architect54

A co-worker took Structural Systems. I asked him what topics were on it. His responses implied more lateral forces topics. Mentioning a few topics he had a confident yet softer look of remembrance towards the exam. He had I-passed-confidence, with a softer look in his eye as he lingered to recall in his mind (not to me) a few rather difficult questions. There were a couple fill-in the blank calculation questions that posed a challenge he said. As he mentioned the fill-in the blanks, that’s when he seemed to have a look in the eyes in remembrance of a moment in time gone. It all seemed a bit courageous somehow. For those of you studying for this part of the architectural registration exam hold strong to your courage to sufficiently master this topic.

On the weekend I finished up a final exam for a class I’m taking. Nothing too difficult it required time more than anything else. Well my Structures studies have suffered. I’ll just have to pick it up some where.

I lent out my Ballast Structures Q&A book for the weekend. I expect to get it back today. I guard these books and it was something to let that book out of my hands.

I keep a print out of the term motivation from wikipedia at my desk at work. I reread it occasionally to try and discover what I might be doing right or wrong. Here are some things I recently discovered.

Recently I realized that certain little rewards (extrinsic motivation) I entitled myself too, mostly special food treats, might be rewarding getting ready to study (A), but not actually rewarding studying (B). Even though I made a calendar schedule of study assignments, which I am behind on, I have made an alternate task list. This way assignments aren’t tied to a date, and as I mark off each assignment I can have the benefit of seeing them successfully complete on my list. I’ve recently questioned myself to consider what are my motivational hygiene factors. What are those things, settings, daily characteristics that don’t actually motivate me, but without them I am demotivated. I haven’t quite figured those out yet, but I’m paying closer attention. I take from the article that motivation is caused by different things at different times and I need to look out for (anticipate) when those differences might occur. Motivation depends on the setting, for example education or business. Should I be seeking out motivation from the freedom to explore and discover and set my own expectations at my own pace as in the Sudbury model (education) or try and find and rely on work setting motivational factors?

I leave the article this time thinking, I may need to deny myself some things in order to progress. I may deny myself certain little things to correct my reward system, and adjust my behavior. Also I am giving myself the freedom to explore structures at my own pace, but this may not produce the short term results I seek if I keep this pace. I have encouraged looking at studying for these exams in a broad manner as to application in your career. But I have to admit my inability to make good use of my time has not permitted such luxury on my previous exam or my upcoming Structural Systems architectural registration exam. That said, I am still going at a comfortable (that means slow) pace by reading “Why Buildings Stand Up” by Salvadori. The most important parts seem to be chapters 1 thru 5 for structures. I’m half way thru the book (chapter 10) and will complete it this week and move on to more difficult assignments.