MATH12225 - Applied Computational Modelling

General Information

Unit Synopsis

Applied Computational Modelling will further your understanding of and ability in mathematical modelling of scientific and engineering problems. You will use built-in MATLAB functions to solve general problems in various disciplines. You will also learn to program in MATLAB to obtain solutions to complex problems through both analytical and numerical approaches. This unit will teach you to approach problems in a way that demonstrates a clear, logical, and systematic procedure of modelling through integrating mathematical and programming knowledge and techniques. You will also learn how to document problems and findings. Course work leads you to approach posed problems in a way that demonstrates a clear, logical, and systematic procedure of modelling through integrating mathematical and programming knowledge and techniques learnt.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 1
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: MATH11219

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Bundaberg
Cairns
Gladstone
Mackay
Online
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 20%
2. Written Assessment 30%
3. Online Test 50%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2022 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 67.86% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 39.44% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Emails; 'Have Your Say' feedback.
Feedback
Students enjoyed the ability to choose their own project specification in order to specialise more in their chosen field of engineering.
Recommendation
Retain this assessment item and develop further. Consider adapting the follow-up Project B to build on Project A.
Action Taken
Self-chosen Project A was retained as well as the issued Project B.
Source: Emails; 'Have Your Say' feedback.
Feedback
Students felt that the take-home exam was too long.
Recommendation
Consideration will be given to consolidate the work being tested into fewer questions, as the take-home exam questions are word problems based on real-life scenarios (And this can take more time than shorter factual exam questions).
Action Taken
The typical structure of the final take-home test was retained but the last question was shortened to an easier one (15 marks), based on built-in Matlab functions.
Source: Email, Moodle, Student Feedback
Feedback
Students felt that in certain cases, marking was too arbitrary.
Recommendation
Consider allocating project marking to the unit coordinator, and theory (coding) marking to the other marker/s with a better specification of marking criteria.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Email, Moodle, Zoom, Student Feedback
Feedback
Students without previous coding skills experienced a steep / difficult learning curve.
Recommendation
A few weeks of coding is planned to be incorporated into the first year units from 2023. Give further weekly support to students with insufficient coding background.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Email, Moodle, Student Feedback
Feedback
Students found the Theory Assignment and Final Online Test long and challenging.
Recommendation
Consider reducing the content/length of the coding-based assessments. Consider scaffolding sessions to help students build confidence for their assessments.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Feedback
Feedback
Some students felt that more useful knowledge and skills could be learned.
Recommendation
Help students to find interesting projects in their field to model in MATLAB (Project A). Consider linking Project B to more authentic engineering problems.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Solve general problems in various disciplines using existing functions in MATLAB
  2. Program in MATLAB to solve complicated problems
  3. Manipulate and interpret input/output data utilising existing tools in MATLAB
  4. Formulate and implement procedures of mathematical modelling for authentic situations where analytical solutions exist
  5. Design and implement procedures of numeric modelling to develop useful solutions to complex applications
  6. Document the solution to posed problems in a way that demonstrates a clear, logical, and systematic procedure of modelling.

The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:

Intermediate
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 4N 5I )
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I )
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1N 2I 4I 5N 6N )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 1I 3I 4I )
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 2N 4I 5N 6N )
3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 4I 5N )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 2I 3N 4I 5I 6I )

Advanced
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2A 4N 5I )
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2N 4I 5A )
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2N 3I 4A 5I )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem-solving. (LO: 1I 2A 4N )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 1A 2A 3I 4A 5I 6I )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 4A 5I 6I )
3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour. (LO: 2A 3I 4I )
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 4A )
3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 2I 4A 5I 6I )

Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced.

Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information
https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Written Assessment • • • • •
2 - Written Assessment • • • •
3 - Online Test • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • • • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • • • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10