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From: guan@CHICONE.CS.MISSOURI.EDU (Guan)
Newsgroups: comp.theory.dynamic-sys
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Date: 11 Mar 91 23:33:03 GMT
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     Thank you all for your response of my query dated Jan. 25, 1991
regarding teaching an undergraduate course on chaotic dynamics.
Here's the summary of what I found out from the responses.

   1. There is a good source of discussion for a course like this.  The
January issue of The College Mathematical Journal is a special issue
on Dynamical Systems.   Besides discussions on courses, there is also
a software review on chaos and fractal software, primarily on complex
dynamical systems that generates Julia, Mandlebrot sets.

   2. The general consensus is that Devaney's book "Introduction to
Chaotic Dynamical Systems", although an excellent book, is too hard
for undergraduates.   There are a few other books that might be better
for an undergraduate courses (from a more mathematical view point):

   -- "Chaos, Fractal and Dynamics" by Robert Devaney, Addison-Wesley,
       1989.    (Yes, there is a more elementary version of the other
                 book.)

   -- "Discrete Dynamical Systems: Theory and Applications" by James
       Sandefur, Oxford University Press, 1990.

  Unfortunately, our library has neither of the above books so I
haven't had chance to examine them.   There is also a new book still
in preliminary version by Denny Gulick (University of Maryland) that
will be available perhaps next year.   I have received a copy of the
manuscript from the publisher.   The book looks very interesting and
might work very well for a good undergraduate class with very good
calculus training.

    3. Henry Greenside from Duke sent me his syllabus and the homeworks
he assigned when he taught a similar physics course there.   The
textbook was "From Order to Chaos" by Berge, Pomeau and Vidal.   It is
a good book, but it is more suitable for a physics course.  He also
required students to use Mathematica to solve homeworks with good
results.

    4. The question about review for dynamics software is still
somewhat unclear.   Nonetheless, I receive a package call ODE by Keith
Brigg from Australia.   My plan is to first get my course going and
attempt the software review later.  That is, if there is still no
such review on general dynamics software.

   From the responses, I have compiled a short mailing list.   I'll
keep those on the list updated on further developments.   Please drop
me a note if you wish to be included in the list.

Guan-Hsong Hsu               | (314)882-8275
Department of Mathematics    | guan@chicone.cs.missouri.edu
University of Missouri       | mathhsu@umcvmb.bitnet
Columbia. MO 65211           |

    p.s. I just got a note from Mark Snavely from Carthage College that
he will send me a set of his notes on a course he taught there.