This is the summary of a presentation given at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, January 10-13, 1996, Orlando, Florida.

Teaching a short introductory course in linear algebra offers interesting challenges. The structure of undergraduate linear algebra at Georgia Southern University presents a two quarter-hour matrix oriented introduction to linear algebra and its applications that is prerequisite to a vector-space oriented follow-up course. Both courses are required of all computer science and mathematics majors although there are usually some middle grades education and business majors enrolled in the short course. Recently the course has been modified with the implementation of a laboratory component that emphasizes the use of MATLAB as a tool for working with matrices and systems of linear equations.

In this presentation, a course syllabus for the two quarter-hour linear algebra course will be discussed. Additionally, an overview of the laboratory component and sample laboratory modules will be given. Some general observations about student involvement and progress will be made.

Lila Freeman Roberts, Georgia Southern University