MAT 215 - Introduction to Math Modeling
Course Description: Mathematical modeling is used for everything from tracking the spread of diseases
and predicting the weather to making suggestions for your next Amazon purchase. So, what is Mathematical
modeling? Mathematical modeling is the process of creating simplified representations of often complex
real-world phenomena that helps us more easily understand and analyze these complex systems. In this course,
students will learn about basic modeling principles and methods using real-world examples from biology,
Earth sciences, social sciences, engineering, and/or business.
Course Timeline and Notebooks
Below is a tentative timeline for our course. It includes preparatory work that should be done prior to each class meeting, a detailed set of notes corresponding to each class meeting, and assignments following each class meeting. Application and project topics may change due to students interests and/or developments in current events.
| Meeting Number(s) | Before Class | Topic | Assignments and Due Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review Syllabus | Application I: Plan a Campus Visit Welcome and Overview |
|
| 2 | Plan a Trip (Cont’d.) | ||
| 3 | No class, Labor Day | ||
| 4 | Application II: Fuel Friend Read Fuel Friend Prompt |
Fuel Friend, Part I | Quiz 1, Fuel Friend Prompt |
| 5 | Fuel Friend, Part II | ||
| 6 | Review your group’s progress | Fuel Friend, Part III | Quiz 2, Group Progress |
| 7 | Read Chapter 7 | Technical Report Writing | Quiz 3, Technical Writing |
| 8 | Fuel Friend (Cont’d.) | ||
| 9 | Review of Modeling Process | Fuel Friend Technical Report Due, 9/26 | |
| 10 | Week Five Exam | ||
| 11 | Read Shop and Ship Prompt | Application III: Shop and Ship | Quiz 4, Shop and Ship Prompt |
| 12 | Shop and Ship (Cont’d.) | ||
| 13 | No class, Columbus Day | ||
| 14 | Review your group’s progress | Shop and Ship (Cont’d.) | Quiz 5, Group Progress |
| 15 | Shop and Ship (Cont’d.) | ||
| 16 | Complete Shop and Ship Application | ||
| 17 | Debrief and Transition | Shop and Ship Technical Report Due, 10/24 | |
| 18 | Read and choose prompt: i) Reducing Food Waste ii) The True Cost of Substance Abuse iii) Electric Trucking Adoption |
Application III: Choice of Topics Group assignment and working day |
Quiz 6, Prompt Choice and Details |
| 19 | Continue Working | ||
| 20 | Continue Working | ||
| 21 | Review your group’s progress | Continue Working | Quiz 7, Group Progress |
| 22 | Continue Working | ||
| 23 | Finish Technical Report | Technical Report Due, 11/14 | |
| 24 | Final Project Overview | ||
| 25 | Final Projects | Topic Selection Due, 11/20 | |
| 26 | No class, Thanksgiving Break | ||
| 27 - 31 | Final Projects | Final Projects Due, 12/12 | |
| 32 | Optional Meeting and Debrief |