Computer Aided Mathematics

[Jeff Hutchison]

I've been kicking around the idea of teaching a course in computer aided mathematics at the lab, and I'd like to solicit input from the group... 

My intention would be to base it on Smath Studio (like a free version of MathCAD), but I could cover excel (or the free OpenOffice spreadsheet program).  I could also show the class how to use google to do unit conversions, or help people load graphing calculators onto their phones. 

So, the questions:

1. Is there any interest in a course of this general description?

2. Is the lab able to host a course of this description? Computer lab available times, and what price?

3. What types of math problems (or mathematical models) are people interested in?

4. Is there enough diverse interest to break this into multiple courses?

And now the brain dump:

I think the most "bang-for-the-buck" is in unit conversions and unit-aware calculations... simple stuff that helps non-math-types feel comfortable with solving a math problem (maybe something they haven't done since high-school, or business school). 

Maybe basic spreadsheets, compounding interest, and financial calculations would be the real winner for the math-averse?

The next level in my mind would be helping the math-aware among us learn new tools that they haven't used before.  Engineering problems solved through Smath Studio take on an elegance that excel will NEVER even approach. Building sophisticated mathematical models to solve real world problems is easier than ever, and one of my favorite things :)

My qualifications aren't as a mathematician, but as a lazy engineer.  I'm a mechanical PE in thermal-fluid systems, and I've been using MathCAD (or a free variant) and Excel for the past 20 years to avoid working too hard.