How to Take Your Introductory Engineering Classes Right From Your Computer

Zach Star
9 Apr 201806:34
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker introduces an upcoming video that will direct viewers to online resources for engineering courses, emphasizing the importance of foundational classes like statics, dynamics, circuits, programming, and MATLAB. They highlight the necessity of prior knowledge in calculus and physics for these subjects and provide a variety of lecture series and textbooks to aid self-study. The video aims to help students get ahead or supplement their learning, especially in cases where classroom teaching may be lacking.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The video provides resources for students looking to get ahead in engineering classes, including lectures, textbooks, and practice problems.
  • 🔍 There's a focus on common engineering courses such as statics, dynamics, circuits, computer science, and programming, as well as MATLAB.
  • 🌐 Links to the resources are provided in the video description for easy access.
  • 📈 Statics and dynamics are foundational engineering classes, often required for most engineering majors, and build upon physics and calculus knowledge.
  • 🔢 Prerequisites for statics and dynamics typically include multivariable calculus and basic high school physics, with some schools requiring differential equations.
  • 💻 Electrical and computer engineers, as well as other majors, often start with circuit analysis courses, which are more advanced than basic physics circuits.
  • 👨‍🏫 The video recommends specific lectures for circuits, including Khan Academy and a classroom lecture series, to cater to different learning preferences.
  • 👨‍💻 Programming languages vary for beginners, with resources provided for C, Java, C++, and Python, depending on the learner's choice.
  • 🛠️ MATLAB is a versatile tool used across engineering disciplines, allowing for advanced modeling and system analysis.
  • 📊 The video encourages getting a head start on challenging subjects like programming, as it can be intimidating for many engineering students.
  • 🔄 Learning one programming language makes it easier to learn others, and resources are available for free to help students get started.
Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the video mentioned in the transcript?

    -The purpose of the video is to guide viewers towards online resources such as lectures, textbooks, and practice problems for various engineering classes, with the aim of helping them get ahead, learn something new, or compensate for a bad teacher.

  • Which engineering classes are initially covered in the video?

    -The video initially covers classes like statics, dynamics, circuits, computer science and programming, and an introduction to MATLAB.

  • What are the prerequisites for the statics and dynamics classes mentioned in the transcript?

    -The prerequisites for statics and dynamics classes typically include calculus (specifically Calc 3 or multivariable calculus) and basic high school physics. Some schools may also require differential equations.

  • How does the speaker describe the difference between statics and dynamics?

    -Statics is described as a physics class on systems that are not moving, where the sum of forces and torques are zero. Dynamics, on the other hand, involves the same types of problems but with moving and rotating objects.

  • What is the recommended starting point for learning programming languages according to the transcript?

    -The transcript suggests starting with a language like Python, as it is often considered the easiest to learn. However, it also acknowledges that many people start with C, Java, or C++, and encourages choosing a starting point based on personal preference.

  • What resources are provided for learning programming languages?

    -Resources provided for learning programming languages include lectures from YouTube channels like the new Boston, MIT lectures for Python, and various practice exercises found through a simple Google search.

  • Why is learning a programming language beneficial for engineers?

    -Learning a programming language is beneficial for engineers because it allows them to program advanced models and systems, which is crucial for many engineering disciplines. It also provides a foundation that makes learning additional languages easier.

  • What is MATLAB and why is it used in engineering?

    -MATLAB is a software tool that enables users to program advanced models and systems. It is used in engineering because it has many built-in functions that allow for tasks like signal analysis and satellite orbits, and is particularly useful for majors like mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical engineering.

  • How does the video help students who have a bad teacher?

    -The video helps students with bad teachers by providing them with alternative resources such as online lectures and textbooks that can supplement or replace their classroom learning experience.

  • What advice does the speaker give for students who are intimidated by programming courses?

    -The speaker advises such students to start somewhere, learn the basics, and gain confidence through free resources. They also suggest that learning a first programming language makes it easier to learn subsequent languages.

  • What is the speaker's approach to covering the various engineering majors?

    -The speaker acknowledges that there are many engineering majors and cannot cover all in one video. Instead, they focus on classes that have overlap across majors, such as statics, dynamics, circuits, programming, and MATLAB.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Engineering Class Resources Overview

The video introduces a collection of online resources designed for students looking to advance in their engineering studies. It covers a range of subjects including statics, dynamics, circuits, programming, and MATLAB, which are fundamental to various engineering disciplines. The speaker provides a brief overview of each subject, its prerequisites, and the type of resources available, such as lectures, textbooks, and practice problems. The aim is to help students get ahead, especially if they have a poor teacher or want to learn at their own pace.

05:01
🔍 In-Depth Look at Engineering Fundamentals

This paragraph delves deeper into the specifics of engineering fundamentals like statics and dynamics, emphasizing their importance and the challenges they present. It explains that statics is akin to a physics class for non-moving systems, focusing on equilibrium, while dynamics introduces motion and rotation, requiring a background in calculus and physics. The speaker also discusses the commonality of these classes across engineering majors and provides a link to a dedicated page with pre-requisites, lecture resources, and textbooks. Additionally, it touches on the variability in requirements depending on the institution and the ongoing nature of some resources.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Engineering Classes
Engineering Classes refer to the specific courses that engineering students must take as part of their academic curriculum. These classes are designed to provide foundational and advanced knowledge in various engineering disciplines. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the commonality of certain engineering classes, such as statics, dynamics, and programming, across different majors, highlighting their importance in the engineering field.
💡Statics
Statics is an engineering discipline that focuses on the study of forces and torques on objects that are at rest or not rotating. It is a branch of mechanics that is essential for understanding the balance of forces in structural engineering and other applications. In the video, the speaker explains that statics is a prerequisite for many engineering courses and is often the first engineering class taken by students, providing a foundation in the analysis of stationary systems.
💡Dynamics
Dynamics is the branch of mechanics that deals with the motion and forces acting on objects. It is a critical subject in engineering as it helps students understand how objects move and interact under various conditions. The video emphasizes that dynamics builds upon the principles learned in statics and requires a background in calculus and physics. It is typically taken after statics and is known for its challenging nature.
💡Circuits
Circuits are a fundamental concept in electrical engineering and involve the study of the flow of electric current through components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. The video script mentions that circuits are crucial for electrical and computer engineers and are often a part of the curriculum for other engineering majors as well. The speaker provides resources for learning about circuits, which go beyond basic physics and into the more complex analysis required for engineering applications.
💡Programming
Programming is the process of creating software by writing code in a programming language. It is a vital skill for many engineering disciplines, especially computer, electrical, and mechatronics engineering. The video discusses the variety of programming languages and the different starting points for learning to program. The speaker encourages viewers to start learning programming to gain a foundational understanding that can be applied across various engineering fields.
💡MATLAB
MATLAB is a high-level programming language and interactive environment used in numerical computation, visualization, and programming. It is widely used in engineering and scientific applications for tasks such as signal analysis, image processing, and system modeling. The video highlights MATLAB as a tool that is particularly useful for certain engineering majors, like mechanical and aerospace, and provides resources for learning the basics of this software.
💡Online Resources
Online Resources refer to the digital materials and platforms available for learning and self-study. The video script emphasizes the importance of utilizing online lectures, textbooks, and practice problems to supplement or enhance one's understanding of engineering concepts. The speaker compiles these resources for various engineering classes, making them accessible for students seeking to get ahead or needing additional support.
💡Prerequisites
Prerequisites are the prior knowledge, skills, or courses that a student must have completed before taking a more advanced course. In the context of the video, the speaker outlines the typical prerequisites for engineering classes, such as calculus and physics, which are essential for understanding the more complex concepts taught in statics, dynamics, and other specialized engineering courses.
💡Self-Study
Self-study refers to the process of independently learning a subject or skill without formal instruction. The video encourages self-study by providing resources for students to learn at their own pace and according to their own needs. This approach can be particularly beneficial for students who have a bad teacher or who want to get ahead in their engineering studies.
💡Educational Videos
Educational Videos are video content specifically created to teach or instruct viewers on a particular subject. In the video script, the speaker references various educational video series from institutions like MIT and online platforms like Khan Academy, which provide structured lessons on engineering topics such as statics, dynamics, and circuits. These videos serve as a valuable resource for students looking to enhance their understanding of complex engineering concepts.
Highlights

The video aims to guide viewers towards online resources for learning and improving in various engineering disciplines.

Lectures, textbooks, and practice problems for engineering courses are compiled in one place for easy access.

There is an overlap in courses among different engineering majors, such as statics, dynamics, computer science, and programming.

Statics and dynamics are foundational engineering classes, with statics focusing on non-moving systems and dynamics on moving systems.

Prerequisites for statics and dynamics typically include calculus and physics, with some variation depending on the institution.

Circuits are crucial for electrical and computer engineers, and are often a required course for other majors as well.

Programming languages and the starting point for learning them can vary greatly among individuals.

Resources for learning programming are provided, broken down by language, including YouTube lectures and practice exercises.

MATLAB is a software tool used for programming advanced models and systems, with applications across various engineering disciplines.

Learning a programming language can provide a foundation that makes learning MATLAB easier.

The video creator has previously created resources for math classes and plans to do the same for physics.

The video includes a link in the description for viewers to access the compiled resources.

The video creator has done research to compile the resources and provides a comprehensive list of prereqs and majors.

For circuits, two sets of lectures are provided, catering to different learning preferences.

The video creator recommends starting with Python or C for those interested in robotics or programming hardware.

The video encourages viewers to get a head start on challenging subjects like programming to build confidence.

The video creator suggests that learning any programming language can be beneficial for a wide range of disciplines.

Transcripts

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Engineering StudiesOnline LecturesEducational ResourcesStatics and DynamicsElectrical CircuitsProgramming LanguagesMATLAB TutorialsSelf-Study GuideAcademic SupportEngineering Majors