2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This work-in-progress paper presents a set of Python programming exercises developed to enhance student learning and preparedness in an introductory course on analytical methods for electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students. The course, taught by ECE faculty to sophomore-level students, replaces traditional mathematics department courses in ordinary differential equations and linear algebra. Its primary objective is to emphasize the mathematical concepts most relevant to ECE applications and to strengthen student understanding through application-based learning.

Course topics include basic linear algebra, first- and second-order differential equations, basic and composite signals, complex numbers, Laplace transforms, and frequency and phase analysis. To support these topics, five Python programming modules have been developed: solving linear systems, applying numerical methods to first- and second-order ODEs with initial conditions, plotting composite signals and their components, performing frequency and phase analysis of system transfer functions, and comparing signals in the time and frequency domain.
This paper describes these exercises in detail as part of an ongoing curricular development effort. Future work includes collecting both direct and indirect assessment data to evaluate the effectiveness of the programming exercises in improving student learning outcomes.