tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598001998905421872.post8251056486842886124..comments2015-03-24T01:43:54.586-07:00Comments on Fixing Engineering Education: What Aren't The Problems of Teaching Engineering - And Why Are These The Issues We Are Addressing? #1: "The STEM Shortage"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199240526879942772noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598001998905421872.post-53417799914204913362015-03-24T01:43:54.586-07:002015-03-24T01:43:54.586-07:00First question is, is there less of the knack than...First question is, is there less of the knack than there used to be, and if there is, why? <br /><br />Some say it is to do with the lack of non-academic pre-university education (Wood/ Metalwork/ Tech Drawing etc.), and others blame a lack of a need to dismantle / fix stuff which my generation had to learn. <br /><br />Second question - can we instil it in some of those who lack it? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15199240526879942772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598001998905421872.post-90105202555510177362015-03-23T02:21:29.291-07:002015-03-23T02:21:29.291-07:00I have had many a happy hour trying to define the ...I have had many a happy hour trying to define the term engineer and largely given up. I have done better with defining engineering - my definition is "The Art of Making Science Work for Humankind".<br /><br />The "knack" is part of that art but it comes in differenct versions. Some people have the knack of working with machines, building them and fixing them. I do not have that "knack", my brother does and he also has some grasp of maths and science that make him a good engineer.<br /><br />The "knack" that I possess is a strong understanding of maths and science (that is why I got a First at universty) and how to apply it to practical problems, I have also have a strong ability to "think outside the box". Set me a problem and I can probably find you 10 solutions but I would need to find someone else to build those solutions.<br /><br />One big question here is are you born with the "knack" or can you teach it? Do most people possess it but have it eductated out of them. I think my children possess the "knack" but we educate it out of them by telling them that things are not "right" or cannot be done.<br /><br />I also agree with you that the "knack" is fundemental to being a good engineer. I think that many people move into project management, line management or sales because they do not have the "knack" and find practising engineering hard. Whereas those people with the "knack" find it easy and really enjoy doing it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11237985888416774156noreply@blogger.com