|
Links
Subscribe to Celeste's Blog (receive via email)
Formerly known as the Engineering Education Advocate
Archives
Books by Celeste Baine
|
Engineers Make a Difference: Motivating Students to Pursue an Engineering Education
|
|
Sustainable Energy Engineering Teacher's Guide
|
|
Roller Coaster Engineering Teacher's Guide
|
Teaching Engineering Made Easy: A Friendly Introduction to Engineering Activities for Middle School Teachers
|
The Musical Engineer: A Music Enthusiast's Guide to Engineering and Technology Careers
|
The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrillseeker's Guide to Careers in Theme Park Engineering - Second Edition
|
High Tech Hot Shots: Careers in Sports Engineering
|
Is There an Engineer Inside You?: A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decisions in Engineering |
|
What Inherent Traits Should an Engineer Possess?
Last year at a special engineering event for middle school students, the host told me he only invited the top 10% of the class to participate. At the same event, I overheard in a conversation, "What inherent traits should an engineer possess? Surely some people just can’t do it?”
But why not? Is mathematical ability in our DNA? Are communication and teamwork skills? How about the ability to tinker or draw or fiddle? How dare we, as a community of educators, engineers, and do-gooders, say that some students aren't somehow smart enough, genetically or culturally advantaged enough, or that some just don’t have the ability to invent new technology or have amazing ideas about changing the world for the better.
If I had a dollar for all the times someone told me I shouldn’t waste my time on engineering, that engineering was only for the super smart, or for the times that I felt less than adequate in math or science, I’d have about $50.
We've been culturally conditioned to believe that only one type of person can become an engineer. It's simply not true.
I agree, the challenges are plenty and the cards are unfairly stacked against too many people. There are too many walls, barriers to success, and not enough support (financial or otherwise). But no, a student’s ability to create, invent, concoct, shape, think up, originate, produce and contribute isn't determined at birth. It's a choice.
|
Posted by Celeste Baine on June 16, 2010
Talkback
From Jay - There are good engineers and great engineers. Great ones have a very special trait: TENACITY. They keep going in the face of opposition, back off and take another run when things don't work out the way they anticipate, have reserve strength, honor their beliefs, and advocate for technical truth and fundamentals. They are data users but vision focused, process-oriented but results driven.
Great engineers are also able to explain their logic and technical understanding over a broad range: from rigorous proofs to professional colleagues to abbreviated but sound reports to non-technical management, to short and sweet discussions of engineering issues for the public.
Great engineers are also influencers: they can help others to take a right course on technical issues. They work through a range from being able followers to facilitators of teams to leaders that step out in front of others to clear a path.
Think of how just these three traits are needed in the current oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. While other hard skills are neccessary to be a great engineer, these hard skills are not sufficient. Interpersonal skills differentiate good engineers from great engineers.
Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:13 am PST
Maurice - Hello Celeste, I love this post. It is so very true. My SAT and ACT scores were so low that I didn't even think I'd even get accepted to a good college. But, here I write you today with both a bachelors and masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and an amazing career in Mechanical Engineering. Keep up the good posts, Celeste, people are listening.
Posted on June 21, 2010 at 3:38 pm PST
Post your comments to What Inherent Traits Should an Engineer Possess
|
