To me, the concept of missing basics seems like a super-sized lesson in kindergarten. First let us begin with a list of a few of the missing basics:
Asking questions
Labeling technology and design challenges
Decomposing design problems
Communicating solutions in written and oral form
Firstly, we all learned in kindergarten how to raise our hand nicely to ask a question. Here in engineering 198, I expect that we will learn not how to raise our hand, but learn how to ask the question. Back in kindergarten, the teachers showed us how to use the shiny new computers and play games like Oregon Trail. Here in class we’ll learn to use computers to our advantage to help our cause as engineers. In grade school, the only design problems we had to face were whether to use finger paint or crayons for our art project. Now that we’re all grown up, we know that finger paint or crayons was just one part of a bigger problem. And communication in written and oral form, we knew as show and tell. Now we are here to show our talents and tell our specific point of view.
Three of my skills that I want to develop this semester are my people skills, my study habits, and my outgoingness. I don’t really consider myself a social butterfly, but I would like to try to make new people now that I’ve come to college. I would like to introduce myself to at least ten new people by the end of this week. I would also like to give myself at least 2 hours dedicated to homework and reading. And lastly I would like to join at least 3 clubs this semester.
Three of my skills that I want to develop this semester are my people skills, my study habits, and my outgoingness. I don’t really consider myself a social butterfly, but I would like to try to make new people now that I’ve come to college. I would like to introduce myself to at least ten new people by the end of this week. I would also like to give myself at least 2 hours dedicated to homework and reading. And lastly I would like to join at least 3 clubs this semester.
I really like the way you compared the missing basics to a kindergarten lesson. I have to say I agree but I hadn't really though nearly as much how they compare and build off of those simple lessons from back in kindergarten. You did a great job relating the missing basics to kindergarten and the skill we learned then.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to not being the most outgoing person and is one of the things I wish to improve on as well. I also have to say I hope your 2 hours dedicated to homework is about 2 hours a day. I don't know how much homework you have been given, but I know I have been having to spend at least 2 to 3 hours a day on homework often a bit more. I have found that doing the homework the day you get it often helps because it is fresh in your mind and then it doesn't pile up day after day.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting comparison with this class and kindergarten. This class is like advanced kindergarten except we didnt have to write blogs in kindergarten. You bring up labeling design problems that is interestin because I have not heard anyone else bring it up yet. Finding your problems is the first step in being able to fix them. I think 2-3 hours a day of homework is a little much. But you could be taking harder classes than me or something.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson of the missing basics is sorta like kindergarten isn't it. It might be a good thing though, as social skills are mostly left to develop themselves after the initial years of public education. Besides the occasional public speech, people mostly learn social skills by themselves. Engineers need a particular type of skills, however, as we need to talk about niche subjects with specific ideas. Also, we need to have the ability to break down our ideas for anybody, such as managers, customers, and other project teams.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, college is a fantastic place for this as everybody is in mostly the same boat, where nobody really has any substantial group of friends initially.
I found it very amusing how you took a backwards step and examined the process in which our educational system has attempted to teach students the missing basics. You bring up a good point and it is interesting to see that in kindergarten and lower levels of education, the educational system we have been placed in teaches youngsters the missing basics in an attempt to adapt them to the school atmosphere where they must get along with and learn from the children around them. It seems this is the only point in our educational structure where communication skills are stressed almost above academics themselves. Children are taught how to read and write but talking to others, playing with friends during recess, and activities such as show and tell are at the forefront. I think this class is geared towards bringing that curiosity and communication into higher education because somewhere in between it was checked off from the list and forgotten about. I think you have thought of some great ways to begin networking and working with people around you. Great job!
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