Hello! My name is Tyler Walton and I am majoring in Trade and Technical Education with an emphasis in drafting education. When I graduate, I will be prepared to teach at a high school or ATC. I currently work full time as a draftsman for a structural steel engineering firm in Brigham City, where I also live. I have been married for 14 years and am the father of five children: three girls and two boys. Click here to have comedian Jim Gaffigan explain what it is like to have five children?
I love to play basketball with my family, watch movies, do woodworking, design homes, and cook. I have been drawn (pun intended) to the drafting and architectural industry since I took a drafting course myself in high school. Since then, being a drafting teacher has been my dream, even though I have taken quite a detour!
I would define literacy as being able to read or interpret, then comprehend material in a certain setting. More literate folks would be able to also think about the material presented and think about the things they are learning, then form their own opinions and act on them. Literacy definitely applies to my area of discipline. First, quantitative literacy is a must because math is a huge part of drafting. Second, a draftsman is responsible for writing instructions for building fabrication, so it is necessary to have excellent comprehension and an ability to communicate the instructions clearly in writing.
I look forward to this class and will blog again soon!
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, what a funny bit on being the parent of four! Even though it may seem like drowning and somebody handing you a baby, I can say as an adult that I have loved having lots of cousins. There are a lot of benefits to a bigger family.
Secondly, I liked your ideas on literacy in engineering. I think in engineering, it is ESPECIALLY important for people to be able to communicate. For instance, if engineers cannot communicate their designs properly to manufacturers, literal disasters can occur, such as the collapse of the Hyatt Regency Walkway in 1981. I also heard that an engineer knew that an O-ring might fail in the Challenger Space Shuttle, but did not communicate the potential danger clearly enough to his superiors, and the shuttle was launched anyway.
All to say, I agree with you that literacy and engineering are a good combination, and I look forward to hearing more of your ideas as the semester progresses!
It was nice to meet you. I appreciated the link. It made me laugh. People often say that math and science are subjects that don't require much reading or literacy, but that is not true. Like you said, you need to have quantitative literacy. In addition to that literacy gives application to math concepts through story problems. Directions, like you said, are necessary for the success of any student.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post, i enjoyed reading it.
I know all about having five children...it's a three ringed circus. I like your definition of literacy.
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