Computational literacy model: Solution to the problem of mechanical wave superposition

Students taking waves and optics courses are rarely introduced to computer programs excel and MATLAB which aim to solve problems using numerical skills. During one semester students are invited to create algorithms to solve numerical computational problems. Writing MATLAB programs in the form of m-files. Applying in problem solving. Assess and evaluate computational results in accordance with the field of computational physics of wave mechanics. One class consisting of 35 students is taught to solve problem mechanical wave, visualize and calculate numerically using a computer. Another class consist of 25 students are only taught regular learning based on analytical studies. Most of the computing class students reached 90% were able to visualize mechanical waves correctly while the analytical class averaged only 50%. Solving the superposition of waves with different phases and the same amplitude shows that almost 87% can be solved by the computational class while for the analytical class it is up to 65%. The most difficult thing is to found equation of superposition wave of difference phase and amplitude is only 50% for the computational class and the analytical class is up to 20%.