tallbridgeguy

I’m live blogging my structural analysis class final. Two hours and I (and the students) are free to enjoy the summer! (break out the speedo!)

For the last eight weeks, I have been teaching every morning from 7:30 to 8:30 and then putting in my regular hours at the office.

The toughest thing in teaching is the entertainment factor. As a off-site instructor I have to keep my “favorability” ratings up, compared to a tenured professor, or else I may be gone. (American instructors are rated by the students and you better have a good rating….)

While its a good idea to be an entertaining, good instructor, it is not easy and I doubt I always succeed. As a practicing structural engineer I concentrate more on things they need to succeed in the “real” world. (no not MTV real world) This typically means my exams are more on the practical side.

For example, today’s final includes, shear/moments diagrams for a frame, a beam deflection question using virtual work, beam stiffness, influence line diagrams and moment distribution for a frame. I think this covers a lot of the situations a typically engineer will face. I hate the “trick” questions and go more for the long slog questions, where you actually have to solve a “real” problem.

Does this make me the perfect instructor, I would say yes. (I’m kidding.) Now where did I put my sunscreen? (see I’m pretty tall.)

http://www.smh.com.au/

Not being a member I have always been curious about who joins ASCE?

They have a page of blogs but I still can’t muster the energy to click on them. Maybe a reader can point out the benefits of being a member?

Prediction Netherlands vs. Germany.(I was a little scared to type nether-lands in Google but it was all good.)

I have to say, I like the style of soccer (football) that Germany plays….fast with a lot of teamwork, like this guy.

Looking forward to our long weekend, July 4 celebration. Next week is my last for summer school and then I’m free! Yay! (this video is the only time I saw Rooney score, snark!)

So not much to post but in honor of the WORLD CUP, Goallllll!

I guess the Bay bridge raised the toll to cross the bridge. During peak times it will cost you $6 to get across. The Golden Gate Bridge rates are here.

I have also driven on toll roads in Illinois and Kansas and I have to say, I hate them. I realize they may be necessary but like the Twilight series, I would rather not see them.

California even has a website called thetollroads. Yuck.