This project strove to produce a guide summarizing the MATLAB programming language addressed within ME 160 for the student with no or limited knowledge of MATLAB or programming to use as a supplement to in-class examples and lecture slides. This effort began by transforming an existing lecture slide deck used within ME 160 courses over several years into written form, providing a more fleshed-out guide that can be used as an informal resource for students enrolled in ME 160. This effort was undertaken during the Spring 2019 and Fall 2020 semesters by Austin Bray in partnership with another undergraduate student who worked on revising the physical lecture slides.
After reconvening in in-person courses, Austin Bray continued to work both as a teaching assistant for Dr. Montazami and began to take the MATLAB guide from a “draft” form and polish it with the help of the University Library's Open Educational Resources team and funding from the Miller Open Education Mini-Grant Program. This phase consisted of both general editorial work in Pressbooks and comparing students’ experiences and challenges faced in class to the aid provided by the book. By spending time in class, Austin was able to modify portions of the book to better serve students' observed needs.
The completion of this text and the ability of students to refer to the text online changes the approach to knowledge retention after completing ME 160. After the course, students should have an introductory understanding of MATLAB and will be expected to use that periodically throughout their degree programs. Having a resource that is available online years in the future will give students a reliable and familiar method of refreshing their recollection of specifics of the MATLAB language long past their time in ME 160. This functionality is the most exciting in its ability to change students’ opinions about the practicality of ME 160 and change how they approach MATLAB within other classes in the future. If this guide is accepted as a tool for more ME 160 sections, MATLAB help rooms, or other courses using MATLAB, teachers can feel more confident assigning coursework with MATLAB knowing even students who have struggled with the language in the past will have a standard resource to refer to.
Citation: Bray, A. & Montazami, R. (2022). A Guide to MATLAB for ME 160. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Digital Press. https://doi.org/10.31274/isudp.2022.124