The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), that sets the standards for engineering programs in the US, specified in its Engineering Criteria 2000, that engineering graduates should have:
a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
The reason behind this requirement is the fact that engineering fields have been evolving very rapidly. As a result, engineering graduates will need to continue to learn new information and acquire new skills on their own, long after leaving school, to keep pace with ever-changing technology and job requirements. As a matter of fact, the same holds true for any other field (medicine, law, business, etc.).
A good first step towards becoming a lifelong-learner (L3), is to understand how you learn and appreciate the fact that others may learn differently than you do.
A second step might be to learn how to effectively work in teams. Teamwork is a great vehicle for learning in general and especially for stimulating higher-order thinking skills.
Learning Styles
Find out what your preferred Learning Styles are by taking a short test online (Index of Learning Styles). The results will be given to you as soon as you finish answering the questionnaire and you can also print them, if you wish.
In addition, follow this link to resources on learning styles, which will greatly enhance your learning experience in any class you take.
Personality Type Preferences
Find out what is your personality type preferences and temperament by taking a short test online. After you take the test, you can visit the Personality Type Profiles Directory for a detailed discussion on each type. The site also contains other resources relating to personality types.
Understanding your personality temperament as well as those of others may be helpful when you work in teams. It may help you and your team avoid conflicts and work more efficiently together.
Teamwork
