Fundamentals of Engineering 6

Introduction

This page summarizes the fundamentals of engineering.

This link explains how to learn by breaking down a subject into its fundamentals and then progressively learning each one.

Engineering

  1. Rationale for Learning Engineering: Design and build technology products that make the world a better place.
  2. Engineering: Engineering is the process of developing technology products such as airplanes, computer system like that used by Amazon, highways, bridges, oil refineries, manufacturing plants, wind turbines, systems to produce safe drinking for communities, and so on.
  3. Path for Learning Engineering To learn engineering effectively, master and integrate three key areas: life skills, engineering skills, and domain subjects.

The 10 Essential Life Skills

Life Skills: A life skill is a practical ability that significantly improves a person’s or group’s productivity, results, or wellbeing across a wide range of situations. Life skills are like superpowers.

  1. Critical Thinking (CT)): CT is the process of figuring out what is true and what is not and also figuring out the best actions to take.
  2. Research: Research is the process of getting high quality information from other people (secondary research) and from direct observations or measurements (primary research) for the purpose of answering meaningful questions.
  3. Learning: Learning is the process of changing the brain in ways the improve knowledge or performance in pursuit of worthwhile results.
  4. Problem Solving: A problem is a gap between current conditions and desired future conditions. Problem solving is the process of figuring out how to close this gap and taking actions to achieve the desired outcomes.
  5. Collaboration: Collaboration is the process of working together in pursuit of worthy results, in a way that benefits both the individuals and the group.
  6. Leadership: Leadership is the process of rallying a group toward a better future and guiding them in ways that achieve this future.
  7. Communication: Communication is the process of accurately and effectively sending and receiving messages such that you achieve your desired outcomes.
  8. Communication is the process of accurately and effectively sending and receiving messages in ways that promote shared understanding and help achieve intended goals.
  9. Organization: Organizing is the process of arranging items (time, tasks, files, tools, desk items, projects, ..) to maximize your productivity, happiness, and results.
  10. Organization is the process of systematically arranging items (such as time, tasks, tools, or information) to improve efficiency, reduce stress, and achieve desired outcomes.
  11. Following Values: Following values is the process of clarifying moral, professional, group, and personal values and then following them such that you maximize both your results and your wellbeing. .
  12. Following values is the process of identifying your moral, professional, group, and personal values, and then aligning your actions with them to promote meaningful results and long-term wellbeing.
  13. Wellbeing: Wellbeing is the process of figuring out how to arrange your life to maximize your wellbeing in all dimensions and then acting on this with the result of continually improving wellbeing.
  14. Wellbeing is a state of physical, emotional, mental, financial, and social health in which a person feels capable, fulfilled, and balanced. Achieving wellbeing involves regularly reflecting on your life and taking actions that support growth in all important dimensions.

Engineering Skills

  1. Engineering Skills: An engineering skill is any skill that is essential for performing engineering work effectively. This includes both technical skills used in engineering practice and life skills that are useful in all contexts.
  2. Unit Practices: Unit practices involve using units, dimensions, and numerical values correctly and consistently, while following best practices for labeling, converting, and communicating quantities.
  3. Design: Design is the process of imaging something that does not yet exist, figure out how to build this, and then guiding the building of it.
  4. Drawing: Drawing is the process of visually representing objects, systems, or ideas using symbols, lines, and figures to communicate structure, function, or instructions—especially for design, analysis, and construction.
  5. Modeling: Modeling is the process of creating a simplified version of reality and then validating that the model is accurate enough for its context.
  6. Prototyping: Prototyping is the process of creating a real-world version of a solution—either partially or fully—to test its design, function, or feasibility.
  7. Math Modeling: Math modeling is the process of representing a real-world system or situation using mathematical equations, then analyzing or solving those equations to understand behavior, size components, make predictions, or guide decisions.
  8. Coding: Coding is the process of writing and testing computer instructions (code) and integrating them with other code so that the overall program performs useful functions for end users.

Essential Domain Subjects

Optional Domain Subjects

A fundamental of engineering refers to something that is essential, basic, or foundational to doing engineering skillfully.

Here is a list of engineering fundamentals.

Engineering

The 10 Essential Life Skills

Engineering Skills

Essential Domain Subjects

Optional Domain Subjects