2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering courses frequently involve lengthy equations, symbolic derivations, and extensive use of matrices. To fully grasp the material, students need to work through these equations by writing them down and performing calculations. The same equations are often reused throughout assignments, forcing students to write them repetitively. This repetition, especially with long equations or matrices, shifts the focus from solving the problems to simply copying the equations. As a result, students spend more time transcribing than learning, which can lead to frustration, boredom, or even incomplete assignments.
The challenge is that when students are consumed by the mechanical task of writing out equations, their ability to understand the physical meaning behind the equations is diminished. Complex and lengthy formulas can intimidate students, even when the underlying concepts are simple. The cognitive load of dealing with these long expressions can prevent them from focusing on the actual problem-solving process. For some, the sight of complex equations is enough to cause disengagement, regardless of how straightforward the application may be.
Engineering educators are eager to find ways to reduce this learning barrier and improve students' engagement with the material. One promising solution is the use of MathCAD software.
MathCAD is a powerful software used for mathematical verification, validation, documentation, and reuse in various fields of engineering and science, including mechanical, chemical, electrical, and civil engineering. Its interactive notebook interface allows users to create, manipulate, and solve equations seamlessly, while also checking for unit consistency throughout calculations.
Unlike traditional equation-solving systems, MathCAD’s notebook interface provides a user-friendly environment where students can type, modify, and calculate equations directly. This makes MathCAD not only an effective learning tool but also a practical replacement for traditional notetaking in engineering classes. MathCAD offers several key advantages for engineering students, particularly in the context of homework and problem-solving tasks:
1. Efficient Equation Management: Instead of writing equations repeatedly, students can type them into MathCAD once. These equations can be reused, adjusted, and calculated automatically, freeing up time that would otherwise be spent copying.
2. Interactive Calculations: MathCAD allows students to define variables and perform calculations automatically. This eliminates the need for manual recalculations when variables change, reducing errors and saving time.
3. Focus on Understanding: By minimizing the repetitive aspects of writing equations, MathCAD enables students to focus more on understanding the underlying concepts rather than on the mechanical process of transcribing equations.
4. Clarity and Organization: The notebook-style interface helps students keep their work neat and organized. The visual clarity provided by MathCAD’s structured environment can enhance comprehension and help students track their problem-solving steps more easily.
The Mechanics of Composite Structures (MCS) course often involves complex matrices and extensive calculations. Initially, many students are intimidated by the large matrices involved in this subject. However, by using MathCAD, students can enter equations and matrices in a clean and manageable format, while performing calculations simultaneously.
Although students need to invest time learning how to use the software, they generally find it worthwhile by the end of the semester. Feedback from students in this technical elective course suggests that MathCAD significantly reduces the complexity of their work, making the learning process smoother and more efficient. . These students reported that the ability to automate calculations and reuse equations helped them better understand the course material and complete their work more efficiently.
Machine Design (MD) is a senior-level course required for mechanical engineering students. Students who have already been exposed to MathCAD through the MCS course have the option to also use it for their MD coursework. A survey will be conducted in MD course to reveal if students who had used MathCAD in their MCS course also chose to use it in their MD course for their homework, and if it improved their learning experience.
Incorporating MathCAD into engineering education offers clear benefits by reducing repetitive tasks, improving organizational clarity, and enabling students to focus more on the conceptual aspects of their studies. As engineering curricula continue to evolve, software like MathCAD can play a crucial role in enhancing the learning experience, ultimately helping students overcome the hurdles posed by complex equations and improving their overall understanding of engineering principles.