Engineering is not a subject studied in secondary schools, and unless students have relatives 'in the business', many students who undertake engineering courses are not really sure what to expect. Studying Engineering at University focuses on making the transition from school to uni as painless as possible. The book provides real life examples of how engineers go about things and gives practical tips for approaching engineering study tasks such as problem solving. The book's approach means that students from a wide diversity of backgrounds will find helpful suggestions on all aspects of study, from preparing for tutorials, to learning how to do technical writing, to studying for exams.
Author(s): Clare Rhoden, Christine Tursky Gordon
Year: 2000
Language: English
Pages: 208
Contents......Page 7
Foreword......Page 5
Tables and figures......Page 11
Acknowledgments......Page 13
Introduction: how this book works......Page 15
Class structure......Page 21
Finding your place in the university community......Page 25
Freedom and responsibility......Page 28
Assessment......Page 34
Engineering - the profession......Page 36
Tips for a successful transition......Page 37
2 Learning - the best study skills for you......Page 38
Personal learning styles......Page 39
Levels of understanding......Page 40
Becoming an active learner......Page 42
Putting active learning to work......Page 45
World'd best active study tips for engineers......Page 46
3 Memory - hard-wiring your knowledge......Page 49
Taking advantage of the way memory works......Page 50
Memorisation of lists......Page 53
Remembering procedures......Page 55
Learning and understanding theory......Page 58
Tips for maximising memory......Page 62
4 Note-taking - useful hard copy......Page 64
The best notes are yours......Page 66
Strategies for note-taking in lectures......Page 67
Keeping on track......Page 72
Note-taking and preparation for pracs and labs......Page 73
Note-taking and active learning......Page 74
Tips for note-taking......Page 76
5 Organisation - best practice in timelines......Page 79
Study early, study often......Page 80
Ideas for time management......Page 81
Your study timetable......Page 83
Making best use of study time......Page 85
Top time-management tips......Page 90
6 Problem-solving - essential engineering brain food......Page 91
The qualities of a problem-solving brain......Page 93
Problem-solving stages......Page 97
Mind games......Page 101
Tips for problem-solving exams......Page 102
Why have pracs, labs and site visits......Page 107
Getting the most from your prac work......Page 108
Getting the most from site visits......Page 110
Tips for site visits......Page 112
8 Reading - the quick and the relevant......Page 114
Reading for different purposes......Page 116
Previewing......Page 117
Reading for preparation, research or study?......Page 118
Tips for reading effectively and efficiently......Page 123
Technical writing style......Page 126
Elements of good technical style......Page 130
A couple of common writing problems......Page 133
Editing tips for good technical writing......Page 135
Organisation by headings......Page 137
Tips of presentation......Page 142
Tips on illustrations: tables and figures......Page 143
Essays......Page 144
11 Exam preparation - what you don't know can hurt you......Page 150
Multiple choice exams......Page 151
Problem-solving exams......Page 152
Short-answer and essay exams......Page 153
Practical examinations......Page 155
Exam preparation tips......Page 156
General exam advice......Page 161
On exam day......Page 162
How to face different types of exams......Page 166
After the exam......Page 170
13 Professional skills......Page 173
Communication and presentation skills......Page 174
Expression skills......Page 176
Leadership and teamwork skills......Page 180
Tips for a great CV......Page 183
Jenny Jowett's tips on getting the right job......Page 185
Trouble with teaching staff?......Page 187
Trouble with health matters?......Page 188
Trouble with boredom?......Page 189
Trouble with unexpected disasters?......Page 190
Trouble with starting?......Page 191
Trouble with marking system?......Page 192
Trouble with passing?......Page 193
The final message......Page 194
Appendix I Suggestions for further reading......Page 195
Appendix II Startin gpoint for using web resources......Page 197
Appendix III Mind games......Page 201
