Random Ruminations: University

Distance Education

Posted Sat Dec 15, 2007 in University

I’ve never been fond of the idea of distance education the way it is normally considered — tape- or disk-recorded lectures delivered asynchronously to “students” located away from campus. The reason is that I believe much of the education process involves interaction between the educator and the student. My entire teaching philosophy revolves around my interaction with the student.

Without that interaction, the student should exercise self-education and spend time reading, studying, and working through materials of interest. I know this process well because I’ve done it for decades¹.

So, given that I need to interact with the students, I’ve been researching video-teleconferencing solutions. What I want to do is to enable the students to see and hear me, plus a virtual whiteboard where I can display notes from my personal notes. It would be good if the students could download those (PDF, perhaps) for later review. I think I have on-line resources that will enable that process.

One thing I’ll do differently than in a live classroom is to save and email PDF’s of my notes to the students. Then, I’ll require them to hand- or machine-copy them to a class notebook to be turned in. I need to see that they’ve created ownership of the material and the only way I know to accomplish that is for them to hand-copy my notes to their notebooks.

So, I think we can make a go of this experiment. It will be interesting to see that happens.

¹ Over the span of my life, I spent countless hours reading and working through things that interest me. I know enough physics, chemistry and mathematics to handle most technical material, given enough time. I know the process works.

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Engineering Education (Reprise)

Posted Mon Jul 9, 2007 in University

Some time ago, I wrote a bit about engineering education in this country. I wrote about my opinion that an engineering education should comprise a liberal arts degree with an emphasis on mathematics and science followed by two years of professional education.

I’ve thought this for a very long time (like more than twenty years). I still think this, but the thoughts go nowhere because no one is listening.

I had an opportunity to visit with one of my ex-students the other day. We were discussing the fundamentals of engineering examination that is the first part of professional registration. Over the last few years, the civil program at Texas Tech saw a decline in pass rates amounting to about 30 percent. This sent the administration into a tizzy and word came down that “something must be done.”

In typical university fashion, committees were formed and studies made. We had reports at faculty meetings and word passed on to the dean.

Eventually I had a brainstorm (or brain-fart if you prefer). I’ve probably written this before, but it bears repeating. The issue is one of unintended consequences. My assertion was borne out by the dialogue with my ex-student.

We recently reduced the number of credit hours required for graduation. The target is 120 credit hours, but I think we were at 126. Courses traditionally required of engineers, a second course in engineering physics, thermodynamics, and electrical circuits became alternates or electives. Students then refused to take them (or course). They lacked certain components in their education that are still expected for the examination.

This is coupled with my assumption that many students pass just barely. I think the passing score was 70 percent and my ex-student shared that many of her friends passed with 70 or 71. Given about five percent of potential credit is lost because of curriculum changes, this is enough to put some students below the passing score. In my estimation, that would amount to about 30 percent or so.

I have no idea what Tech will decide to do to fix the problem. It is one of multiple constraints — the pressure to reduce the number of credit hours required for graduation and the pressure to produce high fundamentals of engineering examination passage. In my opinion, they can’t have it both ways.

The bandaide approach was to make the review course college wide (College of Engineering). I understand the civil students thought that was a disaster. I’m not surprised — they removed the discipline specialists from the equation. Again, what seemed like a good move to conserve resources had unintended consequences.

I wonder what they’ll do next. I expect, ultimately, universities will move to a bachelor of engineering degree and then the professional degree will be a master’s degree, like ASCE wants. It’s a bad idea and reduces the value (yet again) of higher education.

My opinion is that this is neither smart nor efficient. Either use the model that works, or change the model to something equivalent (like my idea of BA and professional school). What they’re doing is not working.

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End of An Era III

Posted Sun Dec 24, 2006 in University

I will never tire of mountain images. I already have a big collection just from the small amount of time we spent in the Carson Valley. I’m going to collect more images and I can’t wait to get my serious camera out there. I’m planning on upgrading my Nikon D100 to a D200 as soon as I can save the shekels. I already have some pretty good Nikon glass and am looking forward to exploring the area camera in tow. If things work out, I’m actually thinking about buying a field camera so I can do large-format negatives on real film. There is nothing digital that can capture as much information as a 4×5 negative.

I’ve spent considerable text explaining how I got to a mental place where we decided to leave Lubbock (and Texas Tech University) and move to a small Nevada town where I’ll work for a consultant. So far there’s been a lot of text. For the record, the first part of the story is here and the second part is here. Those two articles reveal the surprise decision and then a portion of the lengthy history of my family in Lubbock. What isn’t revealed is how the position came available and the backstory there. Let me elaborate.

On 05 June 2005, we watched Daughter and family depart on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska to start a new life. SiL had just finished a hardship tour in South Korea, resulting in a family separation that lasted more than a year. It was a good move for them, but the time leading up to the move and then the separation left me in a very bad place. It’s hard to explain, so maybe it’s better I don’t even try. Suffice it to say I was heartbroken when they departed.

In the ensuing months, I felt we’d lost much of what kept us in Lubbock. With them gone, I knew the remainder of my family would follow if we decided to leave Lubbock. I began to think seriously about leaving, and spent some time searching the web for possible jobs. I limited my geographic search because I wanted to live either near the mountains or near the ocean (or both). The south and midwest were out. Southern culture and climate don’t suit me well.

Eventually I found a listing for a senior-level civil engineer/hydrologist with a company in western Nevada. On a lark, I sent a copy of my resume to the email address on the listing. Not much time passed before I received an email and a phone call. A formal telephone interview and several other telephone conversations followed. The people seemed really good.

The job offer came, contingent on an interview trip to do a face-to-face. That seemed reasonable to me.

I struggled with the decision to even take the interview trip. I was still not in the best emotional condition, having just begun the process of rallying from a clinical depression. We prayed over the decision. I talked to trusted friends — we sought counsel wherever we could find wisdom.

In the end, as much as I desired to leave Lubbock, I didn’t feel the time was right. That’s true — it was a subjective decision. I felt there were things left undone and the timing seemed wrong. So, disappointed, I gave them the word that I wouldn’t spend their money to make the trip given I did not feel I could accept the position. They accepted my decision and we parted on good terms.

Much transpired between that date and the time the telephone rang a few weeks ago. A substantial body of work was completed and the reports generated. During a time of particularly high stress, I emailed the firm as a follow up. They had hired another engineer and he was performing well. Again disappointed and feeling trapped, I tabled the notion of leaving Lubbock and decided the door was simply closed.

I forgot about western Nevada and turned my attentions to the duties before me. As time passed, I seemed to draw additional duties which put additional pressure on the time available to do my own work. Nonetheless, I persevered and did my best to get everything done, keep my research program moving, meet my classes, and address the needs of my students.

Last semester I made a practice of leaving campus after class on Fridays. I wanted to be home where Wife and Young Son were, even if working in my workroom. One Friday shortly before Thanksgiving, I returned home from class to find a telephone message from the human resources person of the western Nevada firm.

I returned the call and the HR person stated, flatly, “We are in need of a hydrologist and the principal asked me to call and see if you might be interested.” Her voice was dull. Clearly she expected a negative answer. “Are you?” she asked.

I felt a stab of hope in my heart. I had been thinking about how I would stick out the time until we were released from Lubbock. “Well, as a matter of fact, I am.” I responded. Her vocal demeanor changed dramatically, her accent went nuts, and I could understand only some of her words. I got the message, though, that she was excited and encouraged that I responded positively.

A few days later we conducted another telephone interview and they invited my family and me to visit. We couldn’t leave until after Daughter and her family returned to Alaska, but we started plans to make the trip.

We fell in love with the place and the people. Many of them were open about their personal beliefs, although it never felt forced or false. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. I couldn’t believe it would work out.

But, it did. I would be practicing what I’ve been teaching for the last fourteen years. I would be working in the discipline I trained and actually building things again, after nearly two decades of paper-chasing.

It’s been challenging, mentally and emotionally, to get this through my head. I’m actually changing careers, leaving teaching to practice. I’ve second-guessed myself several times and wondered what-the-hell am I doing. It’s been an intellectual/emotional roller coaster at times.

Changing careers will do that, I think.

So, we’re moving forward to a new place. A friend said to me “Never leave something; always go to something.” I think those are wise words and I’ve taken them to heart. Despite the bitterness that might be implied from Part II, I really don’t think much about what we’re leaving; I think a lot about where we’re going and what I’ll be doing.

I’m sure there will be challenges to surmount. I think that’s OK — it’s part of life to face challenges and move past them. This is a good thing, I believe.

To sum up, what are the odds that:

I’d find a position that matches my qualifications in a small engineering firm through the monster.com website…
I’d qualify through a telephone interview and be offered a position, subject to an interview trip…
I’d turn down the opportunity because it “didn’t feel like the right time for a move” and watch the opportunity slip away…
Some time later I’d learn the person hired was doing an excellent job…
After about one and one-half years a telephone call would come with the position open again…
We’d make the interview trip, fall in love with the place and the people, and all of the details would work out…

Either this is the biggest serendipity that has ever existed, or we’ve been blessed. I think it’s the latter, personally. I don’t believe in coincidence.

I’m also looking forward to the move — not the process, but the end result. I think we’re going to be very happy in Nevada.

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End of an Era II

Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006 in University

A few weeks ago (it seems much longer than that) we were on our way home from a TxDOT meeting in Arlington, Texas. As the sun set, I pulled to the shoulder, opened the moonroof, and made a few images of the setting sun and the western sky. The sunset is a favorite thing of mine out here in west Texas and one of the things I’ll miss. I think we were near Jayton, Texas at the time.

In the first part of my story, I simply stated we are leaving Lubbock and bound for Minden, Nevada. I suppose I should tell a little bit about how I got to this place in space and time, then explain a little about what made me decide to take the job.

Lubbock has been a mix for us. We’ve been here fourteen years. Of those years, we’ve had about seven good years and seven not-so-good years.

The first five years I spent investing heavily in my university career. I typically worked 12-hour days, usually hitting the office about 0700 and not leaving until sometime around 1800, not done with work, but heading for the house. That level of commitment is required to establish oneself as a faculty member at a major university¹. There are classes to teach, research proposals to write, and research to execute (hopefully). Reports and papers have to be written as well, plus a commitment to service is part of the job. That’s just the way it is.

We were also involved in church. I played guitar and sang on the worship team and we were at church practically every time the doors were open. The kids were involved as well. Daughter helped me with the worship team. Older Son spent a lot of time with his friends there. Young Son had his group too.

When Older Son was about 17 years old, we learned of his substance-abuse problem. He should have been about to graduate from high school, but his work suffered and he wouldn’t get a job. What ensued was about five years of pure hell. The situation nearly destroyed my family and it nearly destroyed both Wife and me.

While Older Son began his long road to recovery, my clinical depression set in. About two or three years ago I was at my worst. I continued working, for the most part, but eventually took a semester off from teaching to regroup. Even while on leave I continued working on research projects — with the capable help of a very supportive research team.

Two years ago I received notice it was time for a post-tenure review. My department chair gave me the option of delaying for a year, but I decided (rightly or wrongly) to go ahead. I thought work was progressing. In fact, as I reviewed the dossier I prepared for the panel, I thought “This is pretty good work. We’ve accomplished a lot over the last five or six years.”

The review panel did not think so. It was only through the chair’s intervention that I was not put in a development program. I was devastated, of course. It’s difficult to put one’s work before a panel for critical review and have them say it doesn’t pass muster.

Still, I continued working. After a semester break, I took up the classroom again and resumed normal duties. Daughter and her family prepared to move to Alaska and that was another tough shot. However, it didn’t put me in a tailspin and I managed to cope, even with the depression. My dissatisfaction with the university and Lubbock burgeoned and I began thinking about moving on and even looked at a few jobs.

However, at my age and at my career stage, there aren’t many places to go. I didn’t want a lateral move and I didn’t believe another faculty position would be substantially different than the one I was in. (The aphorism about the devil you know applies.) I was burned out on the classroom and service activities were not fun. The only thing sustaining me was research — my research team and my graduate students.

About this time a personnel problem developed. Details are not appropriate. Suffice it to say that work became more difficult than before and my attitude suffered as a result. I found myself increasingly challenged to head for campus every morning. It was not healthy.

Moreover, and perhaps of greater importance, I longed for another place to live. I dreamed of living in or near the mountains, the ocean, or both. I vividly remembered living in Denver and the view afforded by the front range every morning. I remembered the long weekend drives in the Colorado Rockies and the times we enjoyed there as a family. Despite the difficult times we had in Denver, access to the mountains eased the struggle.

This last year my team and I were again successful in competing for research projects. We had four new projects come on-line. Suddenly I was a “hero” of the department, although nothing had really changed from the period of time before my post-tenure review debacle — the research team successfully completed work every year and the reports and publications were forthcoming. Make no mistake, a substantial portion of the credit for the work lies with the research team, not with me. The credit belongs with the team, not the individual.

I became increasingly bitter over the fact that, just a couple years before, my work was unacceptable, yet with no underlying change in the work the perceptions changed. My frustration with “the system” grew.

Then a professional position I thought was gone reopened. (The circumstances of that position will be Part III.) I was mentally and emotionally prepared for a change. Unlike the first time around, we accepted the interview trip and liked what we saw. In discussions amongst ourselves, we could see no reason to stay in Lubbock². There’s a lot of bad karma in Lubbock for us.

So, there it is³. I’ve lost the enjoyment of the classroom. (For an example see this entry. Also, my faculty evaluations came out today and they were as disappointing to read as they usually are.) I don’t really like service activities — too political and ineffectual. I don’t do enough research anymore; I’m just a facilitator⁴. I no longer desire to live in Lubbock — it’s feeling more and more big-city to me as time passes. There is much bad karma for me in Lubbock. I long for the mountains and time spent in the high, cold mountain air — and, perhaps, an opportunity to do engineering work again. There’s an old saying: “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Regardless of the veracity of that aphorism, I think I can and I’m going to prove it.

Or I’ll prove I can only teach…

¹ Maybe this level of commitment is required for any professional position, not just a faculty position. I only know I’ve worked hard and long hours no matter where I’ve been.

² Well, Young Son dissents. He loves the place and the people in Nevada. He also has known nothing but Lubbock. So, he’s in a quandary. But, we’re confident he’ll make the switch successfully and find he enjoys the Carson Valley.

³ Well, that’s the second part of the story. There’s a third component as well that I will tell. The third component is actually much more positive than this one.

⁴ Actually, I’m more of a manager but I hate that term and I especially don’t like it applied to me!

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End of An Era I

Posted Sat Dec 9, 2006 in University

While en-planed at the Las Vegas airfield yesterday, another Boeing 737 pulled into the slot next to ours to discharge its load of passengers. The juxtapostion of colors and angles caught my eye and so I made the image. The image is not quite as sharp as I’d like, nor is the contrast spot-on, but it’s an interesting image nonetheless and so I decided to share.

What were we doing in Las Vegas? I can tell you it sure wasn’t to join the party crowd aboard our Lubbock—Las Vegas leg. No, we were on our way to Reno, Nevada and thence to Minden, Nevada where we’ll be moving shortly.

I resigned my position at Texas Tech University to return to private practice. After fourteen years of university life, I’m rejoining the ranks of practicing engineers.

Of course a number of folks will ask me “Why?” It’s a fair question and one I intend to explore on these pages over the course of the next few weeks. I don’t mind sharing much of what I’ve learned over the last fourteen years and no one will be damaged by what I have to say.

I know of webloggers who got into some serious trouble because they wrote about things where they worked. I can see why that happened because those things were inappropriate. They either damaged individual reputations are wrote about their employer in an inappropriate fashion. I’ve never done that, even when I’ve had struggles with relationships between individuals. I know there are two sides to every story and sharing the bloody details is not appropriate. I won’t do that.

What I’ll say this morning is that I’m really happy for the first time in a long time. I love where I am right now, looking out the window at the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Lake Tahoe is 15 minutes from here. Minden is a small town, but these people are westerners and they have that western attitude. The folks I’ve interacted with are open and friendly.

I don’t know what to do with my feelings. I asked God for a gift and he gave me one — big time.

There will be more, and I have many images to share.

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First Day of Class, Fall 2006

Posted Mon Aug 28, 2006 in University

Well, my syllabus is about ready. I need to print it and copy it for my students. The semester begins at 1100 in the CE building for me. I’ll meet my Hydraulic Design class this morning. It’s nearly a full class, I think. I say I think because, ironically, the Registrar’s Web Site and the services faculty, staff, and students depend on, is down.

Yeah, it’s about 0800 on the first day of class and the principal point of contact for all of us is inoperative. Is that excellent timing or something else?

I have a little tweaking I want to do to my syllabus (a few new thoughts occurred to me this morning), then I’m good-to-go. I’ll take time to review my notes when I get to campus this morning, so I know what else I might talk about today. However, today is an introduction for the students and for me, so I won’t get into a heavy lecture.

I’ve drawn some new duties this academic year. I’m going to think about them and what I need to do this afternoon. Well, I’ll think about them as soon as I have my proposal finished.

Actually, I should sit down and think through my task list. A number of tasks are coming due very soon and I must be sure to properly allocate time resources to those tasks. Then I can relax a bit and dedicate resources to other duties.

OK, I need my first cup of the day—it’s in the pot—so let me run and get some coffee and then finish up my syllabus.

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Faculty Meetings

Posted Fri Aug 25, 2006 in University

The image is a teaser from the last batch made while on our trip to Missouri. It’s the Star of Texas displayed at the welcome center located on U.S. 69 at the Oklahoma border. When we arrived the center was closed, but the architecture was pretty interesting. TxDOT spent some money building this facility and should be proud of it. It’s beautiful.

Yesterday the dean hosted the College of Engineering fall faculty meeting. There were a few things presented I needed to know about, but I spent a lot of my energy working on a proposal that needs to get out. I’m lacking one short-form CV and the package will be about ready to go.

This morning I’ll be tied up all morning in the departmental faculty meeting. We don’t have a lot of faculty meetings in my department (which is both good and bad), so when we do, they’re pretty full. This afternoon I’ll finish ram-rodding my proposal through channels.

Classes begin Monday here at Texas Tech. I’m not sure if I’ll have one or two this fall. I’m hoping for one because my research load is relatively heavy. I’m prepared for two classes, though. I need to port the remainder of my notes from my old tablet-pc to my MBP. I’ve got Winders running on my MBP using Parallels and will install Microsoft OneNote, at least in the interim, until I can typeset all of my class notes.

OK, now to the shower, another cup, and to campus. It’s going to be a busy day.

0845: I’m on-campus, fed, and have more coffee. So, I guess I’m ready to go to the faculty meeting. I just about have my proposal assembled, so that can be processed, hopefully in parallel to my faculty meeting.

In addition, I solved a problem. I haven’t been able to get my MBP talking to the wireless network here on campus. (It works just fine on my WiFi net at home!) I spent a half-hour on the phone with the TTU Help Desk yesterday trying to debug the problem. We walked through the instructions but were unable to get my MBP talking to the campus WiFi network. This morning, on a flyer, I clicked on the TTUnet entry under the Airport icon. When asked for the WEP password or key, I chose LEAP instead. The system asked for my credentials, then promptly gave me a connection. So much for the help-desk instructions.

Now off to my faculty meeting…

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