[Assam] Math First: Harvard & UVa study on college science success

Sat Jul 28 06:30:28 PDT 2007

:<What does engineer Mukulda say?>>
In the fresh Indian Constitution(let's hope one will be) the Representation of Peoples' Chapter shall begin with a line:
Only Struggling,Non-Government-Servant,IIT Graduates can stand  and be elected for Parliament Membership.
mm

Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:04:32 -0500To: dilipdeka at yahoo.com; cmahanta at charter.net; umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.eduFrom: cmahanta at charter.netCC: assam at assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] Math First: Harvard & UVa study on college science success

My bad. I meant to quote: " - I don't know about the nation building part.

> "Most engineers that I know would cringe at being given that responsibilty. "

*** Engineers who have changed the face of the world, did not do so out of an obligation for nation building. That was a result of what they CREATED , produced.

>and those individuals are remembered.

*** I was not referring to who gets to be remembered for what. Credit taking or giving is a whole different field and not always either truthful or honorable. But  what has been created, developed, produced is in front of us, everywhere.  What has India to show for --- with its half century of  engineering training? How have India's engineers contributed to solving its problems? And how creatively? Surely they are no less talented than anyone else in the world.

At 8:54 PM -0700 7/27/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Distortion already. Look below.
Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
At 8:10 PM -0700 7/27/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
" However they are not the people who build nations,

DD:  I did not say that. You picked up something from what you wrote and made it look like I said it.

Engineers can be and have been nation builders but that is not something the average engineer wants to be. The ratio probably comes out to be the same for all professions. When the infrastructure of a young nation is being built, the engineers are in the forefront, as it happened in USA and the other countries you mentioned and those individuals are remembered.
*** American nation building has been singularly influenced by creative engineering.  As was
Germany, as was the Soviet Union and as is Japan, as is China.  But look at India's progress with more per capita engineers than many of  these other more advanced countries.

 break new grounds or solve problems in creative ways." - I don't know about the nation building part. Most engineers that I know would cringe at being given that responsibilty. The other two - yes, engineers, architects and planners can contribute a lot.

I am glad to see that the contribution of engineers is being recognized here. What does engineer Mukulda say?
Dilip
==================================================Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>I should know something about engineers by now.

*** I wouldn't be the one to question that. Yes there is room for all those engineers, whose contribution is defined by an ability to read the standards manuals or code books and applying them to the task in hand.

However they are not the people who build nations, break new grounds or solve problems in creative ways.

At 7:32 PM -0700 7/27/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Umesh,

Not every engineer needs to be creative. However every engineer should be good in math, just to survive in the field. The design engineers need to know what is behind the softwares they use now a days to solve engineering problems.
There are functions in engineering where a person can contribute without being creative in the real sense of the word. I have spent 30+ years in the field, including management of engineers, I should know something about engineers by now.
A request to engineers in India - please speak up.
Dilipdaumesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com> wrote:
C-da,But the article was about doing intensive coursework in math at high school levele - not at an engineering college.***But there is more to it: Ability to do good math, by and of itself, does not guarantee success as an engineer or scientist. One can do well in the academic exams, can even get good jobs, not just as engineers, but in a lot of other fields, but real engineering also requires creativity -- something Indian engineering schools rarely help develop, while not everyone is endowed with an ability or have the aptitude to develop it
UmeshChan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
At 1:33 PM -0700 7/27/07, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
Netters with interest in science will find this article interesting. Math is used in all sciences, so obviously good fundamental knowledge in math helps students in all branches of science. A good grasp of math in high school helps engineering students as well, across the board.

*** And that is exactly why it is so essential to have a sound primary education where math fundamentals  take root or die. If you look at the percentage of students in Assam who have a decent knowledge of math fundamentals, you will know why so few excel in science, technology etc.

But there is more to it: Ability to do good math, by and of itself, does not guarantee success as an engineer or scientist. One can do well in the academic exams, can even get good jobs, not just as engineers, but in a lot of other fields, but real engineering also requires creativity -- something Indian engineering schools rarely help develop, while not everyone is endowed with an ability or have the aptitude to develop it .

Dilip

==================================================================umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com> wrote:
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/home/news_and_events/releases/science_07262007.htmlUmesh SharmaWashington D.C.1-202-215-4328 [Cell]Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

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Umesh Sharma
Washington D.C.1-202-215-4328 [Cell]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

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