The missing basics are key components of becoming an engineer. Not only must an engineer be able to design and innovate new things, he must also be able to interact with others. An important basic is the ability to ask. I believe the ability to ask a question is important not only during the learning process, but also in the future. Asking for help will be important for me in school now. When I do not understand problems in school now, I will develop the ability to ask a classmate, teaching assistant, professor, or any other resource to help me. This will help prepare me for my future career as an engineer. I will be able to ask my clients what they need for a particular project, and this will enable me to assist him more. I will ask for help in a class at least 5 times a week from 5 different people every week.
Another important basic is the ability to decompose. Taking a problem and breaking it down into individual components is very important. I plan to learn to decompose problems by viewing it from many angles and perspectives. I will try to undertake an issue by trying various approaches. Many problems cannot be solved in one swift move, so I need to gain this ability gradually over time. It is important that I keep an open and creative mind to seek new paths for solutions to several problems. I will try to independently solve a difficult homework problem that I do not understand on my own by breaking it down without assistance by September 25, 2010.
The ability to communicate will be important for my future success. Communicating with others is a pivotal attribute to possess as an engineer. Meeting new people and networking amongst them is needed to find new opportunities. I will improve my communication skills by reaching out to meet new people everyday. My communication skills can become a make or break characteristic when I am an engineer. Making the proper pitch and being a charismatic speaker will help me be a preferred candidate for a project in the future. By working at it each day, I will be able to develop my skills to ask questions, decompose problems, and communicate with others. I will talk with three of my professors by September 4, 2010. From examining the course catalog, it is quite apparent that many of the courses for engineering are based upon math, chemistry, and physics. English requirements are very low in comparison the math and science courses. With iEFX, I will be able to explore the other basics needed in being an engineer, which are left out of the standard engineer curriculum. The missing basics will be essential in my journey to become an engineer.
Good post. In the future though, try and keep in mind your audience as your write, and think more critically about these topics.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you making plans both in the ability to help yourself and in finding help from others. I need to start doing more of the latter of the two, especially for calculus. The networking idea is obvious but very important to keep in mind/ practice.
ReplyDeleteI liked your specificity when addressing your goals: " I will ask for help in a class at least 5 times a week from 5 different people every week." I think a lot of engineers at UIUC have trouble with asking questions because during high school, they were the ones to answer other people's questions about math and science. The only way to break this habit is to force yourself to go out of your way and ask for help.
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