We have just released a major update to MapleSim 2015. MapleSim 2015.2 provides a variety of enhancements that make it even easier to create, simulate, and analyze your multidomain, system-level models, including:

• Advanced diagnostic tools that help you identify the source of problems in your models and simulations, and improve their efficiency and robustness
• Over 50 new components in the magnetic, thermal, electrical, and signal block libraries
• A new connections manager that makes it easier to keep track of connections and port variables
• And more! See What’s New in MapleSim 2015.2 for more information about these and other improvements in MapleSim.

We have also updated and expanded the MapleSim 2015 family of products:

• The new MapleSim CAD Toolbox, which is available as a separate product, helps engineers understand and improve their mechanical designs by making it easy to import CAD models directly into MapleSim and understand how they behave as part of a larger system.
• MapleSim Connector, for connectivity with Simulink®, and the MapleSim Connector for FMI both generate code that provides more detailed run-time error reporting to assist in trouble-shooting on the target platform
• Updates to the specialized component libraries MapleSim Battery Library,  MapleSim Driveline Library, and MapleSim Tire Library provide improved modeling power and scope

This update is being distributed through the automatic Check for Updates system, and is also available from our website. See MapleSim 2015.2  for details on obtaining this update. This new MapleSim release is available immediately on Windows and Linux, with a Mac version following in the coming days. 

eithne

We are looking for enthusiastic Maple users to become Maple Ambassadors, to inspire and educate others about the benefits that Maple brings to education.

As an Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to influence the development of Maple through regular meetings with Maplesoft developers, get advance news of upcoming features and products, get assistance with Maple events on your campus, and more. In return, we ask that you do what you are probably already doing – sharing your experiences with Maple, answer questions on forums (like this one!), sharing your Maple applications, providing us with feedback, etc.

You can find more information and an application form at Maple Ambassador Program. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Daniel

Maple Product Management

We are happy to announce that Maple T.A. now supports the Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI) standard, which means that Maple T.A. can be easily integrated with course management systems that support LTI. Maplesoft officially supports LTI connectivity with Canvas, Blackboard Learn™, Brightspace™, Moodle™, and Sakai.

Using the LTI standard, you can integrate Maple T.A. directly into your existing course management or learning management platforms. This allows for single-sign on in one central location and Maple T.A. assignment delivery and grade pushing right inside of your existing solutions.

If you would like to use the LTI connectivity feature, please contact Maplesoft Technical Support at support@maplesoft.com. They will provide the instructions and files you need to set up your connection, and answer any questions you may have about how the integration works on your platform.

Jonny
Maplesoft Product Manager, Maple T.A.

Maplesoft will be hosting the 2015 Maple T.A. User Summit this June 15 - 17 in New York City. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about new trends in online education while networking and socializing with fellow educators and Maple T.A. users in the city that never sleeps!

We are happy to announce that the schedule has been finalized! The event will include keynote presentations, talks and discussions from users and Maplesoft staff, training sessions, a welcome reception and a boat cruise around New York City, 

If you'd like ot sign-up but still haven't - don't hesitate to do so today using the following link: https://webstore.maplesoft.com/taconference/register.aspx .

I hope to see you there!

Jonny
Maplesoft Product Manager, Maple T.A.

I wanted to let everyone know that there is a Maple 2015 update available. Maple 2015.1 provides:

• Support for high-resolution monitors (e.g. 4K, UHD)
• Updated translations for Brazilian Portuguese, French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese
• Enhancements to the Explore command
• Improvements to the DataSets package
• Updates to the Microsoft Excel plug-in
• Enhancements to unit handling
• A variety of improvements to the math engine, interface, and documentation

To get this update, you can use Tools>Check for Updates from within Maple, or visit Maple 2015.1 Downloads.

If you are a MapleSim 2015 user, you already have this update, as it was part of the MapleSim 2015 installation.

Kim

Maplesoft will be hosting the 2nd annual Maple T.A. User Summit June 15 - 17 in New York City, USA.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about new trends in online education while networking and socializing with fellow educators and Maple T.A. users in the city that never sleeps!

Conference highlights include:

• Hear from long term users who have used the Maple T.A. technology to transform their classroom experiences.
• Get comprehensive hands-on Maple T.A. training.
• Learn about new technology developments at Maplesoft and how they can provide exceptional user experiences that have the power to ‘surprise and delight’.
• Network with other educators and Maple T.A. users from around the world.
• Take advantage of the social events organized as part of this summit. Socialize with peers and enjoy the sights and sounds of this amazing city.

We invite users who are using Maple T.A. in an innovative way in their classroom to submit a presentation proposal by March 18, 2015. For details, please visit: https://webstore.maplesoft.com/taconference/MapleTA_Summit_CFP.pdf

For more details, preliminary agenda, and to register, please visit our website: https://webstore.maplesoft.com/taconference/

Jonny
Maplesoft Product Manager, Maple T.A.

Math powers the world. From tracking the spread of an epidemic to designing a new rocket engine, mathematical equations allow us to understand a challenge and formulate an approach to solving it. Everywhere around us, math is ubiquitous; an equation determines how your thermostat controls your home furnace; a mathematical algorithm is used to encode the signal from your cell phone. More than ever, we rely on mathematics to make our lives better. And continually, our mathematical techniques get more refined as we solve more and more complex problems.

We are happy to announce the first results of a partnership between Maplesoft and the University of Waterloo to provide effective, engaging online education for technical courses.

Combining rich course materials developed by the University with Maple T.A. and Maplesoft technology for developing, managing, and displaying dynamic content, the Secondary School Courseware project supports high school students and teachers from around the world in their Precalculus and Calculus courses. The site includes interactive investigations, videos, and self-assessment questions that provide immediate feedback.

Feel free to take a look. The site is free, and no login is required.  

For more information about the project, see Online Mathematical Courseware.

eithne

Maplesoft regularly hosts live webinars on a variety of topics. Below you will find details on an upcoming webinars we think may be of interest to the MaplePrimes community.  For the complete list of upcoming webinars, visit our website.

Creating Questions in Maple T.A. – Part #2

This presentation is part of a series of webinars on creating questions in Maple T.A., Maplesoft’s testing and assessment system designed especially for courses involving mathematics. This webinar, which expands on the material offered in Part 1, focuses on using the Question Designer to create many standard types of questions. It will also introduce more advanced question types, such as sketch, free body diagrams, and mathematical formula.

The third and final webinar will wrap up the series with a demonstration of math apps and Maple-graded questions.

To join us for the live presentation, please click here to register.

Clickable Calculus Series – Part #1: Differential Calculus 

In this webinar, Dr. Lopez will apply the techniques of “Clickable Calculus” to standard calculations in Differential Calculus. 

Clickable Calculus™, the idea of powerful mathematics delivered using very visual, interactive point-and-click methods, offers educators a new generation of teaching and learning techniques. Clickable Calculus introduces a better way of engaging students so that they fully understand the materials they are being taught. It responds to the most common complaint of faculty who integrate software into the classroom – time is spent teaching the tool, not the concepts.

To join us for the live presentation, please click here to register.

Maplesoft regularly hosts live webinars on a variety of topics. Below you will find details on an upcoming webinars we think may be of interest to the MaplePrimes community.  For the complete list of upcoming webinars, visit our website.

Creating Questions in Maple T.A. – Part #2

This presentation is part of a series of webinars on creating questions in Maple T.A., Maplesoft’s testing and assessment system designed especially for courses involving mathematics. This webinar, which expands on the material offered in Part 1, focuses on using the Question Designer to create many standard types of questions. It will also introduce more advanced question types, such as sketch, free body diagrams, and mathematical formula.

The third and final webinar will wrap up the series with a demonstration of math apps and Maple-graded questions.

To join us for the live presentation, please click here to register.

Clickable Calculus Series – Part #1: Differential Calculus 

In this webinar, Dr. Lopez will apply the techniques of “Clickable Calculus” to standard calculations in Differential Calculus. 

Clickable Calculus™, the idea of powerful mathematics delivered using very visual, interactive point-and-click methods, offers educators a new generation of teaching and learning techniques. Clickable Calculus introduces a better way of engaging students so that they fully understand the materials they are being taught. It responds to the most common complaint of faculty who integrate software into the classroom – time is spent teaching the tool, not the concepts.

To join us for the live presentation, please click here to register.

I am very happy to announce the addition of 36 new videos to the Maple T.A. Tutorial section on the Maplesoft website. These videos demonstrate how to create questions using each of the different question types in Maple T.A. You’ll find videos for multiple choice, true and false, maple-graded, mathematical formula, and much more, including the new graph sketching and free-body diagram questions introduced in Maple T.A. 10.

Jonny
Maplesoft Product Manager, Maple T.A.

A new release of the Maple T.A. MAA Placement Test Suite  is now available.

The latest release takes advantage of the streamlined interface, accessibility from tablets, and other new features of Maple T.A. 10. It also includes new testing content to determine if your students understand the concepts needed for success in their algebra and precalculus courses; new parallel versions of the calculus concepts readiness test; and improved searching and browsing of testing content.

To learn more, visit What’s New in Maple T.A. MAA Placement Test Suite 10.

eithne

Updates are now available for both Maple 18 and MapleSim 6.4. 

Maple 18.02 contains improvements to many areas, including:

• Rendering of 2-D plots
• Help pages and examples
• Interactive components
• MATLAB 2014a support
• Math engine: Laplace transforms, complex floats, simplify
• Matrix import
• Context menus
• Typesetting
• Memory management
• OpenMaple API
• Physics (details in comments)

To get this update, you can use Tools>Check for Updates from within Maple, or visit Maple 18.02 Downloads. (But depending on when you read this, Check for Updates may not have kicked in yet. If it doesn't find anything, wait until tomorrow morning and try again.)

For those users who haven't upgraded to MapleSim 7 yet, MapleSim 6.4.01 includes:

• Efficiency improvements to the simulation engine, taking advantage of enhancements in Maple 18.02
• Improvements to C code generation for model export
• Improved handling of indexed variables when generating Modelica code

In MapleSim, use  Help>Check for Updates or visit MapleSim 6.4.02 Update. Note that MapleSim 6.4.02 is compatible with Maple 18.02.  Upgrade your Maple 18 installation to Maple 18.02 before installing this MapleSim update.

eithne

Updates are now available for both Maple 18 and MapleSim 6.4. 

Maple 18.02 contains improvements to many areas, including:

• Rendering of 2-D plots
• Help pages and examples
• Interactive components
• MATLAB 2014a support
• Math engine: Laplace transforms, complex floats, simplify
• Matrix import
• Context menus
• Typesetting
• Memory management
• OpenMaple API
• Physics (details in comments)

To get this update, you can use Tools>Check for Updates from within Maple, or visit Maple 18.02 Downloads. (But depending on when you read this, Check for Updates may not have kicked in yet. If it doesn't find anything, wait until tomorrow morning and try again.)

For those users who haven't upgraded to MapleSim 7 yet, MapleSim 6.4.01 includes:

• Efficiency improvements to the simulation engine, taking advantage of enhancements in Maple 18.02
• Improvements to C code generation for model export
• Improved handling of indexed variables when generating Modelica code

In MapleSim, use  Help>Check for Updates or visit MapleSim 6.4.02 Update. Note that MapleSim 6.4.02 is compatible with Maple 18.02.  Upgrade your Maple 18 installation to Maple 18.02 before installing this MapleSim update.

eithne

With the 2014 Maple T.A. User Summit completed and conference goers have returned to their home cities, it’s time to recap what happened on day 2. We started things off in the morning with an energized presentation by Prof. Jack Weiner of the University of Guelph. Jack pointed out that the University of Guelph has revolutionized their teaching and online homework solutions by using Maple and Maple T.A. He also gave an example of one of this famous Friday Specials – an example of math being used in the real world and discussed other teaching suggestions from his 40+ years of experience in the field.