Executive Summary
The paper aims at evaluating four different subjects which are relevant to careers in engineering in their own ways. These subjects are Design of Concrete Structures, Geomechanics, Computer Aided Engineering, and Fluid Mechanics. All findings are based on an interview with a third year engineering student. This interview is the main method of information gathering, and the evaluation of the material is another powerful approach to define strong and weak sides of the chosen studies. The results of the research prove that each subject has its own effect on the way of how a student may comprehend the essence and basics of engineering. At the end of the paper, the process of studies’ evaluation and knowledge gained makes it possible to believe that only a thorough learning process may lead to the successful outcomes of education and can make ordinary students true professionals in the chosen sphere.
Introduction
The sphere of civil engineering plays a very important role in our everyday life: it deals with numerous constructions, improvements, and analyses of built environment. When students agree to take the course of civil engineering, they make a decision to be involved in the world of dams, bridges, and different water supply systems which aim at improving human lives. To understand better the main idea of the course, it is better to focus on the four main subjects which are Design of Concrete Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Geomechanics, and Computer Aided Engineering. All these subjects are relevant to careers in engineering in their own ways, and students have to pay much attention to the assignments and projects required. With the help of an interview with a third year student, an idea of courses’ benefits turns out to be clearer and helpful in regard to the achievement of a purpose that is a deep analysis of four subjects in engineering. The scopes and background defined is considered to be an important step in this analysis because the evaluation of subject usually requires different methods. In this case, the studies like Design of Concrete Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Geomechanics, and Computer Aided Engineering are evaluated with the help of students’ ideas and impressions about subjects, the ways of how tutors explain new material, and what types of readings are better to use.
Main Body
An Engineering degree course has a number of peculiarities and provides its students with a possibility to choose a creative career and enjoy the prospects which are hardly available for other students. These prospects are good indeed in Australian and other countries. Due to the fact that Australian engineers take much responsibility for human lives and services provided, it is very important to take courses attentively and properly to grasp necessary material on a high level. The following four subjects have their own outcomes of the careers in engineering, and students have to pay much attention to the ideas offered. Design of Concrete Structures, Computer Aided Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, and Geomechanics should be highlighted at first.
Design of Concrete Structures
The main purpose of this subject is to provide students with the necessary amount of knowledge about the indeterminate structures and concrete structures. In the sphere of engineering, the importance of structures is integral indeed, and future engineers have to be properly aware of different methods by means of which unclear and uncertain structures may be reinforced into more powerful and effective constructions. To grasp the essence of this subject, students have to be ready to read a lot, evaluate new material, and find practical application to their theoretical knowledge. This is why reading is considerably involved into the subject under consideration. Books by Hibbeler, Beletich, and Warner are in demand. Their achievements in structural analysis and essentials of designs are worth attention. Tutors of this course also underline the importance of textbooks’ use such as Handbook 2.2.: Australian Standards for Civil Engineering Students – Part 2: Structural Design.
With the help of properly chosen reading material, students get a good chance to realize what is expected from them at the end of the course and what skills they have to gain to become professional engineers. To check the level of how students grasp the material, several types of assessment are used. Tests aim at checking theoretical basis, laboratory classes help to understand the importance of working in groups, and examinations at the end of the semester define how students can rely on their knowledge (Design of Concrete Structures 20008). Written assignments are considered to be helpful for students in many different ways: students use their knowledge of science and design essentials to comprehend better engineering fundamentals; tutors help students to develop their abilities at utilizing design systems; and future engineers are able to understand properly their ethical responsibilities from a professional perspective. Engineering journals are of rare use during the classes because students have to focus on their practical skills and abilities to function as members of one group and as an individual with his/her own methods to design.
Computer Aided Engineering
Current technological progress makes people use computers in different spheres of business, this is why it is not a surprise that the sphere of engineering is also under the impact on computer technologies. The subject Computer Aided Engineering helps students to develop appropriate abilities in order to be ready to work with different software and create necessary models and mechanisms with the help of CAD systems. An interviewed student admits that all classes usually take place in a special computer laboratory where students can find practical application to their theoretical knowledge. Within some period of time, students have enough background knowledge to develop 3D computer models of parts and create drawings in accordance with special engineering requirements (Computer Aided Engineering 2008). The peculiar feature of this subject is nil level of recommended reading because much attention is still paid to computer technologies, students’ abilities to cope with assignments, and proper development of CAD (computer-aided design). Assignments are the main examples of student assessment (60-80%) as well as computer applications and a number of computer software tests. Due to the absence of reading and writing involvement into the assessment, the research component plays a significant role. With the help of engineering journals, students get a chance to be aware of current achievements in the sphere of computing and engineering and demands posed for future engineers. The results of learning this subject may be observed in student properly developed technical competence and abilities to function both in a group of people and independently.
Fluid Mechanics. The peculiar feature of this subject is the attention to one particular sphere of engineering – fluid mechanics. During this course, students have to develop a number of abilities in order to grasp the principles of designs which are inherent to fluid systems, to introduce clear analyses of the existing fluid systems, and to make numerous contributions to the designs they are going to develop. The relevance of this subject to careers in engineering is evident: students are aware of the essentials which are urgent for the development of the designs. As a rule, tutors do not make students read a lot of literary material but choose one or two main sources and rely on them during the whole semester.
To understand fluid systems better, tutors suggest using Crowe’s Engineering Fluid Mechanics of 2001 and Cimbala and Cegel’s Essentials of Fluid Mechanics Fundamental and Applications of 2008 (Fluid Mechanics 2008). These two sources clear up many issues such as fluid properties, flow measurements, flows in conduits, etc. To make sure students grasp the material on the necessary level, tutors use different assignments: home assignments and tutorials tests during the whole semester as well as some sort of examination at the end of semester. Fluid Mechanics is the study that touches upon different fluids like gases, plasmas, and liquids which are significant in engineering designs. As it is not easy to practice a lot, students have chances to rely on engineering journals and even create their own according to which the evaluation of the fluids is possible. In fact, the subject of Fluid Mechanics is very important in the education process because to succeed in engineering, students have to comprehend the essentials, the basics which are integral in every system.
Geomechanics. Some students cannot comprehend the connection of Geomechanics and careers in engineering. In fact, this relevance is evident for those who clearly define the purposes of this subject which are students’ understanding the basics of water flow, soil nature, and characteristics of sediments. The development of some engineering design is impossible in case the environment is not analysed and studied thoroughly, this is why Geomechanics should help students to identify soil specimens, evaluate geological cross sections, and understand the main principles of a chosen settlement. Reading is considered to be one of the main types of the learning process. Though the prescribed readings are of the 1990s, this material is regarded as reliable, educative, and effective in the chosen sphere. Coduto’s Geotechnical Engineering and Whitlow’s Basic Soil Mechanics are the main sources of information for students who need to understand the geological aspects of engineering. In this subject, assessment is characterized by two types of work: student examination that requires student awareness of the material from the books, and lab reports which require student involvement into research (Geomechanics 2008). To be ready to evaluate a situation and predict possible difficulties in the development of a project, students should also use some engineering journals provided. The results of researches conducted have to be noted in accordance with the requirements set.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Conclusion. In general, the process of subjects’ choice does not seem to be very difficult. To achieve success in the chosen activity, it is very important to comprehend the essentials of engineering and the requirements which are posed before the students who are eager to be involved into this sphere. The evaluation of the subjects like Design of Concrete Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Geomechanics, and Computer Aided Engineering helps not only to find out their relevance with the careers in engineering but also to comprehend what is expected from these studies and how helpful they may become for students. The interview conducted with a third year student helps to analyse the studies from a student’s position, their effects on person’s understanding of the subject, and development of the skills required.
Recommendations. To grasp better the main ideas of engineering and the subjects which may perfectly explain the essence of the chosen occupation, it is possible to interview students of different age and find out their treatment to the subjects required. The development of different engineering projects requires much time, efforts, and many skills. With time, human demands and possibilities may be changed because of technological progress. This is why the evaluation of engineering courses will be always in demand.
Bibliography
Computer Aided Engineering 2008, Swinburne University of Technology, Web.
Design of Concrete Structures 2008, Swinburne University of Technology, Web.
Fluid Mechanics 2008, Swinburne University of Technology, Web.
Geomechanics 2008, Swinburne University of Technology, Web.