Mathematics in Engineering Education N. Grünwald & V. Konev Hochschule Wismar – University of Technology, Business and Design, Wismar, Germany Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia

Why Math Education Have to Be Reformed In view of the modern tendencies of rapid change in educational activities and level of development of engineering education, international cooperation of universities is becoming an insistent need to provide students new educational opportunities. In view of the modern tendencies of rapid change in educational activities and level of development of engineering education, international cooperation of universities is becoming an insistent need to provide students new educational opportunities. Access to the Internet and computer tools of training change the traditional education concept and result in an appearance of new forms of education such as distance learning, e.g. Access to the Internet and computer tools of training change the traditional education concept and result in an appearance of new forms of education such as distance learning, e.g.

Some Capabilities of New Informational Technologies Mathematics occupies a particular place among all the exact sciences. The language, theoretical methods, and logic of physical and engineering sciences are based on mathematics since it concentrates the most important results of exact thinking of scientists and engineers. Mathematics possesses fundamental and constantly growing importance for the technical progress. Modern teaching of mathematics in engineering programmes is unthinkable without using scientific computing environments for problem solving and computer tools for training. Following these modern tendencies of teaching mathematics, computer systems cannot replace basic mathematical knowledge as a tool for engineers to master technological needs currently and in the future.

Mathematical education of future engineers have to be modified to include the modern Internet- technologies, math software and other computer aids. In order to realize this purpose it is necessary: to select the fundamental component of mathematics, which provides the ability to reason logically and to apply knowledge to special engineering courses;to select the fundamental component of mathematics, which provides the ability to reason logically and to apply knowledge to special engineering courses; to pick out the conceptions of central importance;to pick out the conceptions of central importance; to analyze the existing educational programs, approaches, and methodical materials in view of their correspondence to the modern tendencies of engineering education.to analyze the existing educational programs, approaches, and methodical materials in view of their correspondence to the modern tendencies of engineering education. Possibly, the most instructive proofs could be combined into separate sections as examples of exact reasoning.

By making use of the Internet tools and software environment, all routine calculating work (in numerical form as well as in symbolical one) could be readdressed to computer programs such as Matlab or Maple, for example. It is very important to find a balanced combination of the above components.

Estimation of Knowledge If a system of estimation of knowledge is based on a list of questions that a student should know to pass a mathematical examination successfully, then the system stimulates memorizing the answers to the most asked questions. In order to avoid such stimulus, the list of questions should be changed by the list of problems. Students should be able to solve that problems to pass an examination. The number of solving problems determines passing marks. Such system stimulates students to work constructively, to study fundamental mathematical problems, and to apply Internet-based tools as well as computer software.

WebCT: The System of Distance Learning The system WebCT is intended for organization of online distance learning. It contains: - WebCT tools - calendar - public bulletin board - WebCT chat - WebCT White Board - other tools

Calendar is used to inform students about some events

The tutor can easily manage by calendar

Chat allows the tutor and students to discuss projects in real time

WebCT White Board is a graphic version of Chat

Additional tools: Plan of the Course

Additional tools: Instructor Information

Additional tools: Syllabus

Additional tools: Glossary Glossary allows to get an information about some object or the definition of a term.