Course syllabus
About the course
Mathematical models are used in science and engineering to describe and represent different objects and systems, to analyze, understand and predict, and for finding the best design or strategy. Mathematical modelling is therefore a basic engineering skill. The course also aims to develop a problem solving ability with a particular attention to problem solving in engineering. The problems are taken from several different areas to create variation and to make it possible to see patterns in modelling and problem solving across different areas of application.
The core of the course is a number of application oriented problems, which are used as a starting point for the student's own learning. The problems have been carefully selected to develop the student's own skills in modelling and solving problems in a investigative way. We also have lectures which provide a broader understanding, follow-up and perspective.
The overall structure of the course is given by the two-week modules:
1. Mixed problems I
2. Mixed problems II
3. Engineering design mini-project
4. System perspectives
The mixed problem modules will in their character be similar to the modules in the Applied mathematical thinking course. Modules 3 and 4 will be two related mini projects done in slightly larger groups. For detailed information about the modules see the Modules page (full module information will be pubilshed on Monay when the module starts).
The learning objectives are found in the official course plan.
Contact details
Dag Wedelin (examiner and course responsible) dag at chalmers.se
Birgit Grohe (TA) birgit.grohe at cse.gu.se
Kolbjörn Tunström (TA) kolbjorn.tunstrom at chalmers.se
Denitsa Saynova (TA) saynova at chalmers.se
If you need help to find a group partner, or for administrative questions about assignments, groups etc., please contact Kolbjörn Tunström (first see the general instructions).
Course representatives:
Anton Nyberg an.antonnyberg at gmail.com
Caroline Odevall odevall.caroline at gmail.com
Schedule
We will follow the Chalmers recommendations, and provide supervision on campus according to the TimeEdit schedule. If there is demard we could also consider to have some online support similar to what we did in Applied mathematical thinking.
The plan is also to have the first lecture on campus, although other lectures may be in Zoom - the course is not so lecture heavy anyway. Note that the schedule is a bit irregular and varies from week to week.
You can find links to TimeEdit and Zoom at the top of the home page.
Examination and grading
The course is examined continuously module by module through submissions and by attending compulsory activities.
Each module is graded based on a qualitative assessment. Within the course we use the informal scale (Sufficient/Good/Very Good) and intermediate combinations.
For a description on what we expect for different grades, see the general information on the Modules page.
The qualitiative grades Sufficient, Good and Very Good are related to the Chalmers grades and Canvas numbers in the way described below:
- Sufficient (3/40-59 in Canvas)
- Good (3/60-79 in Canvas)
- Very Good (5/80-100 in Canvas)
The Canvas numbers are a way to numerically encode the qualitative grade in the Canvas grade field, and have no direct relationship to any proportion of correctly answered questions. For a normal Sufficient grade we would write 50, but the interval 40-59 is possible - the lowest possible passing level for a module is 40. As other examples, 75 indicates an upper-level "Good" and 80 indicates a borderline grade between Good and Very Good. The Canvas code 8 is used to indicate that the submission has not yet passed.
The final grade is based on a weighted sum of the graded modules. The final grade limits in Canvas are 40 (Sufficient/3), 60 (Good/4) and 80 (Very Good/5).. If you are close to a grade boundary, you can discuss with the main teacher at the end of the course, and you will be given an opportunity to improve (there is no point in doing this as the course proceeds, only at the end). Please note that before all assignments have passed, the final Canvas score may be misleading.
If you should not complete the course in time, and need to come back next year, it is in your best interest to keep copies of your solutions to enable future assessment.
Course literature
There is no compulsory course literature. Reading instructions will be provided in connection to the modules.
Changes made since the last occasion
The course is given for the first time.
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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