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I ain't as dumb as they want me to think I am...

As some of you know, I left my job at Christmas to return full time to school to get an engineering degree, I'm kinda clever ;-), but my first full time semester was full of suck. I took Thermo, Dynamics, Solid Mech, and Chem for Eng. Chem for Eng was a joke, I never attended class and got an A. Thermo, the teacher, it was his first time, I learned from the book, got a B+ Dynamics, the teacher was a grad student, and he was incredibly passionate about teaching, great class, harder than hell, got a B. And then there is Solid Mech. The grade has been a sword of Damocles hanging over my head, I was doing so poorly that I even registered to take it again in the summer, the first test, I got a 39, and that was greater than one sigma below the mean. Well folks, I just dropped that summer class because I got a C. Yea freakin' ha!!! I never thought I'd be this excited to be average. LOL. So now I have all summer, only one class (materials) and maybe a part time job, expect to see more (low cost) instructables. Ghod, right now I feel awesome.

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jack8559 says: Aug 13, 2008. 9:34 AM
I never had trig, but proficiencied out of the class on the 3rd day... simple stuff really.
135
caitlinsdad says: May 3, 2008. 11:12 AM
I remember getting test scores in the 10s and 20s for my first mechanics courses. That was pretty good considering the real geniuses and cheating circles threw the curve off for the scoring. Thank goodness they invented statistical analysis to take care of that. I guess they design those exams to be hard to teach you survival skills if nothing else.
29
westfw in reply to caitlinsdadMay 7, 2008. 9:53 AM
heh. Fond memories of of Physics GH250 when the prof said something like "I normally design my tests to have an average score of about 60%, but these grades were really low." (IIRC, the class average was 40-something. I wonder if I still have that test in storage? Not that it matters; last time I looked at one of my (3rd year engineering) books, I couldn't even remember what all the operators meant...)
69
Tool Using Animal (author) in reply to caitlinsdadMay 3, 2008. 1:55 PM
On my first thermo test, it was open book, open notes, about 10 people printed out the solutions manual and brought that with them, they all got 100's :-(.
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caitlinsdad in reply to Tool Using AnimalMay 3, 2008. 6:02 PM
Half the score was being able to transcribe the formula from the book correctly (look up motion equation to describe a universal gear linkage). I was taking Calc 101 at the same time they expect you to know how to solve the equation. Good times, good times...
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Tool Using Animal (author) says: May 7, 2008. 5:08 AM
Wow, I'm not sure how I feel about this, apparently so many students went to the professor and complained about their grades in Solid Mech that he redid the curve, now I have a B, I didn't earn it, but now I have it. Yea, grade inflation, I guess. It's possible he just dropped the first test altogether, something he suggested he might do when I visited him to see whether I should drop or not after getting my test score of 39.
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killerjackalope says: May 2, 2008. 6:31 PM
hehe, wait till you see just how busy you are for someone with free time, granted I've published 28 'ibles or so since I joined which was just before I was kciked outta school, needed something... this filled in and to be honest I've probably learnt much more in the last year than I would have in school, also my life developed huge amounts in comparison, I am far more life able than before, then again I was... Though the learning curve with free time and a part time job is a bit steep, you need to figure out the whole drinking and coming to work thing the next day...
2
Gavabc123 in reply to killerjackalopeMay 3, 2008. 4:18 PM
28, i have not even posted one since im still working on my first one
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killerjackalope in reply to Gavabc123May 4, 2008. 1:49 AM
Make it good then... just get it ready then show it, I've gotten great feedback about my latest 'ible and that took weeks because I had no photos so waiting for the camera and kept making it better and tidying the whole thing up...
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Tool Using Animal (author) in reply to Gavabc123May 3, 2008. 8:21 PM
It's quality that counts, aim for one good instructable, and then aim for the next good instructable. Personally, I have 45 ;-)
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killerjackalope in reply to Tool Using AnimalMay 4, 2008. 1:48 AM
Ah now most of mine are quality projects...
2
Gavabc123 in reply to killerjackalopeMay 4, 2008. 2:10 AM
what is the time in where ever u live? it is 9:13pm on sunday 4 may 2008 in new zealand
2
Gavabc123 in reply to Tool Using AnimalMay 3, 2008. 9:10 PM
i have none
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Tool Using Animal (author) in reply to Gavabc123May 3, 2008. 9:34 PM
I know, I'm saying concentrate on just making your first one to the best of your abilities.
38
Goodhart in reply to Gavabc123May 3, 2008. 4:22 PM
It took me nearly half a year to get my first one together....I can't complain :-)
2
Gavabc123 in reply to GoodhartMay 3, 2008. 8:06 PM
is it still may the 3 in usa its the 4 in new zealand
38
Goodhart in reply to Gavabc123May 4, 2008. 11:55 AM
Yes, it would be, you are on the other side of the "line" :-)
18
Labot2001 says: May 2, 2008. 7:04 PM
Ha, I'm passing Honors Geometry and haven't done hardly any of the homework this semester...
17
guyfrom7up in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 6:42 AM
Ha, I'm passing Honors Algebra 2 and got recomended for honors pre-calc next year.
18
Labot2001 in reply to guyfrom7upMay 3, 2008. 6:57 AM
I was recommended for Honors Algebra 2! =D
17
guyfrom7up in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 7:11 AM
good for you, dispite what people say, it's not that hard. Only hard things are: logarithims until you get the hang of it. Setting up equations correctly from word problems. Solving word problems that seem like they don't give you enough info. And making a tiny mistake in a problem, like you may have a really long complex equation your working out, and you might accidently switch a plus for a minus orsomething like that.
18
Labot2001 in reply to guyfrom7upMay 3, 2008. 7:28 AM
Ha, unfortunately for me, although I'm making an A in Geometry, I barely passed Algebra I with a high C.
38
Goodhart in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 8:11 AM
I know how you feel there. Geometry I could "practice", it made more sense to my reality at the time I was in school. I could use it. Algebra was a bit more arctic and untouchable (plus I had a miserable teacher).
17
guyfrom7up in reply to GoodhartMay 3, 2008. 8:19 AM
The teacher makes a huge difference Do you guys have to do construictions, in my school this years geometry class didn't have to, which I think was one of the most useful things in geometry.
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Goodhart in reply to guyfrom7upMay 3, 2008. 9:14 AM
Yes, they do. I have had mostly good ones, and really can only point out two (that I remember) that were severely bad. Two however stand out in my memory as being Great.
18
Labot2001 in reply to guyfrom7upMay 3, 2008. 8:25 AM
Construictions?

Do you mean constructions?

I'm not sure what you mean by that =/
17
guyfrom7up in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 8:41 AM
like using a compass to make right angles, make various degrees only with a straight edge and a compass, bisect angles, etc.
69
Tool Using Animal (author) in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 6:39 AM
Pretty much the only geometry I've run into so far is similar triangles and the Pythagorean theorem. Never took geometry myself....
18
Labot2001 in reply to Tool Using AnimalMay 3, 2008. 6:43 AM
It's real easy stuff if you know where the buttons are located on your TI-84 =]

We've done similar triangles, Pythagorean (A LOT), basic trig (might do a related ible soon), and some stuff with circles... Basically we learn a handful of skills, and how to apply them in a million different ways.
4
whatsisface in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 11:27 AM
Basic trig meaning sine, cosine and SOHCAHTOA?
18
Labot2001 in reply to whatsisfaceMay 3, 2008. 11:40 AM
Chief Sohcahtoa of the Trigotoka tribe??? HULLZZ YEAHHHH!!!!

And don't forget tangent =P
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Tool Using Animal (author) in reply to Labot2001May 3, 2008. 10:52 AM
I luvs my ti's, I have an 83 and a 92+.
18
Labot2001 in reply to Tool Using AnimalMay 3, 2008. 11:03 AM
I love 83/84's, no clue what a 92+ is, though.
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