Teaching Control Systems with Interactive MATLAB Live Scripts

Abstract

Control engineering, as with many other engineering courses, are commonly taught using static course notes and lecture slides. These methods, however, often fail to elicit adequate student interest and understanding of the advanced mathematical and theoretical concepts fundamental to the subject. As a result, many students experience a disconnect with the content early in the course, leading to disinterest and poor academic performance. This paper presents the development of an interactive "live" textbook using MATLAB Live Scripts, providing a dynamic and engaging learning experience. This resource allows students to interact with the theoretical material in real-time, run simulations, adjust parameters, and immediately visualise the impact of their changes — all in a single, unified environment. The integration of LaTeX typeset equations and text, code blocks, dynamic diagrams, and high-level controls such as sliders and buttons empowers students to explore the subject matter deeply at their own pace, fostering a stronger connection and understanding of the material. The effectiveness of the interactive course material is evaluated using anonymous course evaluations, which assess key performance indicators such as understanding of course material and overall course satisfaction. Furthermore, key course statistics, such as pass rate and average mark, are compared over the past four years, showing significant improvements across all areas following the intervention of the developed interactive textbook.