I am happy to respond to your question.
First, I should tell you that one did not have to have previous experience
with computers or programming to do well in the course. Many students do
come to college with lots of experience programming. Others do not. There
were many students who had no prior experience programming who made a solid
A in 379K. The course advertises NO COMPUTER PREREQUISITES, and this is
true, as evidenced by the performance of the students.
Now, then, back to your question of intelligence vs. motivation. Although
both are required, there is also another element which was very clear this
past semester. Too many students told me that they had never gotten below
an A on a test, and they had studied more for my exam than ever before, and
still they flunked the exam. How come? I have one possible explanation,
and it might be helpful to your question.
Too many freshmen have never learned what it means to understand material.
They have been successful by memorizing and then barfing back on the exam
what they crammed into their heads for the exam. For example, I teach how
to get from A to B and how to get from B to C. The student memorizes how
to get from A to B and how to get from B to C as part of the studying for
the exam. On the exam, what do I ask? How to get from A to C. Because
the student only memorized the patterns (A to B, B to C), he is not able
to see the connections and is not able to show how to get from A to C.
Result: Flunk.
So, rather than suggest that you have no aptitude for engineering, I would
rather suggest that you have not yet mastered how to learn, and the difference
between memorizing and understanding to the point that you can use what you
have learned. That is essential in an engineering education, and 379K was
the first place you saw it. It won't be the last.
So, I would suggest you may be perfectly capable to be an engineer, but that
we don't know yet. First step is to change how you approach *learning*
the material, and see what happens. Unfortunately, you need to unlearn
the notion that the more facts you cram into your head, the better you will
do on the exam. Understanding is really about being able to do more while
being required to memorize less.
OK? Your turn.
Yale Patt
From <a student> Wed Jan 10 00:52 CST 2001
To: patt@ece.utexas.edu
Subject: Question
Dr. Patt,
My name is <<name deleted>> and I just completed your ee379k
course. I made a C in your course. I don't know if I made that C
because of my intelligence (if
I'm not smart enough) or is it
because I had no background in computers. When I
was enroll in your course, this was my first
time dealing with the function of
the computer and programming. I understand most
of the programming and homework
assignments, but your test I have problem
solving it. I understand the test
once I get the answer. The concept
and fundamental and applying it on the test
is the hard thing. That is what
I can't determine between intelligence and my
background on computers. I'm afraid
that because I'm made a C in your course, I
don't think I can't
do well in other future engineering courses. To exceed in
engineering, which one is a require?
Is it motivation or intelligence??? I
believe that if one tries and tries again
he/she will succeed. I maybe wrong.
Engineering is mainly intelligence and a little motivation
. If you don't
understand it then you will never understand it.
I believe that I have the
motivation but not very bright like other students
. Should I just go with the
flow or should I start looking for a
different career? At least, I understand
the problem after I get the answer.
And yes, I like math. I believe I'm good at
it too. Reply when you get a chance.
Thanks,
<<name deleted>>
I have been asked questions about the grade distribution for the final exam. Therefore: 90 to 100: 71 students. A 75 to 89: 82 students. B 45 to 75: 128 students. C 21 to 44: 41 students. D 4 to 20: 27 students. F Average grade was 65. Yale Patt
Your grade is now available to you through the UT EID mechanism. If you would like to examine your final exam, you may look at it in my secretary's office in ENS 541 anytime she is there. That means nominally 8am to 5pm, minus her lunch hour and also when she is running errands. On Friday, December 22, she will only be in the office from 8am to noon, since the Governor gave her the afternoon off as his last act before leaving for Washington. Next week, she will not be in since it is effectively a staff holiday. After that, she should be here from 8am to 5 pm as I noted. The model we will use is as follows: Show her your student ID card; she will hand you your exam. She will log you in, so I will know who has come to look at their exams. You will not take the exam from her office, or mark on it with any pen, pencil, etc. When you are through looking at it, return the exam to her. There are two chairs in her office, so two students can be doing this at the same time. If you see two students doing this, please wait outside her office until one of them leaves. If you feel there has been an error in grading, do not bother her. Simply send me email explaining the problem. I will regrade it. Please do check your exam carefully. We are human, and we can make mistakes. If an error in grading results in a grade change, I will turn in a grade change form, so that you get the grade you earned. You can be sure of that. After a reasonable period, certainly before the end of the Spring semester, I will make the exams available for you to pick up and keep. If you have questions about your aptitude, interest, or anything else about computers, let me know and we can schedule a time for you to come by and talk about it. If there is sufficient interest, perhaps we can schedule a couple of late afternoon sessions next semester where I just come and answer questions from all of you in that regard. I hope you enjoyed the course, and are excited about continuing to learn about computers, whether you decide to major in in computer engineering or electrical engineering. Have a good vacation from this place, rest up, and prepare to hit the ground running when you return for the Spring semester. Good luck, Yale Patt December 21, 2000
Thanks for your email. Quick answers below. Long answers would be better
done in person. Maybe I should have a meeting early next term for former
379K students who want to simply fire advising questions like these at me.
Good luck planning your work here. It is a pleasure to see you take
responsibility for planning your own course of study.
Yale
Date: Sat, 16 Dec 2000 21:22:21 -0600 (CST)
To: patt@ece.utexas.edu
Subject: the course and other ee stuff
Dear Dr. Patt,
I am a student in ee379k. I had some questions related to
the course and other ee stuff. Firstly, would you say
that this course was
dead easy? Can I coclude something about
myself if I get an A, or is this
an easy course for any slightly smart person to ace?
I am told the course is demanding, and that if you got an A, it is a good
sign that you are suited to work in computer engineering.
Secondly, About ee 312, I heard that this is being changed to a C
course in the semester after the next one. I have the choice of either
That is our intent.
taking ee316 or ee312 next semester, should I take ee316 and waitfor the
course to be reformed?
Not clear. You need 312 (either form will do) before you take 319K, so it is
not clear you want to put off 312 until after the change.
also, will ee312 remain, along with ee316, the
prereq for ee319, or will another C++ course be inserted in the middle
before I can take ee319,
I think we will probably make 379k and 312 be the only prereqs for 319K.
....although 316 is a useful course that builds on what you got from Chapters
2 and 3 in 379K.
also, will the new ee312 be taught from your book?
Probably, but that is up to the instructor.
What are the chances that you will be instructing this course?
Pretty slim. If everything plays out as I suspect, Professor Chase will
teach the new 312 from my book, and he is very good.
Lastly, I would like to ask whether it is possible for me to trake
some CS courses that interest me. I have heard that the CS department is
much better at teaching "computation theory" and
It should certainly be possible, and is certainly a good idea. Whether
they satisfy any requirements or not, I don't know. You are better off
checking with one of the advisors who spend their days keeping up with
those regulations.
would like to take their
courses for this as well as other
fields of interest to me such as neural
networks. Also, is analog important or is
most the work we actually do in our careers digital?
Mostly digital, although lately, it is becoming more and more important
to build systems that have both. We call this *mixed signal* design.
A very hot field, currently.
Also, is it possible to take basic science courses
that might be beneficial in my specific field of interest, e.g
computational biology etc?
I think so. Not everyone agrees, but I think the more solid foundation you
have, the better you will do in the long run. And basic sciences will help
you with that.
Good luck.
Yale Patt
Professor Patt has sent the following message to several students. If you are one of them, it is important that you contact him, and plan on meeting with him before you leave for semester break. --------------- I have now talked to all students who came forward and admitted that they gave or received help on programming assignment 4 that was specifically disallowed. You were not one of those who came forward. I would like to speak to you about your programming assignment 4 solution. My strong preference is to have one meeting with all students who collaborated with each other. Please plan on meeting me as a group in my office. If you feel you did not give or receive any unauthorized aid, I urge you to meet with me to discuss your programming assignment 4 solution. I am currently out of town, and will not return until Thursday evening. I will make myself available as much as I can on Friday afternoon, but given that the final exam is Friday evening, I would prefer to talk to you on either Saturday, Sunday or Monday following the final exam. Please let me know when you will be coming by my office. Yale Patt
| Last name starts with: | Exam Room |
| A - O | WEL 2.224 |
| P - Z | WEL 1.316 |
| Last name starts with: | Exam Room |
| A - N | WEL 2.224 |
| O - Z | GEO 100 |
| Last name starts with: | Exam Room |
| A - L | WEL 2.224 |
| M - Z | BAT 7 |