1. I need to develop better visualization skills. Perhaps learning to communicate by drawing alone is a good way to do this. 'The back of the Napkin' is also a good place to start. I should try to implement this whenever I am explaining something to someone. Eg. draw a map to give directions.
2. I need to communicate what is in may head more clearly, perhaps by thinking more about what i am about to say and how I am going to say it.
3.learn another language or become better at a language I know. People are more receptive when they hear familiar sounds.
All of these i guess can be done realistically by the end of semester. Except 3. that requires more time.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Missing Basics...
As I see it, what David E. Goldberg is suggesting with the concept(s) of the missing basics is analogous to a public transport system, or indeed the buses on which we students depend to get around. Essentially the goal is to get to point B from point A, and logically the only requirement is to know how to drive the bus (assuming we are taking a bus). However, a the transport system is just that, a system, it consists of much more than just the bus drivers and it would be nothing without the support system, in our case the missing basics, of those who communicate the relevant information to the public or those who maintain vehicles or those who figure out the routes and scheduling. Therefore, while the basics of math, science etc. are essential tools in an engineer's arsenal, the missing basics are required to implement and use these tools successfully. This makes communication skills, design and visualization skills and people skills as important as knowing how to solve differential equations.
A simple example:
An engineer is assigned to bridge the gap of a river to connect two parts of a city:
1. Socrates 101-Inability to ask the right questions.
If the engineer cannot figure out what are the specific needs of those for whom the problem is being solved, they probably will not be happy with the solution. Hence the need to ask the right questions.
2. Aristotle 101- Inability to label and identify patterns.
It is possible that many people will want many things from the solution the engineer comes up with and the engineer will receive a lot of data. Labeling and identifying patters will sort though the data and decide on a course of action.
3. Hume 101- Inability to conceptually model and develop causal chains or lists.
"Begin with the end in mind". The engineer will need to figure out what to do and when. Some actions will have prerequisites and there will be conflicts. Modeling will help to develop a process or flowchart which can be used as steps to solving the problem.
4. Descartes 101- Inability to decompose the problem in order to tackle large complex problems.
Building a bridge or tunnel or teleportation device is a not problem. It is a set of many problems, many of which will have sub-problems that need to be solved. The task cannot be treated monolithically as there is too much to deal with. Decomposition is necessary.
5. Locke or Bacon 101- Inability to measure or query the real world, turning to theoretical formulas and not experimentation.
Without experimentation, a lot can go wrong. Formulas and theories do not account for local situations or idiosyncrasies. Experimentation allows for detail and a solution that is well suited to its problem.
6. Da Vinci 101- Inability to visualize or use visual thinking to show ideas more clearly.
Visualization as I see it is part of decomposing the problem. An equation may not show how exactly the bridge pier will be attached to the span.
7. Newman 101- Inability to communicate and present ideas and writing to those who are not engineers or even other engineers.
The project is probably funded by some people who are not engineers. They won't pay for it if they don't understand what is going on and what they are paying for.
I have tried to demonstrate a case where each of the missing basics is essential to being not just an engineer, but an effective, efficient engineer who is dynamic and adaptable enough to handle a new and ever-changing world of problems. As I see it that is why the missing basics would be so unavoidably crucial to a modern engineer.
A simple example:
An engineer is assigned to bridge the gap of a river to connect two parts of a city:
1. Socrates 101-Inability to ask the right questions.
If the engineer cannot figure out what are the specific needs of those for whom the problem is being solved, they probably will not be happy with the solution. Hence the need to ask the right questions.
2. Aristotle 101- Inability to label and identify patterns.
It is possible that many people will want many things from the solution the engineer comes up with and the engineer will receive a lot of data. Labeling and identifying patters will sort though the data and decide on a course of action.
3. Hume 101- Inability to conceptually model and develop causal chains or lists.
"Begin with the end in mind". The engineer will need to figure out what to do and when. Some actions will have prerequisites and there will be conflicts. Modeling will help to develop a process or flowchart which can be used as steps to solving the problem.
4. Descartes 101- Inability to decompose the problem in order to tackle large complex problems.
Building a bridge or tunnel or teleportation device is a not problem. It is a set of many problems, many of which will have sub-problems that need to be solved. The task cannot be treated monolithically as there is too much to deal with. Decomposition is necessary.
5. Locke or Bacon 101- Inability to measure or query the real world, turning to theoretical formulas and not experimentation.
Without experimentation, a lot can go wrong. Formulas and theories do not account for local situations or idiosyncrasies. Experimentation allows for detail and a solution that is well suited to its problem.
6. Da Vinci 101- Inability to visualize or use visual thinking to show ideas more clearly.
Visualization as I see it is part of decomposing the problem. An equation may not show how exactly the bridge pier will be attached to the span.
7. Newman 101- Inability to communicate and present ideas and writing to those who are not engineers or even other engineers.
The project is probably funded by some people who are not engineers. They won't pay for it if they don't understand what is going on and what they are paying for.
I have tried to demonstrate a case where each of the missing basics is essential to being not just an engineer, but an effective, efficient engineer who is dynamic and adaptable enough to handle a new and ever-changing world of problems. As I see it that is why the missing basics would be so unavoidably crucial to a modern engineer.
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