Group Learning Experiment with
Intuitive Numerical Analysis
SIAM Annual Meeeting
July 14, 1998, Toronto, Canada

Kris Stewart
Director, Education Center on
Computational Science & Engineering
National Partnership for Advanced Computing Infrastructure (NPACI)

Associate Professor
Math & Computer Sciences
San Diego State University

History of this course (taught since 1992)

CS 575 Supercomputing for the Sciences

Briefly, the course structure

www.stewart.cs.sdsu.edu/cs575

Computational Experiments (with intuitive Numerical Analysis)

The term "intuitive" refers to relying on extensive, instructor provided programming samples and handouts tailored directly to the course content rather than a survey course in numerical analysis. Also the prerequisites for the CS 575 Supercomputing were kept minimal to enhance enrollment outside of computer science (little floating point experience) and mathematics (little programming and science experience).
Building on instructor provided sample codes, student explore the Two Point Boundary Value Problem; groups choose among IVP/ODE problems Preditor-prey, Orbital Mechanics, Enzyne Kinetics and more

Innovation - Cooperative Learning

Class lecture time was divided between computer laboratory and group work time. For example 75 minute classtime was divided into 45 lecture and 30 minute separate group discussions.

Student Data on Cooperative Learning

First Survey, March 4, 1998

Final Survey and Feedback, May ,1998

Unusual - San Diego Demographics Shift

There is no longer a "majority" population in San Diego (city or county or SDSU campus)

Additional Highlights, if time permits