Eeks. Guess it's been a few weeks. This seems to be the longest, yet busiest time of year. Long, in that the cold weather is just getting a little old and busy in that there seems to be lots and lots going on.
Last Thursday we hosted our annual JETS test at ICC. JETS is the Junior Engineering Technical Society and they sponsor a national engineering test competition for high school students. We had 170+ students from GR, NK, DR, HC, Hibbing, and Mesabi East. They took a 90 minute multiple choice test on the engineering of amusement parks in the morning, then did the West Point Bridge design contest at lunch, followed by an open format 90 minute test in the afternoon (think PE afternoon test - it is just like it!). I was proud that my boy and his team-mates from Hill City took home a first place trophy.
Last Saturday I was fortunate enough to attend Todd B's wedding in Chisholm. It was a great event and kind of like old home week. There are five members of the family that I taught and there were 9 more alum in attendance. To top it off I was able to bring Baby E to show off!
Most of my work time this past two weeks has been spent gaining industry support for the engineering academy. The support has been overwhelming. There could be an approval this coming week for funding for a 3 year startup!! Stay tuned.....
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field
Here is an exerpt from a recently published book that I have been reading.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: Preparation for the Professions
Sherri D Sheppard
Kelly Macatangay
Anne Colby
William M. Sullivan
Copyright 2009
Conclusion of the Introduction Page xxiv
"Ultimately, however, our goal is more ambitious than prompting reflection or incremental improvement. Our goal is action, for we believe that incremental improvement will lead only to a more optimized linear model of education that will, if not at the moment of its redesign, quickly thereafter become "overstuffed". To accomplish this task, we need to undertake what Vincenti (1990) termed "radical" design and develop a new approach to undergraduate engineering education, the core of which is professional engineering practice, not historical tradition. Both the learning sciences and our sister profession, medicine, offer much to draw from.
The redesign, as one of its requirements, should have continuous revitalization and rejuvenation. Thus, through this book, we extend a challenge to the engineering community: Reflect, assess, debate, design, and prototype a truly networked engineering education, one that engages both student and teacher in learning in context. Engage as colleagues and make redesign of engineering education a national undertaking for the next five years. Redesign engineering education to prepare the new-century engineers that today's problems demand."
Hmmm.... prototype. I have an idea for such a prototype.....
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: Preparation for the Professions
Sherri D Sheppard
Kelly Macatangay
Anne Colby
William M. Sullivan
Copyright 2009
Conclusion of the Introduction Page xxiv
"Ultimately, however, our goal is more ambitious than prompting reflection or incremental improvement. Our goal is action, for we believe that incremental improvement will lead only to a more optimized linear model of education that will, if not at the moment of its redesign, quickly thereafter become "overstuffed". To accomplish this task, we need to undertake what Vincenti (1990) termed "radical" design and develop a new approach to undergraduate engineering education, the core of which is professional engineering practice, not historical tradition. Both the learning sciences and our sister profession, medicine, offer much to draw from.
The redesign, as one of its requirements, should have continuous revitalization and rejuvenation. Thus, through this book, we extend a challenge to the engineering community: Reflect, assess, debate, design, and prototype a truly networked engineering education, one that engages both student and teacher in learning in context. Engage as colleagues and make redesign of engineering education a national undertaking for the next five years. Redesign engineering education to prepare the new-century engineers that today's problems demand."
Hmmm.... prototype. I have an idea for such a prototype.....
Monday, February 16, 2009
Made it to 43
You may recall my plan to do at least 43 days of cardio for each of the first 43 days of the year. Well, last Thursday was the 43rd day. I made it... mostly, there were a couple of times (2 or 3) where I had to borrow minutes forward or back a day and there were lots of days where the snowshoeing or skiing lasted up to two hours. I feel good. They say it takes 6 weeks to establish a habit. At this moment I am on the treadmill heading to 43 minutes again. This much cardio should be a daily habit for life. That's my goal.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
It seems February should be a "down" time of year. After the holidays, before the spring thaw. But it just isn't so. Lots and lots of things going on.
February is a long month for basketball coaches and players. Tempers tend to run short, the season tends to be drawn out, and players/parents/coaches tend to lose their cool. I counted, and this is my 31st basketball season! YOW - must be getting old. Anyhow, we are fortunately surviving this February. Our team is won 8 of last 10. Winning cures many ills.
The ICC Engineering students are rolling along on a high note. There are a lot of interesting activities going on. Today the crew cancelled classes and headed to Giants Ridge for skiing. Bart and I went to Effie to look at a 40 acre plot we would like to acquire for engineering student camping. Next week we have some more engineering mentors coming up from the Twin Cities to share their careers with us. And next week we have our annual etiquette dinner.
My life has been kept quite busy with the potential emergence of the Iron Range Engineering Academy. There is a real chance that the 3rd and 4th year of engineering could be taught in a most transformational way this coming fall... Stay tuned.
Most importantly, my new little buddy, Ethan is coming to visit on Saturday. Talk about a Valentine's present!!
TBL: I hope you are maintaining a good equilibrium through your February.
February is a long month for basketball coaches and players. Tempers tend to run short, the season tends to be drawn out, and players/parents/coaches tend to lose their cool. I counted, and this is my 31st basketball season! YOW - must be getting old. Anyhow, we are fortunately surviving this February. Our team is won 8 of last 10. Winning cures many ills.
The ICC Engineering students are rolling along on a high note. There are a lot of interesting activities going on. Today the crew cancelled classes and headed to Giants Ridge for skiing. Bart and I went to Effie to look at a 40 acre plot we would like to acquire for engineering student camping. Next week we have some more engineering mentors coming up from the Twin Cities to share their careers with us. And next week we have our annual etiquette dinner.
My life has been kept quite busy with the potential emergence of the Iron Range Engineering Academy. There is a real chance that the 3rd and 4th year of engineering could be taught in a most transformational way this coming fall... Stay tuned.
Most importantly, my new little buddy, Ethan is coming to visit on Saturday. Talk about a Valentine's present!!
TBL: I hope you are maintaining a good equilibrium through your February.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
25 Random Things About Me
I just did this thing that has been going around facebook called 25 Random Things About Me. Here was my list:
1. I am writing this list while walking on a treadmill.
2. My favorite beer is Lienenkugel's "Fireside Nut Brown"
3. I have my own blog... and some people actually read it.
4. I believe IT Services provide less and less service every day.
5. In 22 years on Navy duty I spent fewer than 10 days at sea.
6. I love mushrooms.
7. I read more hours in a year than my wife, though she reads over 100 books per year, and I read only 50.
8.Despite being a college teacher, I believe more than 90% of all time spent in college classes is a colossal waste of time.
9. I once bench pressed 297.5 pounds.
10. Despite this amazing upperbody strength, my wife and son can both out kayak me.
11. I have played basketball 2-5 times per week every week for the past 14 years.
12. Since writing the word colossal in number 8, its spelling has bothered me, so I went to Word to do a spell check.
13. My grandson's birth weight was twice what mine was.
14. In college I refused to take any class before 9 AM.
15. Right now I am teaching a 7 AM class... and love it.
16. The person in this world who I respect the most isn't even yet 18 years old.
17. I would consider being a vegetarian.
18. My favorite time of year is deer season.
19. .... and maple syrup season.
20. If I had my way, after death I would be cremated and have my ashes spread at five diffrerent locations.
21. My son-in-law is smarter than I am... by a lot.
22. So is my father-in-law...but I wouldn't tell him that.
23. My ideal winter day is: sleep in, make a big breakfast for Ronnie and Katy, lay on the couch and read, go snowshoeing with my dogs, eat Sammy's pizza for supper, drink a beer, and watch NCIS with Angie.
24. I think texting is the best way to keep touch with my students.
25. Typing this list on the treadmill took 33 minutes and 49 seconds.
TBL - It made the 43 minute walk go a lot faster.
1. I am writing this list while walking on a treadmill.
2. My favorite beer is Lienenkugel's "Fireside Nut Brown"
3. I have my own blog... and some people actually read it.
4. I believe IT Services provide less and less service every day.
5. In 22 years on Navy duty I spent fewer than 10 days at sea.
6. I love mushrooms.
7. I read more hours in a year than my wife, though she reads over 100 books per year, and I read only 50.
8.Despite being a college teacher, I believe more than 90% of all time spent in college classes is a colossal waste of time.
9. I once bench pressed 297.5 pounds.
10. Despite this amazing upperbody strength, my wife and son can both out kayak me.
11. I have played basketball 2-5 times per week every week for the past 14 years.
12. Since writing the word colossal in number 8, its spelling has bothered me, so I went to Word to do a spell check.
13. My grandson's birth weight was twice what mine was.
14. In college I refused to take any class before 9 AM.
15. Right now I am teaching a 7 AM class... and love it.
16. The person in this world who I respect the most isn't even yet 18 years old.
17. I would consider being a vegetarian.
18. My favorite time of year is deer season.
19. .... and maple syrup season.
20. If I had my way, after death I would be cremated and have my ashes spread at five diffrerent locations.
21. My son-in-law is smarter than I am... by a lot.
22. So is my father-in-law...but I wouldn't tell him that.
23. My ideal winter day is: sleep in, make a big breakfast for Ronnie and Katy, lay on the couch and read, go snowshoeing with my dogs, eat Sammy's pizza for supper, drink a beer, and watch NCIS with Angie.
24. I think texting is the best way to keep touch with my students.
25. Typing this list on the treadmill took 33 minutes and 49 seconds.
TBL - It made the 43 minute walk go a lot faster.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
How Easy it is to Succeed
Success in any task can sometimes be quite easy. I recall a few years ago being a reader in Washington DC for a grant project. We would read each 15 page grant and then grade them against a scoring guide. It was absolutely amazing how few of the grant applications actually followed the guidelines for what was supposed to be included. Those that simply followed the guidelines always scored right at the top.
I am teaching thermodynamics each day at 7 AM (yes that does say seven in the morning). Out of the first 12 days, the homework for four of the nights has been to create a document that "completely describes a Rankine cycle". After few days of doing this, the students created a scoring table listing the 11 categories that should be included and what would need to be included to earn a score of 2 or 4 or 6 or 8 or 10 in that category. I adjusted the table a little bit and handed it out. This document could be called the "guideline for what I need to do to get an A". On last Friday I said "next week I will collect your Rankine papers and I will score them against the scoring guide". And so I did. The average score was in the 50's out of 110. It was absolutely amazing how many people completely skipped many of the categories and did poorly on the others.
Well maybe not so totally amazing, my students exhibited the same characteristics as the university professors who submitted those grants.
All but two of the students that is. Two of them turned in documents which, AMAZINGLY, simply followed the guidelines.
TBL - The road to success in preparing written work like proposals, grants, etc. can be as simple as closely following the published guidelines.
I am teaching thermodynamics each day at 7 AM (yes that does say seven in the morning). Out of the first 12 days, the homework for four of the nights has been to create a document that "completely describes a Rankine cycle". After few days of doing this, the students created a scoring table listing the 11 categories that should be included and what would need to be included to earn a score of 2 or 4 or 6 or 8 or 10 in that category. I adjusted the table a little bit and handed it out. This document could be called the "guideline for what I need to do to get an A". On last Friday I said "next week I will collect your Rankine papers and I will score them against the scoring guide". And so I did. The average score was in the 50's out of 110. It was absolutely amazing how many people completely skipped many of the categories and did poorly on the others.
Well maybe not so totally amazing, my students exhibited the same characteristics as the university professors who submitted those grants.
All but two of the students that is. Two of them turned in documents which, AMAZINGLY, simply followed the guidelines.
TBL - The road to success in preparing written work like proposals, grants, etc. can be as simple as closely following the published guidelines.
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