Quality Engineering Education System

Module - II

Transformational Learning Process

The Two Major Aspects of Effective Learning

In this module we will deal with the two major aspects of Effective Learning. First of all, let us distinguish between "Learning" and "Studying". 

          Learning                  Vs                Studying

1. It is a process                         1. It is an activity

2. It can be reversed.                 2. It cannot be reversed. However,

    Learning - Unlearning                it can go through the process of

   and Relearning                            forgetting and studying again 

                                                        from scratch.

3.  It is flexible and it can           3. It is more rigid, based on set

    be tuned to the interests             patterns, not allowing much

    of the learner.                           change. It is more subject oriented

                                                                                rather than user friendly.

Can you find out more differences? Please post your comments.

 According to Dr. John C. Maxwell in his book "THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP", there is a law known as "The Law of Process" - Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day! He outlines the so called "Four Phases of Leadership Growth",  which can also be applied to the Learning Process. So, the first major aspect of Effective Learning is the process itself! Let us consider the four phases, as represented by the Johari Window below:

Phase - 1 - "I don't know what I don't know". This is the stage of "Unconscious Incompetence". It is the initial stage of learning any new skill. As long as a person doesn't know what he doesn't know, he doesn't grow. At this stage everything is new, strange, difficult, unpleasant, and odd. However, nobody wishes to stay in this stage for long. A passion for learning the new skill will help you to move on. This is true for self driven, self directed and self motivated persons. 

Phase - 2 - "I know what I don't know". This is the stage of "Conscious Incompetence". "To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge" - Benjamin Disraeli.

This is the stage of self realization, self augmentation, and associating with people, whom you think,  are  more skillful and knowledgeable than you. Setting aside your ego, allow yourself to move on in the right direction. Sharing of ideas and insights helps a lot in learning new things. It is in this stage we come across "discussion with peers"

Phase - 3 - "I grow and know and it starts to show" - the stage of "Conscious Competence". The confidence level increases with increased competence. However, there is a constant consciousness or awareness which makes you feel that you still have a tendency to commit mistakes. On the other hand, you still move on by making attempts, which may be sometimes successful while at other times result in messing up things. Do not be discouraged. Keep on trying till you hit success.

Phase - 4 - "I simply go because of what I know" - stage of "Unconscious Competence". The last one fourth part of our learning can only take place with time! At this stage we can either stop growing or keep on updating ourselves for a continual growth. Beware of this stage - it may lead to over confidence or saturation. The attitude of a learner at this stage should be "I can always learn something new every day" This is the open-minded attitude of an effective learner. Ask yourself these questions: "Why is my learning still incomplete?", "What best can I do for updating myself?", "Do I really have a game plan for my future growth phase?". Well, answers reveal that that I still have to keep moving on and never stop, as learning never ends here!

Now, coming to the second aspect of effective learning, it is based on five principles of skill based learning:

1. Observation

2. Visualization

3. Conception

4. Perception

5. Simulation

Let us discuss these principles in detail in the next few sessions.

1. Observation

Observation is the process of noticing, seeing, taking note of and arriving at conclusions based on what is being seen in and around you. It involves a group of activities based on noting down what is physically noticeable around you and draw conclusions from what you have noted. It triggers keen interest and thinking skills. 

Here is an example of observation skills:

Objectives: To find the differences between a Moving Coil Instrument and a Moving Iron Instrument.

Apparatus Required: Moving Coil Ammeter or Voltmeter, Moving Iron Ammeter or Voltmeter, a few connecting wires as required, insulation tape, rhoestats.

Procedure: The student is asked to observe the two meters physically and note down the differences. A few experiments may be conducted with these meters by connecting the voltmeter across the supply with a rheostat as a potential divider and the ammeter in series with a series rheostat after drawing simple circuit diagrams for such situations. 

Here are some observations made:

1. A moving coil instrument has a uniform scale with all divisions on the dial equally or uniformly spaced.

2. A moving coil instrument is marked with a U shaped magnetic and soft iron symbol on its dial.

3. A moving coil instrument is marked with polarities + and - (positive and negative) on its terminals.

4. A moving coil instrument is marked as A or V .

Can you find more differences? 

Similarly note down your observations for Moving Iron Instruments.

By this way students are able to learn by observing things around them. "Seeing is believing" is the principle involved in Observation Skills.

More details will be posted in the next session!

  

Quality Engineering Education System

Intellectual Property Rights - Panel of Experts for Implementation of a Quality System

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."                                                                                     I Corinthians 10 : 26

However, God gave man the authority to rule over all things of the world as in Genesis 1 : 28

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  

In this session, we take a short break and discuss the "Intellectual Property Rights" and constitute a 7-member panel of experts for the Implementation of a Quality System. Here we will deal with two main parameters of Intellectual Property Rights, namely, Copyright and Patent. 

Copyright refers to the right of ownership of any literary publication, book, artwork, music, song, or any other form of documentation that may be in published in the form of text or speech. 

Patent refers to the right of ownership of any new finding, invention, design and development of a new product, or any form of research activity that has not been carried out as previously claimed by anyone else.

It is proposed to to constitute a panel consisting of 7 members, being experts in specific areas, well qualified and experienced for conducting panel discussions, webinars, video conferencing sessions and sharing of ideas and expertise in this blog. This page will be updated as soon as the panel is ready. 

This section is dedicated to my beloved father, Dr. S.T. Satyamurti, M.Sc., M.Phil, D.Sc, who was the Director of Government Museums. Egmore, Chennai. He retired from service in the year 1977. However, he was given an extension of service for one more year till 1978 for his meritorious service and contributions to the Museums of Tamil Nadu. He has travelled widely all over India and abroad. He has published many research papers and books, of which the books on Butterflies and Fishes are outstanding. He was my mentor and role model ever since my childhood, and though he departed from us  in 1999, at the age of 77, he is still our Master or "Guru" whom always set before us as a model.