VOLUME XXX NO. 7 - Mines Magazine - Colorado School of Mines

EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERSIN ENGINEERING COLLEGESByC . O. REISERENzabefh, N. J.In order to provide instructors whoare intensely interested and superblyequipped in the subjects which theyoffer, engineering colleges often makespecial efforts to obtain a facultycomposedof men who are recognized asexperts in their field. Certainly this isa logical method of selection butotherfactors also warrant consideration.Should not the one who is to make aprofession of teaching have trainingwhich would fit him for this specialphase of his work?The graduate seeking a chemicaljob needs a knowledge of chemistry.Likewise, the teaching applicantshould be selected on the basis of hisknowledge of pedagogical methods aswell as his understanding of the subjecthe is to teach.In view of the fact that collegesand universities make every effort tokeep abreast of the time and informedof recent developments, it seems rathersurprising that they have allowedthemselves to lag so far behindelementaryand secondary schools in theirrequirements for educational trainingof their staffs. Opponents of thisproposition may argue that the collegestudent is nearing the time whenhe must shift for himself and will nothave things presented to him on asilver platter; however, this reasoninginstantly appears fallacious whenthe bases of educational psychologyareexamined. If proper presentation andorganization of the subject will savethe student a large per cent of thetimehe spends on it now, is it not betterthat this time should be saved andspent on subjects now sadly lackingin the curriculum which would helphim to analyze complexities of lifeoutside of his engineering work? Ifthe application of educationalpsychologywill help one to learn thingswhich might not be absorbed otherwise,its value is apparent.The cardinal principle of animalpsychology embodies the maxim thatthe positive attitude is more conduciveto learning than tbe negative. Inother words, pat a dog on the headafter he does a trick for you andhe'llwant to do it again; but whip him ifhe doesn't do the trick right and thenext time you try to get him to performhe'll slink towards you withbelly-turned tail. Similarly, humanbeings are so made up that they respondto praise and encouragementmuch better than to humiliation anddegradation. Hence, no quiz shouldbe given which every student willflunk with the idea that such an examinationwill stimulate the studentand make him realize tbat he'll haveto work harder. The proper type ofan examination fails only those whoare absolutelyincapable of doing satisfactorj'work. The use of a curve ingrading is for the purpose of ascertainingthe correct number whoshouldreceive superior, average, and inferiormarks, providing the law of averagescanhe assumed to hold for small numbers,and it should never be used toraise a class average from a low percentageup to a passing percentage.If the class average of an examinationis much below the passing mark, thenit is time for the instructor to askhimself if he is as capable as aas his students are as learners.teacherIn addition to making a subjectmore learnable by properpresentation,the interest which is aroused hy sodoingwill better help the student todecide what field he is best suited.M e n do not choose as a professionsubjects which are uninteresting tothem.Although students entering collegesare expected to know what theyzuant to choose as a profession, thisis not often the case because of theyoung men's immaturity and lack ofcontact with tbe fields for which theymay be best suited. Suppose that ayoung man mentally and physicallyequipped for a chemical engineeringP r i z e O f f e rCheck the errors found inMines Magazine as you readit.The reader reporting the mosterrors receives F R E E one year'ssubscription to the magazine.The winner will be announcedin the magazine the secondmonth after publication. Sendlist of errors to Mines Magazine,734 Cooper Building,Denver,Colorado.vocation finds his introductory coursesin this field dull and uninteresting becauseof improper dispensation but isfascinated by geological studies on accountof their expert presentation. Isnot the latter subject likely to bechosen to the detriment of tbestudent?The valuable knowledge which hasbeen acquired by engineering facultymembers can be more efficiently organizedand dispensed If they arefamiliar with educational fundamentals.Without the proper presentationmethods, a recognized industrialleader might conceivably be a failurein the transmission of his knowledge.The use of proven educational principleswill result In better organizationand selection of material, quickerand greater learning, and more studentinterest. As a result of this improvedpedagogical efficiency, the studentwill find more time for extracurricularactivities and socialstudies.The need for social broadeningshould not be neglected in the engineer'sschedule.Engineering trainingplaces much stress upon the term efficiency.Shouldn't the engineer's sociallearning be made more efficientalso ? The fact that engineers areclassed generally as introverts doesnotspeak well of their present training.It is true that they are able to bettermankind by building safe bridges andsuper highways and add Innumerableblessings to civilization in general.However, in the ranks of politics andleadership their numbers are oftenlacking. Certainly more diversion oftheir efforts to the study of socialstructures and greater participation Inoutside interests should help tocorrectthis weakness. Since the engineer mustwork with men as well as materials,courses in human psychology could bemade to pay large dividends.In summarizing, it may be saidthatthe educational training of engineeringfaculty would provide more efficientlearning, subject selection andorganization. Tbe resulting minimizationof Inequalties in Instructorship,by presenting subjects on anequal basis would aid the undecidedstudent in making a choice of theworkfor which he is best fitted. Finally,the time saved by more efficientteaching,could be used to advantage forthe student's social broadening bymeans of extra-curricular activitiesand added social studies.NON-METALLIC MINERALSByK E N N E T H E. H I C K O K , '26Instructor, Department of MetallurgyColorado School ofMinesPart IV—Dimension and CrushedStoneDimension Stone is a convenientterm applied to stone sold in blocks,slabs or shapes of specified sizes. Dimensionstone includes cut stone,rough building stone, paving blocks,curbing andflagstones.Building stone must be not onlyhard and durable but in additionmustbe pleasing in appearance. For thesereasons granite, limestone, sandstoneand marble make up the bulk of buildingstone and cut stone, most ofis used In the building trades.whichO f minor or local importance soapstone,greenstone, basalt and othersmay be used.In general the stone Is quarried inslabs, roughed cut, and sawed or cutto dimension and shape. After cutting,the stone may or may not bepolished, sandblasted, or otherwisetreated for finish, depending on specifications.Some building stone, such as thatquarried in Boulder County, Colorado,is broken along bedding planesand roughed into rectangular slabs.The rough sandstone slabs are used inbuildings (particularly for UniversityBuildings) and the rough stone has avery pleasing appearance. This pinkcolored sandstone is locally used toquite an extent both cut and roughed.The principal uses of dimensionstone are building construction, monumentalstone, paving blocks, laundrytubs, electric switchboards, table topsand similar uses.Thegeographical distribution of dimensionstone is world wide and* Mincr.-ils YearbookMines.while1939—U. S. Bureau ofNEW WILFLEY 5" MODEL "CB"SAND PUMPsome Stone crosses Internationalboundaries it is a local condition anddoes not enter into internationalto any extent.tradeEvery country has stonesuitable for dimension work and competitionwith other types of buildingmaterial prohibits long hauls withconsequent freight charges.theBecause of the widespread occurrenceof dimension stone deposits, nocountry exercises political controloverthe industry. The only dimensionstone politically controlled is marblefrom Terraza and Carrera, Italy.This marble is of slight Importancecompared to the industry as a whole.Crushed Stone Is stone that basbeencrushed and sized. It may be Igneous,metamorphic or sedimentary and maybe of any geologic age.Size, texture, color, hardness andtoughness are of major Importanceforsome uses while chemical compositionis the deciding factor for other uses.Theprincipal uses of crushed stone,without regard to chemical composition,are: concrete aggregate, riprap,highway surfacing, railroad ballast,sewage disposal, and municipal waterfilteringplants.The principal uses of crushed limestoneand marble are: smelting flux,manufacture of cement, as the sourceof quick and slacked lime, in themanufacture of beet sugar, rockwool,fertilizer, chemical industry, glassworks, rock dusting coal mines, andas the inert filler In many products.From the list of uses we see thatcrushed stone, particularly limestone,plays a very important part in mostofthe major industries, directly or indirectly.It would be hard to nameany major industry tbat is not dependenton crushed stone as a part ofthe manufacturing process or as indirectlyused in the form ofMAXIMUMchemicals,ballast, cement or highway surfacing.Crushed stone is a very low pricedproduct and so mining and sizingmethods must necessarily be low cost.Quarrying is the most common miningpractice but a few limestone operationsare carried on underground.Sizing of the crushed stone is generallydone as near the mine as ispossible to avoid transportation costson the crude material. The crushingand screening plants are as simple aspossible and yetproduct.turn out a marketableMarketing crushed stone is nota local problem but is seasonalonlyas well.The winter months are not good constructionmonths and the industry suffersthis seasonal depression except Inthe southern and southwestern states.Crushed stone is also a strong competitorof sand and gravel for use Inconcrete aggregate where conditionspermit the two to be produced. Thegeographical distribution of stonesuitablefor crushed stone is world wide.Economic conditions play the all importantpart whereas political controlis of noimportance.In spite of the fact that there is nochance to "Hit'er Rich thc nextround," the crushed and dimensionstone industries afford employment tomany men. The employment is notoniy direct but equipment manufacturers,makers of explosives andmanyothers Indirectly benefit from theseindustries.During the year 1938 which was anotably poor year for the stone Industry,the value of the dimensioncrushed stone produced in theandUnitedStates was almost equal to the valueof gold produced during the samevear. Total tonnage was approximatelv158,000,000' tons and had avalue of 142,000,000 dollars.*EFFICIENCYA complete new standard of sandpump efficiency is created by thisnew addition to the Wilfley line.A . R . W I L F L E Y A N D S O N S . Inc.DENVER, COLO.NEW YORK OFFICE^1775 BROADWAY358 THE MINES MAGAZINE * JULY 1940THE MINES MAGAZINE * JULY 1940359