Adult learning
After I got my master’s degree, I spent about a year working on the design of an oil exploration structure for the North Slope of Alaska. That project led to […]
Engineering education
Models help you understand how it works
In teaching engineering, I’ve come to realize that it’s essential to help students intuitively understand how it works. A lot of engineering instruction revolves around using formulas to calculate things. […]
When to say, “I don’t know”
We’ve discussed the “safety, health, and welfare” aspect of the NSPE Code of Ethics in several previous blogs. That’s the first fundamental canon of the engineer’s code of ethics. The […]
What is accelerated bridge construction?
According to the Federal Highway Administration, accelerated bridge construction “uses innovative planning, design, materials, and construction methods in a safe and cost-effective manner to reduce the onsite construction time that […]
Older and wiser?
As the presidential election approaches, the question of age keeps coming up: how old is too old? Certainly we can point to public figures who should have retired sooner—and commend […]
The importance of making mistakes
In my 20s I had two jobs that shaped the rest of my career. My supervisors had very different attitudes about making mistakes. The first was quick to point out […]
The post hoc fallacy
The post hoc fallacy is the logical error that because event B followed event A, A must have caused B. It comes from the Latin post hoc ergo propter hoc, […]
Think first, then do
“Plan ahead” is advice you occasionally hear from friends or see on posters. It’s not easy to get a tautology into a two-word sentence, but this is one of them. […]
ASCE Code of ethics
Several previous blogs have cited the NSPE code of ethics to set the ethical context for technical writing. Not surprisingly, the American Society of Civil Engineers also has a code […]
The scientific method
In its most basic form, the scientific method is a process that allows us to understand the physical world. Anecdotal observations lead you to formulate a hypothesis. The hypothesis may be in the […]