Compromises of these principles may result from realities of time, cost, bandwidth, etc., but the team is determined to minimize compromises. The team saw little value added to using online delivery as a page-turning medium. The goal is to take advantage of web technologies, be forward-looking, and set a standard for WBCs. The course is to be as rich and interactive as possible given the realities of bandwidth and development time. A central tenet of applied mathematics is holistic problem solving through a combination of independent and collaborative work.
Technical communication is an important strand running throughout the course.
For example, in the WBC, a help screen can provide information about how to use a specific tool. Students must read and understand this technical writing to learn how to use the tool to solve a problem. The solution can then be communicated to others in writing. Students will interact with the course, with each other, and the instructor through a web browser. Exceptions will be their use of analysis software and spreadsheets.