Humanities

Lecture (5)

Learning & Creative Thought

Reference:

Paul H. Wright, “Introduction to

Engineering”, 3rd Edition, Chapter (3)

The Successful Engineering Student

It is the student who determines his or her success or failure

• The successful student - Should have the motivation and perseverance

to get the task.- Quickly learns how to make advantage of all

resources offered by the university to enrich the learning process.

- Has the interest to learn the engineering curriculum.

Resources for Engineering students

The teaching staff (tutoring, counseling,…)LibraryComputer CenterLaboratories Physical education and recreation Culture presentations

The engineering curriculum include:- Basic Sciences : serve as the foundation of an

engineering education.

- Engineering Sciences : such courses are strongly rooted in basic sciences and mathematics providing a bridge between basic subjects and engineering design.

- Applied Sciences : these are highly specialized courses intended to equip the student for practice in his or her chosen specialty.

The Learning Process

Learning is a lifelong , continuous process.

We learn not only through direct experience , but also by watching what happens to other people or by just being told about something .

We receive information from various senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste

Determinants of Efficient Learning

1- The material to be learned: the more meaningful the material to be learned, the more easy it is learned.

2- The psychological state of the learner : a moderate level of anxiety is believed to be beneficial to learning. But extremely low or extremely high levels are detrimental to student success.

3- Learning strategies : rehearsal is one of the most popular strategies in learning. The more students practice, the better they perform. Preparing summaries. Writing answers to expected questions …

Practical suggestion for learning

• Regularly attend classes and laboratory sessions.

• Be alert and listen attentively in class.• Record points of significance for the lecture.• Do not hesitate to seek clarification on

unclear issues. • Do your work because you want to, not

because you have to.• Find time to relax and rest.

Differences in the Way People Think

In his brain dominance model, Herrmann identifies four different modes of thinking:

A- Analytical thinkingB- Sequential thinkingC- Emotional thinkingD- Imaginative thinking

CREATIVITY

• Engineering is a creative profession• Every person has creative abilities• Use our creative potential • “That which is used strengthens & grows

.. and that which is not used withers and dies ..” Socrates

• Nurture and develop our creativity

What is Creativity?• “Ideas that can lead to new or modified useful

concepts, products or processes”

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Recognition of a need or a problem A period of intense concentration A period of relaxation or incubation The illumination, when solution suddenly

appears Evaluation or verification of the solution

The Nature of Creativity

1- Creativity associated with profound and abstract concepts (Einstein, Isaac Newton)

2- Creativity associated with the artist and writers (inspired people)

3- Applied creativity associated with engineers and scientists

PROBLEM SOLVING & CREATIVITY• Beware of Fixation or Mental Set “The persistent

application of an inappropriate strategy”

• Previous experience or knowledge may limit the thinking process to other possibilities

• Keep your motivational level in a balanced state

• Must be flexible and open to new ideas and strategies

• Avoid placing unnecessary constraints on the problem

Search for different ways to view the problem

Brainstorming with other team members

Solutions from other disciplines

Divide complex problems into manageable parts

Intense concentration, followed by “incubation” time

Be open to variety of problem-solving strategies

PROBLEM SOLVING & CREATIVITY