Final Reflection

Coming into the semester, I was determined to make sure that I did well in Heat Transfer. Everyone always said it was one of the harder classes to take at ODU.  After not doing well on the first test I knew I had to work harder to ensure I would be successful in this course. I did more homework problems for the 2nd and 3rd exams than I have ever done in a course before, and the results showed. As the semester progressed I was beginning to see that certain problems were getting easier for me.

            For the project I was a little nervous. I have taken classes with Dr.Ayala before but due to certain circumstances I was never able to do one of his famous projects. I was determined to hit it out of the park. Thankfully I ended up, working with a partner that shared that same drive to get the best grade possible. The courses I have taken with Dr. Ayala have all driven me to be a better student, they have tested my high level problem solving skills, as well as forcing me to critically think in a way that I never have before.

1) Where your learning is demonstrated in the course?

My learning is a reflection of the hard work, long nights, and how my grades progressed in this course. I have also gotten a lot better at making an excel workbook to solve various problems.  

2) What areas did you feel you were most successful, or improved the most?

I improved the most in problem solving and time management.  I also improved on my critical thinking skills for specific types of problems.

3) How do you see this course’s content intersecting with your field or career?

Heat Transfer is all around us in the engineering field. In can intersect in a variety of ways. For example at the shipyard, I could be tasked with designing a heat exchanger. I could also have to do a heat transfer analysis on other various engines.  

4) Have you been able to apply concepts you have learned in the course to what you do at work or in other courses?

I have not been able to apply the concepts as I am taking a lot of engineering management courses this semester. However, I can relate it to the formula SAE team. We were adamant about reducing the size of our radiator, If I were to design a radiator, I would have to utilize Heat Transfer analysis, in order to optimize and design a suitable option for the team.

5) How, when, where and why you might use this information or skill in the future?

If I get hired by the shipyard sometime soon, I could be tasked with designing heat exchangers for a ship or doing thermal analysis on various aspects of a ship. I will also use the skills I have gained throughout this course in my everyday life. This course required me to work harder than ever, and I can transfer that into whatever career path I choose.

6) Do you think what you learn is important for your professional career?

I believe Heat transfer shouldn’t just be an elective. Regular engineering majors have to take heat and mass transfer for a reason. It is an integral part of engineering, and can be related to everything we do. It is also a portion of the FE exam that all engineers have to take.  

7) Where do you think you will be using everything you learned?

I will use this information in whatever job I get out of college.  Heat Transfer is everywhere. Heat Transfer has such a wide application, It is in engines, electronics, and a variety of other things that are engineered in the world. 

8) If you were starting this class again, what advice would you give yourself to ensure that you had a successful semester?

If I could start this class again, I would tell myself to be more conscious about doing more examples in the beginning of the semester. I felt I could have given myself more of a base of knowledge if I focused more during the earlier part of the semester. I also would have been more conscious about the amount of classes I was taking and the effect it would have on my semester.