Keys to Success in Engineering Study Chapter 1 Keys to Success in Engineering Study

First things first… Every one of you can be successful in graduating with your Bachelor of Science degree in engineering Every one of you can be successful in graduating with your Bachelor of Science degree in engineering

You Can Do It! But,… Poorly prepared students have succeeded Highly qualified students have failed Why?

Be Aware of the Transition This explains why highly qualified students have failed – with only in-class learning one achieves only 20% in college, compared to 80% in high school Poorly prepared students have succeeded – they changed their attitudes and behavior to become successful engineering students This explains why highly qualified students have failed – with only in-class learning one achieves only 20% in college, compared to 80% in high school Poorly prepared students have succeeded – they changed their attitudes and behavior to become successful engineering students

What is Success? Success is the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted Unless there is something you desire, plan and attempt, there is no success Unless there is something you desire, plan and attempt, there is no success

Goal Setting How can you ever expect to get somewhere if you don’t know where you want to go? Goals give you something to measure yourself against Goals give your life direction

To become a successful engineering student is a process! Identifying a clear goal (graduation in engineering!) and developing a strong commitment to that goal are the essential first steps in the process of achieving success. Project: Design your Process for Becoming a “World-Class” Engineering Student - Talk about project, show handout

Strategies for Strengthening Your Commitment Clarifying your goals Learning as much as you can about engineering Prepare a roadmap Don’t let adversity stop you Increased knowledge will bring increased motivation – be inquisitive about engineering (we’ll talk more about it next week!) You will face adversity-don’t be tempted to use it as an excuse to quit! Learn to say no. A measure of your potential to succeed is how you handle adversity

Learn from Failures You must be willing to risk failure From “Nine Commandments for the Entrepreneur”: You must be willing to risk failure You must passionately hate failure Persistence is a necessity, just as is the willingness to acknowledge defeat and move on Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight! Japanese Proverb

No Deposit, No Return Your education represents a significant deposit you are making in yourself Your return-on-investment will be in direct relation to what you put in Effort Education Return

Effort is both Time and Energy We’ll talk later more about the best use of time, and how much time is sufficient BUT: like biking, the more you train the farther you will go Distance = Rate x Time Completing a task (i.e. traveling a distance) requires that you devote energy or mental power (rate) and spend time on the task. We’ll talk later more about the best use of time, and how much time is sufficient BUT: like biking, the more you train the farther you will go

The Good News Your success in the study of engineering is in your control How well you perform depends on your effort Completing a homework requires to devote adequate time and mental power You can choose to do it or choose not to do it

These are attitudes – sound familiar? I lack confidence in my ability to succeed in engineering study. I have a tendency to sabotage my success. I tend to blame others for my failures. I don’t see any need to change myself or to grow or develop. I’m generally unwilling to seek help from others. I tend to procrastinate, putting off the things I need to do. I tend to avoid doing things that I don’t enjoy. I hate to read I avoid contact with my professors outside the classroom. I prefer to study alone rather than with other students. Ask: Who can identify themselves with at least one of these statements? <click> Ask: Are these positive or negative attitudes? Ask: Who thinks you are in control or that you can change your attitude? Who thinks you are in control or that you can change your attitude?

Positive attitudes produce positive results Positive attitudes produce positive results. Negative attitudes produce negative results. Ask: Do you agree with this statement? Do you agree with this statement?

Keys to Success in Engineering Study Attitude – “Think Positively” Effort – “Work Hard” Approach – “Work Smart” We will talk more about the “Work Smart” approach later in the semester We will talk more about the “Work Smart” approach later in the semester

Group Discussion Exercise Ability vs. Effort Divide into groups of five or six and discuss the following issue: Do you believe that people succeed because of their ability, That some people “have it” while others don’t? Or do you believe that people succeed because of their effort? Which do you think is more important: ability or effort? Why? Select a group leader to keep the discussion on topic and a recorder who will report out for the group. Make sure you note the important conclusions in your notebook. Make a heading: Date: Group Discussion – Ability vs. Effort

Assignment due next Week Read Chapter 2, sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 of the textbook Note your opinions of the sections in your notebook Note questions, issues or perspectives you have/gained Prepare a statement, your statement, to the question: What is engineering? Write this statement in your journal. Homework #1: a) List ten benefits of graduating in engineering. Rank them in order of importance to you b) Graduating with a BS degree in engineering: How important is that goal for you? How can you make it even more important? Homework #1 needs to submitted as doc(x) or pdf file through Canvas (email submissions will not be accepted)