Initial Publication Date: November 15, 2021

Workshop Pre-Work: Teaching Computational Skills and Problem-Solving with MATLAB and Simulink


Greetings, future workshop attendees!

In preparation for the workshop, we've prepared some ramp-up exercises for you, described below.

Time constraints will not allow us to spend our workshop time learning tools hands-on. Given that, ramping up on your own in advance is the best way to make the most out of our time together. Your colleagues will appreciate the investment you put into preparation.

Taking the time to do the pre-work means:

  • You'll get practice using the MATLAB online teaching and learning tools
  • We can all start the workshop with a common knowledge foundation
  • Each of you gets the most out of the talks and working groups

Set up accounts to collaborate during the workshop

1) Log in to your SERC account and access the workspace

One of the key features of the workshop is that discussions, action plans, and other workshop outcomes are recorded in a private online workspace for reference. You will be working in the private workspace before and during the workshop. A SERC account is required to access the workspace.

If you already have a SERC account, proceed to the second step to confirm your access. If you do not have a SERC account, please take a few minutes to create one:

  1. Go to http://serc.carleton.edu/account and complete the few fields there to set up an account. Be sure to use the same email address you used to register for the workshop and not an alias or other address. This is the email address that the system is expecting for you.
  2. Once you have a SERC account, visit the private Participant Workspace to confirm your access. Find your Personal Workspace and try editing your page by adding a sentence about what you are most looking forward to from this workshop. If you have problems creating an account or accessing the workspace, please contact Monica Bruckner (mbruckne@carleton.edu).

2) Accessing MATLAB for the workshop

As part of the workshop, we'll have access to a dedicated trial version of MATLAB Online.

You can access this workshop trial here: https://www.mathworks.com/licensecenter/classroom/3629306/

  • Clicking this link will take you to a MathWorks Account login page, where you must login (and create an account if necessary).If you already have an account (e.g., associated with your university), use that one rather than creating a new one.
  • Access opens December 6. Please test your access before the workshop starts. Note, you will not need a MATLAB license to complete the pre-work in the Ramping up section below.

3) Join the Slack channel

Slack will be our area for sharing resource information, networking, and socializing during and after the workshop.

Use this link to join our workspace:  https://join.slack.com/t/matlab2021apa-2dx1916/shared_invite/zt-zgtcws82-WQ6FEwoVFCntuZZoiEORSQ

Use the #introductions channel to tell the group a bit about yourself. Send a message in the #introductions channel telling the group where you're from, where you teach, and what your favorite thing to do with MATLAB is.

If you have questions about the pre-work, post your questions in the channel.

Ramping up with MATLAB and Simulink

1) Complete Teaching with MATLAB Training

a) Teaching with MATLAB is a set of interactive training modules that give you practice with some MATLAB online tools that you and your students will use in courses. You may be prompted for your MathWorks Account or asked to create a new one. If you already have one (e.g., associated with your university account), use that one rather than creating a new one. You do not need a MATLAB license to complete these tasks.

In preparation for the workshop, you'll complete the following three sections of Teaching with MATLAB:

b) Complete the MATLAB Onramp interactive, self-paced tutorial:

  • MATLAB Onramp (2 hours - or less if you complete fewer chapters)
    • If you are NOT very fluent in MATLAB, this training will help you ramp up quickly, in preparation for the workshop
    • If you ARE very comfortable in MATLAB but have never tried MATLAB Onramp, complete a chapter or two to learn how you can best incorporate MATLAB Onramp into your courses and gauge your students' experience.
  • Simulink Onramp (optional)

2) Share and Explore your colleagues' activities
 

Share a teaching activity or assignment for an engineering or science course that teaches computational skills using MATLAB or Simulink. You must use the online form to share your activity. Reminder to submit an Activity by December 1.

For inspiration, take a look at the ideas, resources, and experiences already submitted by your peers:

 

Additional Resources to explore