Editor in Chief:
Shani Blankrot
Engineering classes
Navin Chari
Industrial PhD
Candidate
I would like to start by disclaim-
ing that this article has nothing
to do with neither genetically en-
gineering the proletariat nor the
bourgeoisie, but with instructional
classes in the field of Engineering.
I t is well known that there are
many different methods of
teaching, with typical lecturing
(didactic), being just one of these.
Another technique, Socratic, is
based on how Socrates would
Comic by Jeremy Lai, Electrical Engineering
Top 10 Things to do
After Grad 6tipi next to the ocean and
Move to Australia, live in a
Robbie
McCormack (5th
year Industrial)
10 Get a job. But no one
seems to want to hire me.
9 4
What do you mean get a
job? More school for sure...
Masters, Med School, Massage
Therapy….anything but work-
ing. I think I'll just hang out in
the T-room for the rest of my life.
Maybe I'll take over Trivia if Stan
retires.
8 2
As an Enviro engineer, I'll fix
that Climate Change situa-
tion on the ASAP.
7 1
As an Industrial engineer, I'll
travel the world most effi-
ciently by planning my itinerary
according to a travelling sales-
man linear program. Lord help
me.
teach his pupils via discussion
and asking questions. This could
be viewed as the exact opposite
of the didactic approach and ar-
guably much more effective. It
has been further documented
by Kolb that students can be
grouped into four learning styles:
convergers, divergers, assimila-
tors, and accommodators; which
are based on a mix of whether
people learn through concep-
tualization, experimentation,
experience, or observation. See-
ing as though it is likely that the
didactic approach would only
align with a small subset of those
being instructed, one arrives at
A Sextant Farewell
Shani Blankrot
ahead of us, we've worked so
hard to get here, and everything
marry a Kangeroo.
5
Teach English in Asia. The
Asians have everything fig-
ured out...ultra fast trains, bite
sized food, miniature trees, JIT
manufacturing, man I wish I was
Asian right now!
Become the next Ceasar
from "The Dog Whisperer".
Man, can that guy train dogs!
3
Backpack through Europe:
smoke in Amsterdam, find
love in Paris and hang out with
fat drunk balding middle aged
men in Britain.
Either become a Justin
Bieber groupie or the next
Halifax Sleep Watcher.
Get back reconstructive sur-
gery. Carrying that backpack
everywhere gave me the back
of a 50 year old. Throw that 10
pound graphing calculator down
20 stories while you're at it.
the conclusion – is it even worth-
while going to class, and should
I be penalized for not going? To
tackle the latter part first, since
attending university is in itself an
optional decision, then by exten-
sion the same should follow for
attendance. Moreover, all profes-
sors should end the anachronis-
tic practice of documenting who
is in class.
Now, to look at the first part to
the prior conclusion, the precise
answer to this would be based
on whether you can efficiently
learn by the method in which
your class is being taught. If
your professor incorporates dif-
ferent modes of instruction that
allows you to absorb knowledge,
Editor in Chief
(Industrial '11)
I f you haven't already noticed,
this will be the last Winter issue
of The Sextant.
I'm graduating in June, and am
super excited and nervous to
begin the rest of my life. This is a
scary and unpredictable time for
us students who are graduating.
It's strange having been working
so hard for five years towards a
degree that is in our grasp. Now
what?
Like many, I thought I'd have it
all figured out by now, but I don't.
And I guess that's okay. Some of
my friends have awesome jobs
waiting for them after gradua-
tion, and many don't. For those of
you who don't, including myself,
now is the time to just not worry
so much. We have our whole lives
then by all means attend class.
It would seem that the contrary
would only lead to one answer,
but skipping class is not the only
alternative. You should be aware
that the majority of courses in
Engineering will embark on a se-
ries of changes in both curricula
and instruction to meet new ac-
creditation requirements. This
yields the opportunity for you,
the paying student, to provide
suggestions and request chang-
es, because if you are not heard,
then the only alternative will be
lectures presented to an empty
class.
will piece itself together. With my
senior design project taking up
every day and night of my life, I
have barely had the chance to ap-
ply for jobs or even think about
the future. Looking back on all
the amazing times I've had in uni-
versity, the friends I've made, the
experience I've gained, and how
mcuh I've changed, I know it was
all worth it.
Working on The Sextant has been
so much fun. I'd like to thank my
Assistant Editor, Dilan, and Trea-
surer, Riccardo, for all their help
along the way.
The Fall Sextant team is lined
up for next semester, with great
writers from Mining, Mechanical,
and Industrial. I'm leaving you in
good hands.
Good luck on exams, and have a
great summer everyone!
March 24th 2011
Page 1
CO-OP CORNER
Things to Remember:
• The Co-op website offers
many tips and is very infor-
mation. The website is
engandcompscicoop.dal.ca
• Round II is from February 15
– April 8
Word of the Week
Spring Boot Camp(n): The comple-
tion of all projects, assignments,
and studying for finals all within a
one 1.5 week period. What about
sleep? No dice.
Redbull Overdose(n): An unsuc-
cessful attempt at getting through
Spring Boot Camp due unexpect-
ed side effects.
Editors’ note: Word of the Week is a humour column
based on popular expressions around Sexton Campus.
If you have any complaints or suggestions, please email
sextant@dal.ca. Obviously we prefer suggestions!
Write.
Get Paid.
Send articles to sextant@dal.ca
Halifax's Best Trivia!
Sexton Campus
Events
Looking for something to do?
Not spending enough time
mingling with other faculties/
disciplines? Then check out
some of these events.
Thursday, March 24th
Formula SAE Night
Actor and Architects
Saturday, March 26th
Dal Diabetes
Thursday, March 31st
Comedy and Dal ROV night
Friday April 1
Trivia and April Fool's
Thursday, April 7th
Last day of classes!!!!
Does your society have an
event on Sexton Campus?
Send an email to sextant@dal.
ca and we’ll post it here!
Don't forget - it's free to
advertise a society on The
Sextant.
daleng.ca
 March 24th 2011
Page 2

Gossip Geek says D… seriously? I’ve caught you in some bad poses.. but
nothing competes with that hair.. wait.. is it really hair?

Goodbye
Or a toupee? Oh and M.. pretty sure you don’t look old
enough to be drinking.

G
G
ossip
eek
ossip Geek here, your one and only source into the
scandalous lives of Sexton’s Engineers..
You reap what you sow. What goes around comes
around. No matter how far you run, you can never truly
escape. Everything catches up to you in the end. And
when it does, it usually kicks your ass. My time here has
almost come to a close.. and that means I’m feeling a
little nostalgic. For my final post, I’m revisiting some of
those good times you thought you’d left in second year.
Now there are those that change for the worse.. and
those that change for the better.. I think we can all agree
that, although S & friends look adorable.. we’re glad they happen, and cling to old habits. But if we hold on to the
no longer look like they’re 12. past too tight, the future may never come. So long Sex-
ton.. your memories will always be with us.

Choo choo! This is just adorable. Can’t say I’d ever think
I’d see N looking so squeezable. J.. is that a pink handker-
chief? You’re lucky I didn’t ‘choo’se to put that pic of you
in your bow tie at prom in…
And all in an instant, everything changes. We leave the
past behind and speed toward the unknown. Our future.
We set out for far away places and try to find ourselves.
Or try to lose ourselves. Exploring pleasures closer to
home. The problems start when we refuse to let change
XOXO —Gossip Geek
The time has come, and Gossip Geek is graduating this
June. We will truly miss Gossip Geek's contributions....
but the legend must live on.
If you think you are worthy of being the next Gossip
Geek, well, you have big shoes to fill. Still interested?
Email dalgossipgeek@gmail.com...
or sextant@dal.ca

Engagement. What does it mean?!?!

informal conversations about how
Neil Bailey fractals are related to evolutionary
DSU Sexton Campus biology and the rise of social move-
Pilot Supervisor ments… etc., etc.
The DSU, despite whatever criticisms
submitted to the Sextant. This proj-
ect is a pilot, and will continue on
next year with refinements based on
the feedback you give, so head down
to room A-102 and get heard!

T he Double Rainbow of your uni-

versity experience, ‘engagement’
is that thing we have trouble describ-
we level at it, strives to provide these
interstitial opportunities, greasing
the wheels of student initiative. This
Neil, Willow and Laura would love to
see you.

Photo of the Week by Navin Chari (PhD Candidate
Industrial): Freetown Christiania, Copenhagen
ing or facilitating, but it’s oh-so-beau-
tiful to witness. Engaged people
have a certain energy about them, a
desire to drink deeply from the cup of
life - and they make you want to be-
come engaged, yourself.
But enough of this idle banter! Let’s
talk about engagement on Sexton
Campus.
At the moment, students seem to
be primarily engaged in their stud-
ies – which is great! That’s what
you’re paying for, correct? However,
a well-rounded university experience
can include many things beyond the
classroom – sporting events, par-
ticipations in student governance,
snowball fights, society functions, or
is why there are a few new faces oc-
cupying what used to be the admin
offices across from the elevator just
east of the Alumni Lounge. Neil, Wil-
low, and Laura have been hired by the
DSU to occupy the space between
the hours of 10am and 8pm, five days
The Sextant is published by the
a week (‘till 6pm on Fridays), allow-
ing you to connect with the DSU and Dalhousie Sextant Publishing
many of the services they offer with- Society and aims to represent
out trudging down to Studley and all of the students studying and
sacrificing yet another umbrella to living on Sexton Campus.
the Maritime Tempest Gods.
Editor: Shani Blankrot
Rumors abound that they may soon Assistant Editor: Dilan Watson
have a couch for you to sit on as you Treasurer: Riccardo Ciccarelli
fill out your grant application forms,
talk up your society event, or wait for
the fat pay cheque you’re expecting
for that haiku on fluid dynamics you

Apparel - Belt Buckles (Bronze, Silver and

Gold toned), Keychains and T-Shirts!
EngiBEERing every Friday afternoon in the
Design Commons! Wear a sweater vest for a
free beer!