Sticky Notes for Productivity

I am enjoying using Sticky Notes feature of Windows. Its an almost perfect organizational tool that Ive been searching. I am always using pen and paper to organize my thoughts and schedules but i find it quite tedious sometimes. With the use of sticky notes, i can jot down and plan my week workload in a two-monitor setup here in the office.

I used color coded sticky notes to remind me that Blue indicates task need to complete in school while Yellow may indicate tasks to complete here in office. Green indicates task related to project specific.And so on so forth..

However, I will not abandone the old school approach of using pen and notebook because I can bring this tool wherever I go unlike the sticky note which is only applicable at PC.

Make GMAIL look like Outlook

Ive been searching whole day how to organize my emails in gmail similar to outlook. One way of searching that in google is by typing " how to organize gmail by separating date" since Outlook is filtered like that. There are many results but I find inappropriate.

Finally, due to my persistence, I find a keyword to finally get to what I wanted.

...and this solves my problem..I could now read emails in an organize manner..because I simply have to unchecked Conversation view setting in setting.

You know, if this Conversation view is checked, emails from different persons are hard to trace especially when another person is copy furnished on a single subject email.

ES 204 - Numerical Methods

I love numerical methods more than advance mathematics(differential equation). Why? Simply because it lets you experience first hand the beauty of mathematics and finding its solution without delving too much on derivation. Just some established Newton Formula, and you are on your way to find the specific value of "X" at certain "Y" in a very mechanical procedure.

In Advance Math(Differential equation), you will have to satisfy first many boundary condition, tediously determine unknown parameter before finally solving the still vague equation.

Here, you will be able to find the variation of values of unknown in a progressive manner and thus you will have a "feel" of how the unknown value behaves say up or down the curve. And this has lots of application in Structural Dynamics. Since dynamics is founded on equation of motion, Numerical methods can give you the variation of displacement or velocity with respect to time.

Thus, I suggest you should take first Numerical Methods prior to taking up Dynamics. We were asked to program in Matlab before different Dynamics problem and a core knowledge of Numerical Methods is a must.

ES 201 - Advance Mathematics

Every major structural engineering subjects theory has several formulas in order to understand the concepts. These are normally derived using Mathematical methods in Differential Equation. That is why it is critical that you must have this core knowledge of mathematics to learn majors like Dynamics and Finite Element. For example, the equation of motion in Dynamics is a second order differential equation and you should be aware that the variable can take 3 values, mathematically speaking. But physics will tell you that variable must be real thus ignoring the other possible two values.

However, what taught us in this subject is the more advanced theory of mathematics. The power series, fourier series and laplace transformation. I find that quite dissapointing but when I studied the course itself, I am required to deeply understand the elementary differential equation principle to further understand the subject. Thus, I thought that UP is training us to be more adept in the basic differential equation to be more critical thinker in the major subjects of structurals which at times only derived from the usual differential equations.

Amazing!

CE 257 - Finite Element Method

This is actually an introductory course for finite element method. According to the course description, the student must take first Continuum Mechanics, Matrix Analysis and other Math subjects before enrolling here.

I later realized how true this is. In continuum mechanics, you will learn how to derive formulas using indicial notation which is required in the operation of stiffness matrix with lots of elements involved. Concept of kronecker delta and permutation symbol sheds light on this.

Remember, finite elements is about meshing. A typical plane body will be meshed by hundred elements and thus, one should devise a way to understand interconnection of those meshes to each other. Thats how indicial notation becomes very useful. Also, derivation of formulas in linear elasticity is easily done in continuum mechanics. This linear elasticity formula is important in Finite Element method.

But the whole operation of finite element method after getting each element stiffness through its theory follows the concept of Stiffness Matrix Analysis. That is, you will get the unknown displacements first prior to getting the stresses.

Again, thats how important CE 201 is for a structural engineering major.

Upon learning FEM, I am able to realize the importance of beams, plates and shell in structural engineering. More important was their theoretical background. This lesson will help you learn and manipulate easily structural engineering softwares like ETABS and STAAD.

CE 226 - Structural Dynamics

This is already a direct application of CE 201 or Matrix Analysis.

Thus, after you passed CE 201 on your first semester and also ES 204( Numerical Methods), its expected that you are well equipped to take up Dynamics.

Reference book here is Anil Chopra's Dynamics of Structures. Learning the mathematics and concept of this subject is very important prior to learning Earthquake Structural Engineering which is the basis of code provisions on Dynamics.

CE 201 - Matrix Analysis of Structures

This is the first subject for any incoming Structural Engineer Major in ICE.

Since I am not an undergraduate from UP, I am obliged to take up this course. During that time 1st sem 2009, the instructor was the late Prof. Albert Juinio, the son of former DPWH secretary Juinio. Incidentally, he was the brother of my manager in DCCD. Its quite interesting to see another Juinio teaching me after a whole day work with another Juinio in the office.

I appreciated this subject right on because I studied Kassimalis Matrix Analysis book prior to enrolling in the school. I already know Stiffness method even before it was discussed.

However, I was surprised that Prof Juinio focused first on Flexibility Method which I find initially boring.

I patiently observed its importance while studying.

Student must obtained at least 2.75 grades then to be able to continue in the program. Otherwise, all your dreams will be shattered.

So I did my best!

Thankfully I passed.