F. Optimization
G. Comparing algorithms and effective use of models
H. Probability and stochastic modeling
I. Knowledge models and their importance
J. Modeling examples and case studies