KEYS TO SUCCESS IN ENGINEERING STUDY

KEYS TO SUCCESS IN ENGINEERING STUDY

Lecture 3MHA,2015,AAiT1Outline What Is "Success? Keys to Success in EngineeringStudy, Models for Viewing Your Education, Structure Your Life Situation.

MHA,2015,AAiT22You can do it!Look to your right, look to your left, two of the three of you wont be here at graduation It doesnt surprise me that engineering deans and professors say such upsetting things to students . They think that by scaring students about engineering studies , the students will be motivated to succeed. It is upsetting because the dean tried to frighten them at a time when they were unsure of themselves and easily intimidated. MHA,2015,AAiT3You can do it!Each and everyone of you can be successful in graduating with bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering. How can I make such a bold statement , without any specific information about your background or your ability? I will tell you how!!!MHA,2015,AAiT4Poorly prepared students have succeeded

I know students with very poor preparation and limited abilityStudents who had to take Applied Math I three times before making a passing grade Student who failed Engineering Mechanics and had to repeat itAnd then took Engineering Dynamics and made a D and had to repeat it Some of these students took more than nine years of a full time study to complete their engineering degreeHe is now a successful professional engineer and a respected member of his communityMHA,2015,AAiT5Highly qualified students have failedI also worked with students who had all the preparation in the world Student who had gone to the best high schools and had excelled in their advanced math and science coursesYet they did not succeed in engineering studySome flunked outSome just dropped outA few of those students have deep regret for not sticking it outIt saddens me to hear they are working in unrewarding jobs for minimum salaries and would like to come back to school, but circumstances of their lives prevent them form having a second chance MHA,2015,AAiT6What makes the difference?Success in engineering study is not unlike anything you have attempted or will attempt. Achieving success is a process and each step in the process can be learningI would encourage you to make a commitment to become and expert on success It is something that you can do and the payoff will be enormous. MHA,2015,AAiT7What makes the difference?Lots of resources are available to help youYou can learn from others , from reading books from listening audiotapes , and form attending short courses and workshopsMake learning about success one of your hobbies. If you work at it, your capacity to be successful will expand and grow throughout your life. You might even surprise yourself at what you can achieve and who knows maybe someday your will write a book on success for others

MHA,2015,AAiT8What is success?I assume that you want to be successful! But just wanting to be successful is not enoughEveryone wants to be successfulWhat is success Most common answers includeSuccess is being happy Success is making moneySuccess is having control over your lifeThe right answer is Success is the achievement of goals MHA,2015,AAiT9What is success?Webster's dictionary says essentially the same thing! Success is the achievement of something desired, planned , or attemptedThe point is unless you have something desired, planned or attempted there can be no success!MHA,2015,AAiT10Success Unfortunately many students lack a clear goal and commitment to that goal necessary for successThe top two reasons why students do not succeed in university are:Lack of intention students do not have a clear educational and/or career goal Lack of commitment-students do not have the motivation and drive to work toward attaining their educational/career goalMHA,2015,AAiT11Success Identifying a clear goal and developing a strong commitment to that goal are the essential first two steps in the process of achieving success.MHA,2015,AAiT12Goal settingHow can you ever expect to get somewhere if you dont know where you want to go?Having specific idea of what you want to accomplish in both the short and long term is a key requirement to becoming an effective student and a successful professional. Only when you set goals will you have something to strive for and something against which to measure yourself MHA,2015,AAiT13Goals give your life direction! I am sure you were asked many times during your childhood, what do you want to be when you grow up? If you dont know the answer a bit of frustration will be felt They were trying to help you They were alerting you the importance of setting directions for your lifeDoing so may not be easy, but the payoff is definitely worth the effort, as the stories of many successful people indicateMHA,2015,AAiT14Write down your goals Right now your primary goal should be to graduate with your degree in BMEBut what else do you like to accomplish?Become a president of your own company?Make a million dollars?Become a collage professor ?Become CEO of some huge company?MHA,2015,AAiT15GoalsAnd what about your immediate goals?May be you want to make a 3.5 GPA next semesterImprove you writing skillsBecome president of one of the engineering students organizationsLand a part-time jobMHA,2015,AAiT16Goals Short term Intermediate term Long term Consider what you want to accomplish in the next week, in the next month, in the next year, in the next five years, Review and update these lists regularlyMHA,2015,AAiT17Strengthening your commitment Why did you choose biomedical engineering as your major? Because your were good in math and scienceOne of you high school teachers recommended May be you are doing it to please your parents Because you dont know what else to doMay be it is related with what you are working on right nowAny other subjective reason It is likely that you dont know a great deal about engineering, few students do..MHA,2015,AAiT18Motivation and commitment Regardless of your reasons for being here, it is critically important that you develop a strong motivation to succeed. Engineering is a demanding field of study Specially biomedical engineering is more demandingEven a student with excellent preparation and strong ability will not succeed without a high level of commitment MHA,2015,AAiT19Strategies for full commitment There are at least three practical strategies you can use to strengthen your commitment to success in engineering study Clarifying your goals Learning as much as you can about biomedical engineering Developing a road map

MHA,2015,AAiT20 Clarifying your goals It means answering such question as Why do I want to achieve the goal ?What will it mean to the quality of my life if I am successful in accomplishing the goal?Clarifying your goals helps you understand their value to you personally MHA,2015,AAiT21Learning as much as you can about engineeringLearning about biomedical engineering is a lifelong process, but it should begin now. Take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself:Internet Attend seminars Field trips to industry Become an active member of the professional engineering society Talk to professors Read biographies of successful engineers Summer job in industryPart time jobs

MHA,2015,AAiT22Prepare a road mapIn 5th grade algebra-trigonometry-calculusTaking lots of little steps each one building on the previous stepsIn BME-Applied I-Applied II-Applied III-Junior Engineering courses-Senior Engineering Courses-Practical Attachment Senior Essay Progressing through the engineering curriculum is just an extension of what you have already demonstrated you can do in grade level education

MHA,2015,AAiT23Dont let adversity stop youPeople who succeed are people who when they get knocked down by some adversity, they get up ; whereas people who fail are people who when they get knocked down, they stay downMHA,2015,AAiT24Adversity The most likely reason you will fail to graduate is that you will encounter some adversity and give up:you will have difficulty with a course or with a professor and give up you will have a personal problem Relationship problem Health problem Financial problem Job interferenceFamily issues Any other personal problemWhatever adversity you are bound to experience, you will be tempted to use it as an excuse or justification for quittingDont! MHA,2015,AAiT25Determination Determination means having an unwavering commitment to your goal- the goal of graduating in biomedical engineeringYou must be determined to persist, particularly in the face of adversityLearning to overcome adversity as a student will also benefit you during your professional career.MHA,2015,AAiT269 Commandments for the EntrepreneurThe first four commandments for the Entrepreneur and be applied for engineering studyYou must be willing to risk failure Your must passionately hate failure Persistence is a necessary, just as is the willingness to acknowledge defeat and to move on A measure of your potential to succeed is how you handle adversityMHA,2015,AAiT27Believe in yourself If you are determined to graduating in engineering , if you persist even in the face of adversity, if you take the view that you will not allow anything to stop you, the chances are very good that you will succeedBelieve in yourself , you can do it!MHA,2015,AAiT28Keys to Success in Engineering StudySetting a goal and making it important to you are only the first steps The real challenge remains- achieving the goalThe three keys to success in engineering studyEffort-work hard Approach-Work SmartAttitude-Think Positively

MHA,2015,AAiT29Effort-work hard

The belief that some people have it and some dont is a self defeating belief.It provides you with a rationale to accept personal failures If you think you dont have as much ability as others, you may as well give up. After all if success is related to some natural quality that you have no control over, then it doesnt mater what you doMHA,2015,AAiT30Effort People succeed because of their effort is empowering and because the amount of effort you put in is in your direct control You can choose to put in more effort and in doing so significantly affect your successMHA,2015,AAiT31Ability vs effort Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration!! MHA,2015,AAiT32Effort is both time and energy Poor academic performance can usually be traced to insufficient effort How well you perform will depend on how much effort you put in!

MHA,2015,AAiT33Approach-work smartYou should work not only hard but smartWorking smart means that you learn to become a master engineering student Chess analogy Learn the based objectives rule and moves But requires much more Read books , take a lesson , watch experts playEngineering study is the same as learning how to play chess like a pro

MHA,2015,AAiT34Becoming a master student Of course , this is easier said than done, because many other factors are involved . But by approaching your engineering studies in this light the game of becoming a master student and ultimately earning your engineering degree becomes less dauntingMHA,2015,AAiT35Discussion points How much study time is required and how can you organize that study time for maximum effectiveness ?What are the advantages of spending more time on campus and immersing yourself in the academic environment of the institution?What resources does being on campus allow you to access and how do you go about making optimal use of those resources?MHA,2015,AAiT36Discussion points What are the educational benefits of participation in extracurricular activities and student organizations? How can you develop your organizational and leadership skills through that participation? MHA,2015,AAiT37Interaction with faculty What can your professors offer you in addition to formal instruction? What approaches are effective in developing positive relationships with your professors?MHA,2015,AAiT38peersWhat benefits will come to you from building academic relationships with other students? How can you best use your peers for the purposes of sharing information and engaging in collaborative learning and group study?MHA,2015,AAiT39Attitude-think positivelyAre you a positive person?Are you a negative person ?Are you aware of the role attitude plays in your success?Positive attitudes produce positive results. Negative attitudes produce negative results. MHA,2015,AAiT40Negative attitudes that produce negative results Weak commitment for the goal of graduating in engineering Unrealistic view of what is expected so succeed in engineering studies Low self confidence Lack of self worthExternal locus of control-adoptive a victim role Unwillingness to seek help Resistance to change MHA,2015,AAiT41More negative attitudes Tendency to procrastinate Avoidance of areas of weakness or perceived unpleasantness Reluctance to study with other students Negative view toward authority figures MHA,2015,AAiT42Purpose of your education One of the most positive and unique aspects of your college experience is that you are working for yourself to prepare yourself for your future No deposit , no return!! Whenever you make a conscious choice to avoid learning, growing, or developing, you are not getting away with something- you are working against yourself!!!!!!!!!!MHA,2015,AAiT43Enhancing the quality of your EducationWhat is the purpose of my education?What should I know when I graduate?How do I know if I am getting an excellent education?How can I enhance the quality of my education?Will I have the knowledge and skills to get a job?MHA,2015,AAiT44Models Attributes modelEmployment modelStudent involvement model Ask yourself on a scale of 0 to 10: how would I rate myself on this item? In areas you feel you are strong , just keep doing what you have been doing.In areas you need to improve , map out a plan to strengthen these areas MHA,2015,AAiT45Attributes model In todays tight fiscal climate, universities are being held more accountable for their productivity Institution are being asked to establish educational objectives and student outcomes and to show that these objectives and outcomes are being met.Severe Accreditation processMHA,2015,AAiT46Attributes model Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics science and engineering An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data An ability to design a system , component or process to meet desired needs An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams An ability to identify formulate and solve engineering problems

MHA,2015,AAiT47Attributes modelAn understanding of professional and ethnical responsibility An ability to communicate effectively A broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context A recognition of the need for and ability to engage in life long learning A knowledge of contemporary issues An ability to use the techniques skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice MHA,2015,AAiT48Employment model One of the major reasons why you chose engineering is the availability of jobs What characteristics are important to employers and work to develop yourself in these areas Top six factors are:MHA,2015,AAiT49Employment modelPersonal qualification including maturity, initiative, enthusiasm, poise, appearance and the ability to work with peopleScholastic qualifications as shown by grades in all subjects or in major field Specialized courses relating to a particular field of workAbility to communicate effectively, both orally and in writingHands on Experience: Kind and amount of employment while in college Experience in campus activities , especially participation and leadership in extracurricular lifeMHA,2015,AAiT50Student involvement model The amount of physical and psychological energy that the student devotes to the academic experienceFive pillarsTime and energy devoted to studying Time spent on campus Participation in student organizations Interaction with faculty members Interaction with other students

MHA,2015,AAiT51Involved studentA highly involved student is one who devotes considerable energy to studying, spends a lot of time on campus, participates actively in students organizations, and interacts frequently with faculty members and other students MHA,2015,AAiT52Uninvolved student An uninvolved student may neglect studies, spend little time on campus, abstain from extracurricular activities and have little contact with faculty members or other studentsMHA,2015,AAiT53Involvement is up on youThe quality of education you get will depend primarily on the approach you take to your studiesChose to devote more time and energy to your studies , to spend more time on campus and to become active in student organizations.Choose to interact more with your professors and to become more involved with other students In doing so you will greatly enhance the quality of your educationMHA,2015,AAiT54