Instructor Insights

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Instructor Insights

In the following video, Professor Gilbert Strang describes various aspects of how he teaches 18.06 Linear Algebra.

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> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 17MB)

> Download English-US transcript (PDF)

> Download English-US caption (SRT)

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

Mathematics GIR 

Requirements Satisfied

18.06 fulfills the linear algebra requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

Offered

Every semester

The Classroom

  • A view toward the front of a classroom from over the rows of seats, showing six sliding chalkboards.

    Room 1 of 1

    Lecture

    Classes met in a lecture hall like this one, with tiers of tablet chairs for 294, sliding chalkboards, and A/V equipment.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by problem sets. 15% Problem sets
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by three one-hour exams. 45% Three one-hour exams
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by final exam. 40% Final exam

Student Information

About 180 students took this course when it was offered in Fall 2011.

Breakdown by Year

Mostly undergraduates

Breakdown by Major

Many computer science & engineering and management majors

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

Lecture

3 hours per week

Typically meets 3 times per week for 1 hour per session; 38 sessions total; mandatory attendance.

 

Recitation

1 hours per week

Typically meets 1 time per week for 1 hour each session.

 

Out of Class

8 hours per week

Completing problem sets; studying for exams.

 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
2 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
3 No classes throughout MIT. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
4 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
5 Lecture session and exam scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
6 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
7 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
10 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session and exam scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
11 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
12 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
13 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled and problem set due.
14 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session and exam scheduled.
15 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when recitations are held. Recitation
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when problem sets are due. Problem set due
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held. Lecture session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held. Exam
 

Course Team Roles

Lead Instructor (Professor Strang)

Professor Strang prepared and delivered lectures; prepared problem sets.

Teaching Assistants 

Five teaching assistants conducted recitation sessions; held office hours and fielded student questions by email.