Reaction to the Missing Basics and setting future goals
My initial reaction to the missing basics were that they should be skills most people have, or develop over time. I guess this is the reason that they are missing quite often, because it is presumed that they are present. In the event the missing basics are in fact absent from someone's skill set, I believe that they should be learned as soon as possible. They are integral to being an efficient engineer. Not just that, but many of them can be used by anyone to simply be more effective at working through problems in every day life.
Over this semester I know for a fact that I will need to work on increasing my level of focus and dedication in order to get more work done, practice on using my time effectively, and learn to recognize when to relax and take a step back from everything.
College will be (and already is) much more different than high school in terms of work and class organization. Because of this I will need to alter my method of studying to be more focused outside of class, as well as being able to dedicate more time for work. In order to do this, I will simply make sure that I do work as it is given to me, and not just set it aside, assuming I have time to do it later. That time that I plan on may very well be necessary for another course, and it will no longer be possible to use it as originally intended. So long as I continue to look at what is in front of me and not too far ahead, I will be able to maintain and improve my focus and dedication.
Planning out what to do with available time can often be more difficult then it sounds. For most it is an acquired skill, but for few others it comes natural. Personally I must acquire the skill through practice. Using time between and after classes will be a necessity in days to come, even years following college. To do this effectively, I must analyze where I have time in my schedule, and plan on what to do with it. There isn't really a long thought out process to doing it either. Just doing it will become a habit, so long as it is done well. Creating that habit through practice will be one of my main goals.
And last but not least... Knowing when to take a step back. There may be many reasons for this. Needing a third person point of view at things in order to analyze your life better, or even just to take a break from all the work. This may even be one of the most difficult goals I have set. It is difficult to plan for, because you don't know when it may need to happen. Just recognizing the need when it comes will be the biggest factor. If I can learn to recognize when I am stuck on something and need another point of view, or simply overworked, then I am one step closer to success.
I suppose that my 'due date' for all of these things will be by the end of the semester, but the sooner these skills are developed the better. In my opinion, they are all incredibly useful for working towards success, if used well anyway.
I agree with what you said about people presuming Missing Basics are just present in everyone. This is a problem because the people who don't have one or more of them often tend to be looked over and end up never learning them.
ReplyDeleteTaking a step back is a good goal; I wish I had thought of it for this post. I often feel overworked. I've even felt this way in the short time I've been here. Taking a break from all the work is a good thing, a great feeling; it's even one of the reasons I'm posting this so close to the deadline!
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the missing basics are essential for engineers, but also for other people in every day life. I think some of the Missing Basics can develop over time as well, especially those that are innate. If someone innately has the skill to communicate, that skill will grow much larger and faster as compared to a a skill that is completely missing. And if someone is missing a skill, I think it would be very difficult to teach that skill. You bring up a good point that it is important to teach the Missing Basics as soon as possible because it is much easier for children to learn to acquire a skill then an adult.
As for your goals, I definitely have a few in common. I can directly relate to your first goal that concerns a huge difference between the organization in high school and in college. I am taking a similar step in that I try to get the homework done like it is due the next day even though it may not be due for a week. I think this is good practice in keeping organized to prevent one's self from becoming overwhelmed; for example, when he or she realizes he or she has to complete five days worth of math homework in one night. Like Zach, I also wished I had thought about your third goal before I completed my post because I think that goal is extremely important and beneficial. I often stress myself out about school and my workload, but stepping back will definitely ease the stress. Thanks for the advice :)
See you in class,
Savannah Goodman
Hey Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your introduction. At first I thought the missing basics were really stupid, but as you think about it, some of them really may be missing from our skill sets. And you're right, they should be learned (or practiced as you say later) as early as possible.
I think a lot of us are struggling with the first skill you identify. Adapting to the college environment and education style is going to take some time, but it definitely need special attention. I hope your plan to do work as it is assigned is going well for you (I struggle a lot with procrastination). Your second skill is definitely harder to describe and track progress for. I would suggest writing down a basic schedule for yourself everyday. Then available time may be less unexpected. Your final goal is SO IMPORTANT, I can't believe I forgot about it. So often (especially for engineers) the little problems become big and we cannot separate ourselves. When this happens to me I play stupid games on the computer or watch dumb sitcoms. (The Simpsons is great for this purpose). This can help clear your mind and make the problems easier when you attempt to solve them again. I hope this helps!
Karen Lamb
Brandon...
ReplyDeleteI agree that many people are wrong in assuming that these missing basics are just going to be developed over time. Skills like communication, along with some of the other basics, may be second nature to some, but to some they are unnatural. This is why I believe this class to be important for incoming engineers. I think that with the skills we will have learned in this class by the end of the semester, we will be well on our way to becoming more than just good engineers, we will also become good workers. Skills like time management and social skills are essential whether you are doing engineering, or business, or something completely different. These skills are necessary to become a good, hard-working individual, and I think that it is essential to begin learning these essential skills early on in our college career.
Peter