MATH/CMSC 206 - Introduction to Matlab

Welcome

Welcome to MATH/CMSC 206, Introduction to MATLAB. This is a one credit online course that will introduce many of the basic features of MATLAB. There will be no formal class sessions, but your instructors will be available via email, telephone, and in person if you would like to drop in for a visit.

Course Duration

The course runs until Sunday, August 19th at midnight when the third and final project is due.

Your Instructor(s) and Getting Help

Course Manager and Email Help: Justin O. Wyss-Gallifent

Email: jow@math.umd.edu
Office Hours: Go to my home page and check the table.

Course Logistics and Pacing Yourself

Since this is an online course, there will be no formal class sessions. Your primary resource for learning the material will be our comprehensive tutorial. I will be available to answer questions by email and in the lab.

The projects have fixed due dates and you are expected to pace yourself as necessary to keep on schedule. The pace at which you are expected to proceed through the material is given on the tutorial and is reflected in the assigment due dates.

Topics

For the complete list of topics covered, please view the tutorial.

Getting and Running MATLAB

The numbering system of Matlab is somewhat confusing. Each release has a Version number and a release name.

The best way to run Matlab from home is through Engineering Department's Virtual Lab:
1. First install the Citrix Receiver on your own personal computer (works on iPad too but can be awkward).
2. When you install this make sure you grant it access to write to your local computer if it asks. Otherwise you will not be able to save files properly.
3. Then log into the lab here.
The most up-to-date version of Matlab available on campus is Version 7.0.4 (Release R14SP2). This is available in CSS 3330, McKeldin 1137, PG 2 (Regents Parking Garage) 0504 and Worcester 0111.
Other lower-numbered versions are available in other labs.
Some labs on campus list Matlab 12. This means Version 6.0 (Release 12).
If you really want your own copy you can buy it from OIT for $95. The most up-to-date version available (which may be purchased through OIT on campus, see here) is Version 7.10 (Release 2010a).

The software package MuPAD was added to Matlab after Version 7.0.4. Since some students can only use the lab versions we will not (at least up until and including Summer 2012) be covering the MuPAD portion of the tutorial.

Projects and Grading

Each section in the online Tutorial ends with a short self-test. Answers to these questions are also posted in the tutorial, so you can check your work. The self-tests will not be collected or graded, but we would be happy to go over them with you if you have questions.

Graded projects involve three projects submitted online. The projects are cumulative and will involve doing something useful with MATLAB, and may rely on topics that you have seen before in math classes up through Calculus 2.

For detailed information and the projects themselves follow the Projects tab at the top. The first project is worth 100 points while the second and third are worth 200 points each. Projects will be graded very quickly and your scores will be immediately available online.

Submitting Your Projects

Projects are to be submitted through the CMSC Submissions Server. To access this please click on the "Submitting" link on the right of the top menu.

Academic Honesty

All class projects must be done individually. Please visit the webpage of the Student Honor Council for a detailed explanation of what constitutes academic dishonesty. Note that it includes not only cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism, but also includes helping other students commit acts of academic dishonesty by allowing them to obtain copies of your work. You are allowed to use the web for reference purposes, but you may not copy code from any website or any other source. In short, all submitted work must be your own. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with harshly. Each such case will be referred to the University's Office of Judicial Programs. If the student is found to be responsible of academic dishonesty, the typical sanction results in a special grade "XF", indicating that the course was failed due to academic dishonesty. More serious instances can result in expulsion from the university. If you have any doubt as to whether an act of yours might constitute academic dishonesty, please contact one of the instructors.