A Review of Mathematical Modeling in Engineering Education

摘要

Mathematical modeling is both an important tool to professional engineers and instructional method in engineering education. This paper reviews the literature around mathematical modeling activities in the undergraduate engineering classroom. Twenty-seven journal articles were selected through a literature review process based on decided inclusion and exclusion criteria. From there, multiple themes arose surrounding the topics of student strategies to mathematical modeling, instructional implementation of mathematical modeling, and assessment of these activities. The result of the study is a clearer picture of what is most effective in implementation of mathematical modeling methods, as well as the effects of modeling activities on the learning of undergraduate engineering students. In addition, considerations around assessment of mathematical modeling activities are discussed. This study also identifies gaps in the literature that need bridged to obtain a holistic view of mathematical modeling activities and their true utility to the education of our engineering workforce.