The AE Department will host the 6th International Conference on Innovation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) from June 9-11, 2010, as part of the activities to mark 100 years of architectural engineering at Penn State. Organized in collaboration with the Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Engineering at Loughborough University, UK, the conference will provide an excellent international forum for celebrating innovative research and industry developments in AEC.
It is intended that Thursday, June 10, 2010, will focus on industry-related topics and issues. It will feature industry-oriented presentations and discussion panels, and industry practitioners will be particularly welcome.
More info: http://www.engr.psu.edu/ae/AEC2010/index.asp
Thursday 16 July 2009
Tuesday 7 July 2009
10 Tips For College & University Students
Get organized
As a student you will no doubt have so much paperwork and information coming into you, that it is important to have some system in place so you don’t get overwhelmed, especially with course-related work. There is lots of potential to get stressed out at university, so having a good GTD based system in place to keep you focused and organized is key. Because you have so much freedom as to how you learn and study, it is so much more important that you are able to manage yourself and your time so as to keep you disciplined. Read some of the posts under my GTD catagory to get you started.
Avoid credit cards!
When it comes to credit cards, loans, overdrafts and other similar financial aid, banks and companies are not offering you them out of the the kindness of their hearts. For example, my friend tried to apply for a loan but the bank said he had too good a chance of paying it back in time. In other words it was not to the advantage of the bank, because they would not get the extra benefits of missed payments, interest etc. It was a rare show of honesty but it summed up their attitude. Students are easy targets for them because they know they are typically short of money.
Track your spending
It’s a valuable habit to get into and being a student, with all the difficulties of juggling expenditure, is a good time to start practicing it. Keep a log of how much money you have coming in and how you are spending it. That way you can tell exactly where your money is going and make important conclusions from it. Found out you are spending the bulk of your money on study books? Look at buying them second hand or using the library.
Textbooks
Speaking of books, they are typically very big expense so buy used ones where possible (Amazon, eBay etc) and then sell them on when you’ve finished with them to cut some of the costs. You will very rarely need to keep the books once you are finished the course anyway. It is always beneficial to have your own copy of a book but do also consider whether you can make do with taking what you need out of the library instead (don’t rely on this approach however, libraries have limited numbers of copies and its quite possible you could miss out). There is also the option of sharing a book between small groups of friends.
Nights out
We all know it’s a pretty common thing to do at college/uni; going to the uni bar, parties, nightclubs etc. If you are worried about spending a lot, do what a friend suggested to me and take out a set amount of money beforehand (and ideally when you are sober) and then leave your bank card at home. Another way to save money is to not go out into town, but buy drinks from the shop and drink at home with a few friends. Bars and pubs tend have inflated prices and that’s on top of having to pay to get into places. Shops – and supermarkets especially – usually have really good special offers.
Use your campus
Get to know your campus quickly. It’s where you will spend a lot of your time and by acclimatising yourself to it early, you will settle in much more quickly, making those first few weeks more pleasant. You will also learn the little quirks like the most quiet place to study, or the busiest time in the canteen. By knowing about your campus you will be able to make the most of the facilities. Any half-decent college/university will host plenty of free/cheap entertainment and special events. They are much better for your finances than expensive nights out round town.
Your social network
On top of getting to know your campus, consider getting to know and befriend as many people as possible, whether it be other students or lecturers. It makes acclimatising to university much more easy if you have people you can talk to and trust. It can also open up lots of opportunities. A lecturer you can comfortably talk to may be able to provide advice on your work, and it can be so much easier to do group work if you have friends on your course. Freshers week is great for achieving all this as there will be so many other people in the same position as you. Look to join groups that have the same interests as yours!
Don’t get a car
Cars may be useful, but they can also be extra expensive, especially when you take into account maintenance, insurance and road tax. Where possible live in or near campus so you don’t have to drive. Get used to using public transport as quickly as possible, because it’s cheaper than running a car and you can typically get some form of discount for being a student. The other problem from having a car is all your friends will expect lifts from you which can complicate matters. If you have no problems being a bit cheeky, ask any of your friends with cars to give you lifts instead ;)
Bad influences
At college or university, there will always be kids with rich parents and relatives and those who willfully walk into debt without a second thought. Avoid hanging around them too much otherwise you may find yourself getting involved in their expensive lifestyles also. Beware of lifestyle inflation! If you get accustomed to their sort of living it can be very difficult to drop back down to a lifestyle more appropriate to your expenditure.
Appreciate your time at college/uni
It’s a unique experience that most people can only really go through once so make the most of it. Some people focus so much on the fun side of things that they come away with a poor degree. Likewise some people are so into their work, they neglect to make friends and gain other experiences. You can work hard and play hard!
Source:
As a student you will no doubt have so much paperwork and information coming into you, that it is important to have some system in place so you don’t get overwhelmed, especially with course-related work. There is lots of potential to get stressed out at university, so having a good GTD based system in place to keep you focused and organized is key. Because you have so much freedom as to how you learn and study, it is so much more important that you are able to manage yourself and your time so as to keep you disciplined. Read some of the posts under my GTD catagory to get you started.
Avoid credit cards!
When it comes to credit cards, loans, overdrafts and other similar financial aid, banks and companies are not offering you them out of the the kindness of their hearts. For example, my friend tried to apply for a loan but the bank said he had too good a chance of paying it back in time. In other words it was not to the advantage of the bank, because they would not get the extra benefits of missed payments, interest etc. It was a rare show of honesty but it summed up their attitude. Students are easy targets for them because they know they are typically short of money.
Track your spending
It’s a valuable habit to get into and being a student, with all the difficulties of juggling expenditure, is a good time to start practicing it. Keep a log of how much money you have coming in and how you are spending it. That way you can tell exactly where your money is going and make important conclusions from it. Found out you are spending the bulk of your money on study books? Look at buying them second hand or using the library.
Textbooks
Speaking of books, they are typically very big expense so buy used ones where possible (Amazon, eBay etc) and then sell them on when you’ve finished with them to cut some of the costs. You will very rarely need to keep the books once you are finished the course anyway. It is always beneficial to have your own copy of a book but do also consider whether you can make do with taking what you need out of the library instead (don’t rely on this approach however, libraries have limited numbers of copies and its quite possible you could miss out). There is also the option of sharing a book between small groups of friends.
Nights out
We all know it’s a pretty common thing to do at college/uni; going to the uni bar, parties, nightclubs etc. If you are worried about spending a lot, do what a friend suggested to me and take out a set amount of money beforehand (and ideally when you are sober) and then leave your bank card at home. Another way to save money is to not go out into town, but buy drinks from the shop and drink at home with a few friends. Bars and pubs tend have inflated prices and that’s on top of having to pay to get into places. Shops – and supermarkets especially – usually have really good special offers.
Use your campus
Get to know your campus quickly. It’s where you will spend a lot of your time and by acclimatising yourself to it early, you will settle in much more quickly, making those first few weeks more pleasant. You will also learn the little quirks like the most quiet place to study, or the busiest time in the canteen. By knowing about your campus you will be able to make the most of the facilities. Any half-decent college/university will host plenty of free/cheap entertainment and special events. They are much better for your finances than expensive nights out round town.
Your social network
On top of getting to know your campus, consider getting to know and befriend as many people as possible, whether it be other students or lecturers. It makes acclimatising to university much more easy if you have people you can talk to and trust. It can also open up lots of opportunities. A lecturer you can comfortably talk to may be able to provide advice on your work, and it can be so much easier to do group work if you have friends on your course. Freshers week is great for achieving all this as there will be so many other people in the same position as you. Look to join groups that have the same interests as yours!
Don’t get a car
Cars may be useful, but they can also be extra expensive, especially when you take into account maintenance, insurance and road tax. Where possible live in or near campus so you don’t have to drive. Get used to using public transport as quickly as possible, because it’s cheaper than running a car and you can typically get some form of discount for being a student. The other problem from having a car is all your friends will expect lifts from you which can complicate matters. If you have no problems being a bit cheeky, ask any of your friends with cars to give you lifts instead ;)
Bad influences
At college or university, there will always be kids with rich parents and relatives and those who willfully walk into debt without a second thought. Avoid hanging around them too much otherwise you may find yourself getting involved in their expensive lifestyles also. Beware of lifestyle inflation! If you get accustomed to their sort of living it can be very difficult to drop back down to a lifestyle more appropriate to your expenditure.
Appreciate your time at college/uni
It’s a unique experience that most people can only really go through once so make the most of it. Some people focus so much on the fun side of things that they come away with a poor degree. Likewise some people are so into their work, they neglect to make friends and gain other experiences. You can work hard and play hard!
Source:
Advice for New University Students
* Set high personal and academic standards for yourself, and live up to them. Listen to that little voice inside you that says, “I can do this.” Believe in yourself. Realize that school is work; it’s not play time. Settle for nothing less than your very best. Willingness to accept anything less than the very best too often becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Strive for an “A” in all your courses. If you fall short of an “A”, you might earn a “B”. If you fall short of a “C”, you might earn a “D” or “F”.
* Strive to understand. Don’t merely memorize; increase your depth of understanding. You need to attempt to fully comprehend what you need to know and be able to do as a result of your education.
* Remember that grades count. The best jobs with the best pay most often go to those with the best grades. High grades imply intelligence, personal excellence, and dedication to seeing a job well done. High grades can make all the difference in landing the ideal job or getting into graduate school at the institution of your choice.
* Investigate study and test taking skills. Educational researchers have studied what it takes to get ahead academically. Take advantage of what they can tell us.
* Get to know a wide range of people – faculty, staff, and students. Networking is important. It is often true that who you know is just as important as what you know. Use your acquaintances to advantage, but don’t take advantage of them.
o Meet with your departmental advisor early on and frequently; he or she can provide valuable and timely advice.
o Get to know your teachers; just because they might have a Ph.D. is no reason to believe that they are not interested in you as a student.
o Get to know the majors in your field, and form a study group.
* Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Work should come before pleasure. Manage your time effectively; set up a timeline for getting word completed in each of your courses. Set aside adequate time for homework, study, sleep, relationships, and work. You need not always finish every task all at once. Remember, you can write at 365-page book every year if you only write one page per day.
* Break your large tasks down into manageable subtasks. Large jobs rarely can be completed at one setting. Tackle small parts of a large task each day; avoid cramming. Remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare; slow and steady is often better than jackrabbit sprints.
* Chose your friends carefully. Friends can support you in your efforts to maximize the benefits of a college education. Friends too set on having a good time at the expense of a good education can be seriously detrimental. Get to know people who express high social, academic, and personal values.
* Honesty is the best policy. Avoid cheating in all its forms – collusion, plagiarism, copying, etc. Students who cheat seriously fail to learn what is oftentimes important, and this doesn’t help them in the long run. Sometimes the only things they do learn – after getting caught – is that cheating doesn’t pay.
* Don’t ignore or deny your personal and academic problems. Problems will often get worse if they are not directly addressed in a timely fashion. Procrastination in any of its many forms can lead to a small problem getting much worse. Get help when you need it. Speak to your course instructors, your advisor, or your parents.
* Don’t make important decisions based on second-hand information. Jumping to rash conclusions based in incorrect information can cause you significant personal and professional problems. If you are uncertain about something, check it out before you decide.
* Seek out special opportunities. College is a time to expand your mind and your experiences. Select your general education courses wisely. Consider student research, field trip opportunities, or a new language. Choose courses that will expand your world; avoid taking courses merely because they are “an easy A” or a “blow-off course.”
* Get a job. Studies show that students who work from about 8-10 hours per week tend to organize and spend their “free” time more wisely. Overworking or not working at all sometimes can be detrimental to personal and academic success.
* Don’t over-commit yourself. Mature students always take responsibility for their actions – all of them. Some students will commit themselves to more work than they are capable of completing. Don’t let this happen to you; you owe it to others to be honest to your word.
* Make yourself a well-rounded person. Consider all four dimensions of life as you strive to educate yourself – physical, spiritual, intellectual, and social. Spend time each day developing each of these four dimensions.
* Take responsibility for yourself. When some students begin college life their sense of personal responsibility seems to disappear. Parents or guardians are not longer “cracking the whip” making certain that everything is getting done correctly or on time. That work is now the responsibility of the student. Failure to recognize this fact has resulted in even some of the best high school students failing as university students.
Source:
* Strive to understand. Don’t merely memorize; increase your depth of understanding. You need to attempt to fully comprehend what you need to know and be able to do as a result of your education.
* Remember that grades count. The best jobs with the best pay most often go to those with the best grades. High grades imply intelligence, personal excellence, and dedication to seeing a job well done. High grades can make all the difference in landing the ideal job or getting into graduate school at the institution of your choice.
* Investigate study and test taking skills. Educational researchers have studied what it takes to get ahead academically. Take advantage of what they can tell us.
* Get to know a wide range of people – faculty, staff, and students. Networking is important. It is often true that who you know is just as important as what you know. Use your acquaintances to advantage, but don’t take advantage of them.
o Meet with your departmental advisor early on and frequently; he or she can provide valuable and timely advice.
o Get to know your teachers; just because they might have a Ph.D. is no reason to believe that they are not interested in you as a student.
o Get to know the majors in your field, and form a study group.
* Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Work should come before pleasure. Manage your time effectively; set up a timeline for getting word completed in each of your courses. Set aside adequate time for homework, study, sleep, relationships, and work. You need not always finish every task all at once. Remember, you can write at 365-page book every year if you only write one page per day.
* Break your large tasks down into manageable subtasks. Large jobs rarely can be completed at one setting. Tackle small parts of a large task each day; avoid cramming. Remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare; slow and steady is often better than jackrabbit sprints.
* Chose your friends carefully. Friends can support you in your efforts to maximize the benefits of a college education. Friends too set on having a good time at the expense of a good education can be seriously detrimental. Get to know people who express high social, academic, and personal values.
* Honesty is the best policy. Avoid cheating in all its forms – collusion, plagiarism, copying, etc. Students who cheat seriously fail to learn what is oftentimes important, and this doesn’t help them in the long run. Sometimes the only things they do learn – after getting caught – is that cheating doesn’t pay.
* Don’t ignore or deny your personal and academic problems. Problems will often get worse if they are not directly addressed in a timely fashion. Procrastination in any of its many forms can lead to a small problem getting much worse. Get help when you need it. Speak to your course instructors, your advisor, or your parents.
* Don’t make important decisions based on second-hand information. Jumping to rash conclusions based in incorrect information can cause you significant personal and professional problems. If you are uncertain about something, check it out before you decide.
* Seek out special opportunities. College is a time to expand your mind and your experiences. Select your general education courses wisely. Consider student research, field trip opportunities, or a new language. Choose courses that will expand your world; avoid taking courses merely because they are “an easy A” or a “blow-off course.”
* Get a job. Studies show that students who work from about 8-10 hours per week tend to organize and spend their “free” time more wisely. Overworking or not working at all sometimes can be detrimental to personal and academic success.
* Don’t over-commit yourself. Mature students always take responsibility for their actions – all of them. Some students will commit themselves to more work than they are capable of completing. Don’t let this happen to you; you owe it to others to be honest to your word.
* Make yourself a well-rounded person. Consider all four dimensions of life as you strive to educate yourself – physical, spiritual, intellectual, and social. Spend time each day developing each of these four dimensions.
* Take responsibility for yourself. When some students begin college life their sense of personal responsibility seems to disappear. Parents or guardians are not longer “cracking the whip” making certain that everything is getting done correctly or on time. That work is now the responsibility of the student. Failure to recognize this fact has resulted in even some of the best high school students failing as university students.
Source:
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