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Chemical Engineering 391 Life Long Learning

A love of learning 2

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So much to learn…

Said Conrad Cornelius O'Donnell O'Dell, My very young friend who was learning to spell, "A is for Ape and B is for Bear, "C is for Camel and H is for Hair... "through to Z is for Zebra, I know them all well,” Said Conrad Cornelius O'Donnell O'Dell... "From beginning to end, from the start to the close, "For Z is as far as the alphabet goes.” Then he almost fell flat on his face on the floor When I took up the chalk and drew one letter more, A letter he'd never dreamed of before… And I said, "You can stop if you want with the Z… "But not me. In the places I go there are things that I see "That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. "I'm telling you this 'cause you're one of my friends, "My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends…

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"So on beyond Zebra, explore like Columbus. "Discover new letters like WUM is for Wumbus… "So on beyond Z it's high time you were shown, "That you really don't know all there is to be known.”

--Dr. Seuss

Well Rounded

•  “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52).

•  Jesus was well-rounded –  Wisdom à Intellectual –  Stature à Physical –  Favor with God à Spiritual –  Favor with Man à Social

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Hettler’s Six Dimensions of Wellness 5

The Purposes of a BYU Education 6

The uniqueness of Brigham Young University lies in its special role – education for eternity – which it must carry in addition to the usual tasks of a university. This means concern – curricular and behavioral – not only for the “whole man,” but also for the “eternal man.” Where all universities seek to preserve the heritage of knowledge that history has washed to their feet, this faculty has a double heritage – the preserving of knowledge of men and the revealed truths sent from heaven.

In all the world, the Brigham Young University is the greatest institution of learning. This statement I have made numerous times. I believe it sincerely. There are many criteria by which a university can be judged and appraised and evaluated. The special qualities of Brigham Young University lie not in its bigness; there are a number of much larger universities, It should not be judged by its affluence and the amount of money available for buildings, research, and other facilities. It should not be judged by prestige, for there are higher institutions as the world measures status.

President Spencer W. Kimball BYU Centennial Convocation

October 10, 1975

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BYU Mission

The mission of Brigham Young University is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and

eternal life.

•  Aims of a BYU Education: 1.  Spiritually strengthening 2.  Intellectually enlarging 3.  Character building, leading to 4.  Lifelong learning and service

Spiritually Strengthening

•  Brother Maeser, I want you to remember that you ought not to teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God. --Brigham Young

•  We don’t teach religion in every class, but •  Subjects are “bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel” •  A spiritually strengthening education warms and enlightens students

by the bright fire of their teachers' faith while enlarging their minds with knowledge.

•  It also makes students responsible for developing their own testimonies by strenuous effort.

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Intellectually Enlarging

•  Every accomplishment, every polished grace, every useful attainment in mathematics, music, and in all science and art belong to the Saints, and they should avail themselves as expeditiously as possible of the wealth of knowledge the sciences offer to every diligent and persevering scholar. --Brigham Young

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Intellectually Enlarging

•  Students should enlarge their intellects by developing skills, breadth, and depth: 1.  skills in the basic tools of learning, 2.  broad areas of human knowledge, and 3.  real competence in at least one area of

concentration. The intellectual aims of a BYU education are intended to give students

understanding, perspective, motivation, and interpersonal abilities--not just information and academic skills. Such an education prepares students who can make a difference in the world, who can draw on their academic preparation to participate more effectively in the arenas of daily life.

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Character Building 11

A firm, unchangeable course of righteousness through life is what secures to a person true intelligence.

--Brigham Young

President David O. McKay taught that character is the highest aim of education: above knowledge is wisdom, and above wisdom is character. "True education," he explained, "seeks to make men and women not only good mathematicians, proficient linguists, profound scientists, or brilliant literary lights, but also honest men with virtue, temperance, and brotherly love." Consequently, a BYU education should bring together the intellectual integrity of fine academic discipline with the spiritual integrity of personal righteousness. The result is competence that reflects the highest professional and academic standards--strengthened and ennobled by Christlike attributes. Thus understood, the development of character is so important that BYU "has no justification for its existence unless it builds character, creates and develops faith, and makes men and women of strength and courage, fortitude, and service--men and women who will become stalwarts in the Kingdom and bear witness of the . . . divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not justified on an academic basis only." Rather, it fulfills its promise when "the morality of the graduates of this University provide[s] the music of hope for the inhabitants of this planet."

Lifelong Learning and Service 12

Well-developed faith, intellect, and character prepare students for a lifetime of learning and service. By "entering to learn" and continuing to learn as they "go forth to serve," BYU students strengthen not only themselves - they "also bring strength to others in the tasks of home and family life, social relationships, civic duty, and service to mankind." 1. Continual Learning. BYU should inspire students to keep alive their curiosity and prepare them to continue learning throughout their lives. BYU should produce careful readers, prayerful thinkers, and active participants in solving family, professional, religious, and social problems. Therefore, a BYU degree should educate students in how to learn, teach them that there is much still to learn, and implant in them a love of learning "by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118). 2. Service. Since a decreasing fraction of the Church membership can be admitted to study at BYU, it is ever more important that those who are admitted use their talents to build the kingdom of God on the earth. Hence, BYU should nurture in its students the desire to use their knowledge and skills not only to enrich their own lives but also to bless their families, their communities, the Church, and the larger society.

We might ask, when shall we cease to learn? I will give you my opinion about it;

never, never. . . . We shall never cease to learn, unless we apostatize from the religion of Jesus Christ.

--Brigham Young

Our education should be such as to improve our minds and fit us for increased usefulness;

to make us of greater service to the human family. --Brigham Young

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Where You Are

•  Graduation – A “Commencement” •  BS degree - A solid foundation upon which

to build •  16 years of schooling – instruction on how

to learn – Teaching vs. Learning

•  All have been “taught” the same things in our program

•  What you have “learned” depended on your effort

Learning As A Process

“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.” - 2 Nephi 28:30

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Set in Order Your House

“And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory a house of order, a house of God.” – D&C 88:118-119

Five Dimensions

1.  The Professional Dimension 2.  The Spiritual/Sacred Dimension 3.  The Personal Progression Dimension 4.  The Family Dimension 5.  The Social Dimension

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Professional Dimension

•  Statistically speaking: –  You will be outdated every 5-7 years –  You will change jobs 2 to 3 times

•  Keep the saw sharp

On the Job

•  Professional societies •  Professional journals/

magazines •  Professional certification •  Short courses •  Continuing ed (AIChE, etc.) •  Professional development

leaves •  In-service Training

Ride the surf…

Don’t wipe out …

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Spiritual Dimension

“He that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.” – Alma 12:10-11

Preparation for Church Service

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Spiritual Education

•  Scripture reading •  Prayer •  Temple worship •  Spiritual experiences/Priesthood

ordinances •  Church activity/calling •  Service to others

Personal Education

•  Be well read •  Keep current with world and community

affairs •  Develop new skills •  Keep up with technological advances •  Consider community short courses •  Give Service

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Family Dimension

•  Spouse – Neither spouse should be stagnant – Both need a sense of fulfillment

•  Set an environment for learning in the home – Make available and read good books – Discuss issues with children – Foster educational opportunities and activities

Social Dimension

In the long run, it will not be enough for anyone who desires a sense of fulfillment and purpose to be an able lawyer, a practitioner of medicine, a skilled architect, a proficient engineer, or whatever. We need another dimension in our lives, a compelling need and drive within each of us to feel that somehow, somewhere we have made a difference – that our lives have mattered… One does not have to be brilliant to make a difference in this world, to reach out and help and serve and lead others.” - President Hinckley, Standing for Something, pg 58, 62.

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Social Commitment

Enter to Learn, Go Forth To Serve

Qualities that make a ‘Champion’

•  Dare to dream •  Get fired up •  Aim high •  Plan more than one strategy •  Bounce back •  Don’t give up

From John Anderson, president of the Center for Sports Psychology in Colorado Springs who has worked with Olympic athletes

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Dare to dream

Envisioning what you want to accomplish or become, is the first step on the road to success.

What kind of student do you imagine yourself being? How do you see yourself using your knowledge and education in helping others in the work place, at home, in your community? Can you visualize yourself as an intellectual ‘champion’?

Get fired up

Be driven to be and do your very best—always. Keep the internal torch for learning burning. Be excited about future opportunities and curious about what you do not know. Enthusiasm makes the difference.

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Aim high

Don’t set your sights too low; you are likely to live up to your expectations. Believe you can be and do something great and worthwhile with the talents you have and the knowledge you will receive.

Plan more than one strategy

As a champion, always have a strategy or a game plan to direct your efforts. Sometimes things do not work out the way you thought they would, and you need to be prepared with a back up plan. If you fail at something, what are you going to do about it? If you decide engineering is not what you want to do, what next?