University of Michigan

ENGR 101

Solving engineering problems with computer programming in MATLAB and C++.

Canvas
Google Drive
Piazza
Office Hours
Autograder
Gradescope
PrairieLearn
ECoach
Lobster
MatCrab

Week 1

Announcements
Welcome! We're glad to have you in ENGR 101!
Please join us on Tuesday, January 10th for our first lecture! We're looking forward to seeing you there!
Complete the Start of Term Checklist to make sure you're ready to go for ENGR 101.
Labs WILL NOT meet this week.
Professor Office Hours and a high level view of Staff Office Hours will be posted on the website next week. Office hours will begin on Monday, January 9th.
We've posted the first three weeks' schedule here, and we'll try to keep "three weeks ahead" for you throughout the semester. You're welcome to work ahead in PrairieLearn if you wish, but we don't expect that. Labs will be linked on the website on Tuesday evenings, and extra credit information will be linked as it becomes available.
Start of Term Checklist

Complete BEFORE your first lab.

Read the syllabus , course norms , and FAQ documents.

Find your lab instructor in our Meet the Staff slides!

Join Piazza and Gradescope (go through Canvas the first time; if you have trouble signing up for Piazza via Canvas, you can use the direct sign-up link -- but you MUST sign up with your umich email address!)

Install MATLAB

Install C++ Programs (including VSCode)

Check out PrairieLearn where you will do homework, lecture reflections, and assessments (Note: PrairieLearn is currently performing some routine maintenance and server upgrades. We will activate this link and the links to the homeworks once PrairieLearn is back up and ready for you!)

Watch this ECoach video.

Extra Credit Opportunities
(10 pts) Computing CARES Entry Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm.
(10 pts) ECoach Beginning of Term Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm. Note: ECoach has one Beginning of Term Survey that covers all the courses that you are taking that use ECoach this term. So, you may have already completed this survey as part of your work for another course.
Homework

No assignment this week.

Lecture

No lecture this week. See you next Tuesday!

Lab

No labs this week. See you next week!

Week 2

Announcements
Welcome to Week 2!
First lecture this Tuesday. This week we'll be learning how ENGR101 works and the strategies for success!
Labs start meeting this week.
Be sure to attend the lab section you signed up for on Wolverine Access. Come prepared to meet your classmates and work through your first activity.
Complete the Start of Term Checklist from Week 1 before your first lab. If you have trouble installing MATLAB or VSCode, you can come to office hours or go to the CAEN Help Desk on the 2nd floor of the Duderstadt Center.
Gradescope Maintenance. The Gradescope website will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Saturday, January 14. The maintenance window will be from 12:00PM-2:00PM EST / 5:00PM to 7:00PM GMT. Please keep this in mind and make sure you submit your Lab 1 worksheet before the maintenance period begins.
Heads up! Your first set of homework is due next week on January 17th. Make sure to read the Guide to Using PrairieLearn to understand how the homeworks are set up, and then click a homework link below to get started!
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Join the course late? Not to worry! Email your lab instructor to introduce yourself and then check Week 1 for links to things you need to get caught up on.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(10 pts) Computing CARES Entry Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm.
(10 pts) ECoach Beginning of Term Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm. Note: ECoach has one Beginning of Term Survey that covers all the courses that you are taking that use ECoach this term. So, you may have already completed this survey as part of your work for another course.
Homework

Heads up! You have homework due next week on January 17th. Don't forget to do it!

HW1: Intro to MATLAB

HW2: Vectors and Matrices

HW3: Functions and Data

Lecture

Learn How to Succeed in ENGR101

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 1
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Meet and Greet / How Labs Will Work

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Week 3

Announcements
Welcome to Week 3!
This week we'll start learning MATLAB and discuss why your computer is your most important engineering tool.
No Office Hours Sunday and Monday this week due to the MLK Day holiday. Office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 17th.
First set of homework is due this week. Make sure to read the Guide to Using PrairieLearn to understand how the homeworks are set up, and then click a homework link below to get started!
Review/practice sessions start this week. Come get extra practice using the material learned in homework.
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Join the course late? Not to worry! Email your lab instructor to introduce yourself and then check Week 1 for links to things you need to get caught up on. If you need extensions for assignments, scroll down and complete the Extension Request form.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(10 pts) Computing CARES Entry Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm.
(10 pts) ECoach Beginning of Term Survey: Complete the survey by January 21st at 11:59pm. Note: ECoach has one Beginning of Term Survey that covers all the courses that you are taking that use ECoach this term. So, you may have already completed this survey as part of your work for another course.
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

Due TUES 11:59pm

HW1: Intro to MATLAB

HW2: Vectors and Matrices

HW3: Functions and Data

Lecture

Your Computer as an Engineering Tool

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 2
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Matrices and Functions

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Week 4

Announcements
Welcome to Week 4!
We'll be exploring logical indexing and images in MATLAB, and we'll see how to apply these to Project 1.
Project 1 has been released. Scroll down to the Projects section for the link to an overview of the project, the project specifications, and the Piazza FAQ post. You're ready to start Project 1 after you've finished the homework that is due this week.
Lecture this week will introduce Project 1 and include some program planning to help you get started on Project 1. Make sure to attend!
Assessment 1 is next week. See the Canvas announcement and Piazza posts when they are posted for more details.
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Renew your MATLAB license by following these instructions. (If you don't see a message in MATLAB about renewing a license, then you don't need to do anything.)
Join the course late? Not to worry! Email your lab instructor to introduce yourself and then check Week 1 for links to things you need to get caught up on. If you need extensions for assignments, scroll down and complete the Extension Request form.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(10 pts) ECoach Assessment 1 Playbook: Complete the playbook by January 28th at 11:59pm.
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

HW4: Logical Operations and Indexing

HW5: Working with Images

Lecture

Project 1 Overview

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 3
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Logical Indexing and Images

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Course Drop/Add Deadline

Make sure that you finalize your schedule today. Today is the last day to add or drop any courses without receiving a "W" on your transcript.

Week 5

Announcements
Welcome to Week 5!
This week we'll be looking at how we can use MATLAB to simulate a physical phenomenon and use that simulation create helpful and informative visualizations.
Project 1 Checkpoint should be completed by Tuesday to make sure you're on track to finish the project on time. Come see us in office hours with questions! Don't wait until the last minute to start Project 1! Partnerships MUST be registered on the Autograder by Tuesday!
Assessment 1 takes place this week. Please make sure to read the details and logistics for Assessment 1 linked below. We strongly recommend you take the practice assessment at least once before taking the actual assessment.
Office Hours Schedule Change. We have hired more IAs to help fill in some gaps in our office hours coverage. The only change to you is that Friday's office hours are now 12:30-3:30pm. All the other Office Hours times are the same, but we now have more people "on duty". See the weekly Canvas announcement for this week's focus group topics!
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

HW6: Plotting and Figures

HW7: Statistics and Simulation

HW8: Advanced Plotting and Data Visualization

Lecture

Programming Application: Beam Deflection

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 4
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Plotting, Statistics, and Simulation

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Project 1 Checkpoint

You should have the Project 1 Checkpoint completed by today to stay on pace for Project 1. Partnerships MUST be registered on the Autograder by today!

Assessment 1
Due 11:59pm Thursday

Opens Wednesday 12:01am

Take Assessment

Details & Logistics

Week 6

Announcements
Welcome to Week 6!
We'll be exploring some new data types and data structures in MATLAB this week. We'll then see how we can use these new data structures in Project 2.
Project 1 is due Tuesday. Come see us in office hours with questions! Don't wait until the last minute to submit!
Project 2 has been released. Scroll down to the Projects section for the link to an overview of the project, the project specifications, and the Piazza FAQ post. You're ready to start Project 2 after you've finished the homework that is due this week.
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
(10 pts) ECoach Assessment 1 Reflection: Complete the reflection by February 18 at 11:59pm.
(10 pts) ECoach Assessment 2 Playbook: Complete the playbook by February 18th at 11:59pm.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

HW9: Strings and Cell Arrays

HW10: MATLAB Tables

Lecture

Project 2 Overview

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 5
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Cell Arrays, Tables, Data Visualization

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Project 1 Due at 11:59pm

Submit Project 1 by today to earn up to full credit.

Week 7

Announcements
Welcome to Week 7!
We'll be learning about how we can use computing to improve society and to reveal bias in algorithms.
Project 2 Checkpoint should be completed by Tuesday to make sure you're on track to finish the project on time. Come see us in office hours with questions! Don't wait until the last minute to start Project 2! Partnerships MUST be registered on the Autograder by Tuesday!
Assessment 2 is next week. See the Canvas announcement and Piazza posts when they are posted for more details.
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
(10 pts) ECoach Assessment 1 Reflection: Complete the reflection by February 18th at 11:59pm.
(10 pts) ECoach Assessment 2 Playbook: Complete the playbook by February 18th at 11:59pm.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

HW11: Applying Computing to Society

Lecture

Algorithmic Bias

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

Lab 6
Due 11:59pm Saturday

Tables & Data Analysis

Lab Worksheet

Lab Files

Walkthrough

Turn in on Gradescope

Piazza Q&A

(Walkthroughs released on Friday night/Saturday morning)

Lab worksheet must be turned in to Gradescope for credit!

Project 2 Checkpoint

You should have the Project 2 Checkpoint completed by today to stay on pace for Project 2. Partnerships MUST be registered on the Autograder by today!

Week 8

Announcements
Welcome to Week 8!
This week, we wrap-up the MATLAB half of our course before heading into Spring Break next week.
Project 2 is due Tuesday. Come see us in office hours with questions! Don't wait until the last minute to submit!
Assessment 2 takes place this week. We strongly recommend you take the practice assessment at least once before taking the actual assessment.
Assessment consultations for Assessment 2 are available during in-person office hours after Assessment 2 closes. If you would like to go through your answers for Assessment 2, or are interested in retaking Assessment 2, please come see us in office hours.
Sick or tested positive for COVID? Scroll down and find the "Excused Absence" Form. Fill this out and we will excuse you from lab and follow up with you via email.
Extra Credit Opportunities
(20 pts) Review and Practice Session with Prof. Begley: Must attend and participate for points, no virtual option. Wednesday from 7-8pm in USB 1250 on Central Campus.
Spring Break
Spring Break Office Hours. The last day of office hours before Spring Break will be Friday, February 24th. Office Hours will resume on Monday, March 6th.
Make sure your computer is set up for C++. We will start the C++ half of our course after spring break. Follow these instructions if you have not yet completed this set up.
ECAS Supplemental Instruction Sessions and Tutoring
The Engineering Center for Academic Success (ECAS) holds supplemental instruction sessions on Sundays for a variety of classes, including ENGR 101. You can find the schedule for ECAS SI sessions here. They also offer tutoring for select classes as well. Check that out here.
Homework

No homework this week.

Lecture

Programming Application: Animation in MATLAB

Slides / Files

Recordings

Reflection Form
Due Sat. 11:59pm

Recordings and reflection available after lecture ends.

No Lab This Week

We're wrapping up the MATLAB half of the semester before Spring Break. Please use this time to take Assessment 2 and finish complete your lecture reflection.

Project 2 Due at 11:59pm

Submit Project 2 by today to earn up to full credit.

Assessment 2
Due 11:59pm Thursday

Opens Wednesday 12:01am

Take Assessment

Details & Logistics

Professor Office Hours

In-Person Office Hours with Prof. Alford

Come talk about anything at all (this course, other courses, favorite books/movies/tv shows, why Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering is the best major, what the Avengers can teach us about teamwork ... you know, the important stuff!). This is a super casual thing -- come on by!

Friday 12:30-1:30pm

B521 Pierpont

In-Person Office Hours with Prof. Begley

Come chat about life at Michigan, what it's like working in a research lab, or why guinea pigs make the best pets.

Wednesday 2-3pm

B521 Pierpont

Staff Office Hours

Guide to Office Hours

Read this guide to office hours to help you get the most out of your office hours time.

One-Time Changes to Office Hours

Throughout the semester, ENGR 101 staff may need to hold their office hours virtually for various reasons, including if they feel well enough to teach but don't want to risk passing on a cold or something. If this situation occurs, they will post an announcement to Canvas with a Zoom link, so if you are planning to come to Office Hours, please check Canvas as well!

Office Hours in B521 Pierpont

You can join these office hours without an appointment. You can stay as long as you want, so come hang out and get some ENGR 101 work done with us! This schedule will not change from week-to-week, so feel free to plan around this!

Day Schedule

Course Essentials

Syllabus

All the details

Course Norms

Norms and expectations for meetings, email, and other forms of communication in the course

People

Meet the course staff!

FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about ENGR 101 (continually updated)

Request Forms

Excused Lab Absence Request

Request an excused lab absence

Regrade Requests

Request a regrade or report a grade discrepancy

Extension Request

Request an extension for an assignment because of a medical or personal emergency

Projects

The Autograder

Project code is submitted to the autograder; the autograder is linked at the top of this course webpage. Read this guide to the autograder to learn more about using the autograder.


The Honor Code

All project code is subjected to our cheat checking procedures. If we find sufficient evidence of cheating, we are required to submit a report to the Honor Council. You can learn more about what happens with Honor Council reports by watching this video from the Engineering Center for Academic Success.

How to Register a Project Partnership on the Autograder

In this course, you are allowed to work with a partner on the projects if you wish to. All project partnerships MUST be registered on the autograder at least one week prior to the project's deadline.


Follow this guide to registering your partnership on the autograder to complete your partnership prior to the registration deadline.

Project 1

Dealing with Radiation

Due Tue, February 7th

Overview ( slides )

Specifications

Piazza FAQ

Project 2

Siting a Wind Farm

Due Tue, February 21st

Overview ( slides )

Specifications

Piazza FAQ

Schedule of Topics

Week 1

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week
No lecture this week
No review session due this week No labs this week

Week 2

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week
First Lecture! Learn how to succeed in ENGR 101
No review session this week Lab 1: Meet and Greet / How Labs Will Work
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 3

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
MLK Day
Intro to MATLAB; Vectors and Matrices; Functions; Working with Data
Homeworks 1-3 due		 Your Computer as an Engineering Tool
Practice with Prof. Begley: Vectors, Matrices, and Functions in MATLAB Lab 2: Matrices and Functions
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 4

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Logical Operations and Indexing; Working with Images
Homeworks 4-5 due
Project 1 Overview Drop/Add Deadline
Practice with Prof. Begley: Logical Operations and Indexing; Working with Images in MATLAB Lab 3: Logical Indexing and Images
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 5

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Plotting and Figures; Statistics and Simulation; Advanced Plotting and Data Visualization
Homeworks 6-8 due
Programming Application: Beam Deflection Project 1 Checkpoint should be completed by today
Practice with Prof. Begley: Plotting and Statistics in MATLAB Lab 4: Plotting, Statistics, and Simulation Assessment #1
(Opens Wed, Due Thurs)
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 6

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Strings and Cell Arrays; MATLAB Tables
Homeworks 9-10 due
Project 2 Overview Project 1 Due
Practice with Prof. Begley: Strings, Cell Arrays and Tables in MATLAB Lab 5: Cell Arrays, Tables, Data Visualization
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 7

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Applying Computing to Society
Homework 11 due
Algorithmic Bias Project 2 Checkpoint should be completed by today
Practice with Prof. Begley: MATLAB grab bag! Lab 6: Tables & Data Analysis
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 8

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week
Programming Application: Animation in MATLAB Project 2 Due
Practice with Prof. Begley: Final MATLAB Wrap-up No Lab This Week Assessment #2
(Opens Wed, Due Thurs)
Lecture reflection due

Week 9

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Spring Break!

Week 10

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Intro to C++
Homework 12 due
Your Computer as an Engineering Tool, Part 2
Practice with Prof. Begley: Intro to C++ Lab 7: Getting Started with C++
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 11

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
More C++ Basics and Branching; Iteration; Functions in C++
Homeworks 13-15 due
Program Planning and Debugging
Practice with Prof. Begley: Branching, Interation, and Functions in C++ Lab 8: Branching, Iteration, and Functions
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 12

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Strings, Streams, and I/O; Vectors; Program Design
Homeworks 16-18 due
Project 3 Overview
Practice with Prof. Begley: Strings, Streams, I/O and Vectors Lab 9: Strings, File I/O Streams, and Vectors
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 13

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
Data Structures, Applying Computing to Engineering Problems
Homeworks 19-21 due
Programming Application: House Hunting Project 3 Checkpoint should be completed by today
Practice with Prof. Begley: Data Structures and Program Design Lab 10: Data Structures and Program Design Assessment #3
(Opens Wed, Due Thurs)
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 14

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week
Project 4 Overview Project 3 Due
Lab 11: Programming Practice (Containerships)
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 15

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week
Programming Application: TBD Project 4 Checkpoint should be completed by today
Lab 12: Programming Practice (Ottendorf Cipher)
Lecture reflection due Lab worksheet due

Week 16

Homework/Review Topic

Lecture Topic

Lab Topic

Projects / Assessments
No homework due this week Assessment #4
(Opens Mon, Due Tues)
Semester Wrap-up
Project 4 Due
Classes are over