In this lecture, we'll cover the following:

• Prerequisites - what you should cover or be familiar with before enrolling in the course.
• The level of Python programming experience required.
• Resources for additional help during the course.
• Tips for effective note-taking and learning with an EngineeringSkills course.

This lecture aims to address common concerns you may have before enrolling, particularly if you haven't taking an EngineeringSkills course before. It's recommended, though not required, to complete the course on Finite Element Analysis of Continuum Structures. This preceding course shares similarities in solver implementation with the current course, which focuses on more complex elements. In terms of programming, you don't need be an expert in Python to take this course, but having some programming experience, in any language, would be helpful.

We also introduce the Q&A forum, the main source of additional support while you complete the course. Emphasis is placed on active note-taking and avoiding passive learning. It is advised to manually create notes to enhance your understanding and facilitate more effective learning. This approach encourages continually building upon your knowledge base. Finally, you are urged to progress at a steady pace to rather than rushing through lectures.

Next up

With the housekeeping out of the way, next we'll explore the different plate theories available to us and explain why we've chosen the Reissner-Mindlin formulation for this course.