The MechEng Framework: Information in context

First year, first semester, Physics. The lecturer is reciting and physically rewriting the textbook contents, translating it as he goes, from memory. I am so impressed. He draws an integral sign. I look around. I see others looking around. Integration.

It was not a requirement that I complete AP Calculus prior to entering the Mechanical Engineering program. I know I’m not the only one unfamiliar with integral calculus. As soon as I have a moment I go through the modules on my roster for the first year. I go through the study guides. I scrutinise the module prerequisite structure. I find it. Plainly hidden: Integral calculus will be presented in the second semester, along with Fundamentals of Chemistry. But differential calculus is a prerequisite for integral calculus. Surely, integral calculus should be a prerequisite for the application thereof in Fundamental Physics? No. The writing on the wall: Apply the mathematical concept prior to obtaining the knowledge of the concept.

I don’t think I ever fully recovered my faith in institutional pedagogy. Those that teach, research. Those that determine syllabi, don’t practice. No one took the time to be bothered about the structure of teaching Mechanical Engineering to students. We were doomed to confusion.

I am not endeavouring to teach Mechanical Engineering to students here, however I believe what I will be exploring will be vastly beneficial to those studying, finalising their studies, or entering the work force. I am exploring my field, from grass roots, with prior knowledge. Trying to map out a context for which the information presented will become knowledge.

If you have these murmurings (often or infrequently), this newsletter may be for you:

• Uh, can you just give me an example of where that would be the case?

• What is that, again? I’ll have to go reread it. I swear I knew this.

• How am I supposed to remember this? It’s abstract and confusing.

• What? Oh yes, that was how we did it!

• How do you know to apply it in that way? Who told you this?

Ladies and gentlemen, we, the good-enough-for-test-taking crowd, but poor at applying the stuff, need to find ways to help ourselves. I found a study the other day, where they were looking into the social media usage of mechanical engineers for engineering related tasks (1 day of 5 per week, spent on engineering related tasks on social media). The mode of the study was not the mode of the mechanical engineering population. We, the troubled starters, were not there. Do we ask when we don’t know? Are we so indoctrinated by the “Should have known this”-dragon that we don’t see our inquisitive worth? Are we inquisitive anymore? Do we believe there’s a way out of imposter syndrome?

So, I propose a framework. A place that is structured. The structure will be determined through scrutiny and trial-and-error. A place to put information. Where the information can be connected to that which we know, have known and will know. A context. Such that the information can become knowledge. We can remember and use this knowledge, and make it our intuition. We can build upon the fundamentals, instead of drowning in its chaos. It can shift from being sand, to being rock.