5. Applied Minds: How Engineers Think

RE: Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-30T17:56:06Z

Thank you Silviya!
Yes, it shows how films and popular culture can sometimes be used to increase interest in engineering by building role models. Engineering is to a large extent about solving problems, and movie directors need to be good problem solvers.

RE: Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-28T11:05:38Z

Dear Robert,
Following your comments above, here’s my respond: Yes, I delivered this lesson. A nice and challenging educational situation, both for the students and for myself. When the lesson was over, my students were eager asking questions, such as: "When are we going to study again in this particular way - not just with assignments and simply problem solving, but also with stories and films included?" Some of the students did not know at the moment who exactly was Hitchcock, others have heard of the „Psycho” movie, but really they were enormously surprised and fascinated by the fact, that he had studied as an engineer and was engaged in the advertising business. After delivering that exact lesson, my students became beautifully involved, and with much more desire and concentration, in solving the Maths problems, which we had in the lesson. We also talked about the importance of been more considered and thoughtful in life, and whenever possible, asking questions ourselves, even while analysing specific situations in our lives: "And is there another way to solve this problem?"
Regards,
Silviya

RE: Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-27T11:54:54Z

Very good observation! Thanks for sharing your idea for the lesson and how important it is for students to have role models. Your example of Hitchcock is particularly interesting. Did you already try it out in your mathematics class, and if so, how was it received by your students? Did you find it useful to explain the concept of engineering and problem solving?

RE: Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-26T23:32:33Z

Students often ask me: "Why should we learn Math? It is so difficult – in what way will these complex formulas and tasks serve me to? Once I said to them- "Well, because if you're good at mathematics, you can become engineers, when you grow up and create new appliances, machines, cars and whatever you choose. You will see a concrete result of your work. If you are consistent in the way you study at school, you can create a product to be proud of. "

Then one of them said - "yes, but being an engineer does not always look exciting, I probably will not be able to do it - I cannot think so specifically and I'm not consistent enough to succeed. Engineers are boring, they do not know how to have fun. "
So I started considering deeply how to motivate my students to study physics and mathematics, how to show them the benefits of studying science at school in the best way there is. The book –Applied minds: how engineers think, by Guru Madhavan, is a wonderful respond to this question. It is my assistant to interpret to the students into their own language, the complexity of the profession of engineer. In this book I can find many examples, anecdotes and stories that are motivating and inspirational for the students.
I shall begin my next lesson in Mathematics will by writing the name of Alfred Hitchcock on the board. This will definitely be a surprise because usually I write Math problems on the board. Hitchcock is popular as a filmmaker with his films - psych trailers, but only few people know the fact he has studied at an engineering school and worked as a draftsman. I will use the story related to Mr. Hitchcock, which is described in the book, for to provoke the students’ interest and discuss on the usefulness of developing our thinking skills, towards seeking solutions and transforming problems into opportunities.
The book is a pleasant surprise. My initial expectation was that I would understand how the engineers really think. It turned out that the book does not contain psychological explanations of how their brain works. The book gives something different - many ideas for the practical application of problem solving skills, critical thinking and information structuring.

RE: Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-26T16:45:21Z

Ideal book for direct use in the classroom, using the method'story telling''
Regards,
Malena, Bulgaria

Share your classroom ideas here

2017-04-23T08:53:09Z

Use this thread to discuss your classroom ideas inspired by Applied Minds: How Engineers Think by Guru Madhavan. Looking forward to hearing your ideas!