Thoughts on the Content of a Differential Equations Course
0Presented by:
Christoph Börgers, Department of Mathematics, Tufts University, Medford MA USA
https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/simiode/expo
Abstract: I am trying to construct a new version of our introductory ODE course at Tufts University. Some of the principles I am trying to adhere to:
Almost never write down any ODE that doesn't mean anything in any application that I can explain in class. Applications should be primary.
All applications should be simple but honest. The modeling should lead to, or suggest at least, non-obvious conclusions.
Applications should come from a broad range of fields, including both natural sciences and engineering and, even in a course for engineering students, social sciences.
The students should be enabled to graph solutions themselves, without computing formulas first.
I'll give examples, with special emphasis on differential equations models in the social sciences that I have recently written articles about. I'll also discuss difficulties that I am struggling with, and hope for helpful comments from the listeners.