Classes are the Human Side of Technology(by Ralph Catz), System Architecture(by Ed Crowley) and Probablility & Statistics(brief update class, helping us to catch up those forgotten concepts). On top of this load, I registered one more class -- High-tech start-up, which is a series of talks from start-up CEO, which cover energy and other areas. It turnsed out that this class is right between end of my system architecture and lunch time. so, why not?
In Human Side of Technology, I admire Prof. Catz on his delication on teaching, though he had lost his voice several days, which did not stop him at all. Some of cases he discussed (like 3M, SouthWest), I have learned from other places, but he totally put you in a new perspective regarding technology management. How to view the impact of authority, how to define uncertainty, he does not present those as dry concept which you could read everywhere, instead, he uses all his consulting experience with those fortunate 500 CEO and senior managements to present the hard core concepts. He shows you how to precise and clear to deliver your ideas. Do you ever have a moment enjoying the talk so much, wish it would never end? That is what I am talking about.
I love my System Architecture class. Prof. Ed Crowley, who is chief architect of current President initiatives about Mar's plan. When he showed that plan to us, we were lost, at least to me. He just brief the entire plan in October to President in D.C. He brought our minds into deep thinking, what is system? truly, what is system? Even before I moved here, some of friends could not understand my study of system design and management. If you look at broad way, everything can be fined with its system, such as complex system -- human body. He did not start with the core design, but start to define the small terms, form, function, methods, before starting analyze large systems. He really set the bar high and told us to meet the bar. One sentence he said at the first class, really stick in my mind -- "what you do and say, reflect your thinking. Take your study and sumit assignment like submit to your boss. treat it professionally instead of considering this only as graduate school study." I really like those direct, maybe sound very deciplines but I bet I will thank him by the end of class for what I learn, what I challenge myself. This class will go through this month, then pick up in the fall. Fun part is, he not only gives us a lot of assignment each week, reading, but also a whole year assignment of collection of reading, researching due Dec., as well as life assignment on system thinking. I like how he decipline his life, taking his work seriously, with dry sense of humor. He asked us to form a team choosing a technology to follow and do research. I decided to challenge myself not to pick a subject in software since I have been in so many years, instead, choose energy team, giving me a completely new system learning curve. Like now a few technology and system design in Arospace, have been used in medical field, everything can be transferrable. Around MIT, everyone talks about clean energy solution, making you so excited to learn more. MIT will host energy conference in March, it is only $20 to attend for MIT students, but over $900 if you come in from industry. I am in.
Though DC1 was done, DC2 has started. Today's class went till 10 at night, plus team meetings later. Yes, we are tired, no matter how much you squeeze your leg(I did), or drinking coffee(some of classmates could not stop taking that), or stand up and sit down(you will see those funny movements during the class time), or someone has one finger support his one eye and close another eye(his explaination is that he can half-sleep and half-listen, the action of support one eyelid is to see what is going on, not missing anything), or like my teammate Karl, who just went to the hall taking a nap on the couch during break(that is a loud area, but who cares if you really are sleepy.), we tried our best to take in the knowledge Prof. presents. No one chicken out and skip the session, such a committed crowded. Use Prof. Catz's talk, when motivation comes internally, you will see tramendous changes and growth for the organiztion. (Also apply to individual, I think.)
Side of story, I originally planned to see Yo-Yo Ma's concert at BSO on Saturday. With less sleep for a week, I changed the ticket to Tuesday night, again, it got changed again due to class. Good thing is Yo-Yo Ma is Bostonian, which he performs quite often here. I got some of classmates excited to go with me for an Opera -- Madama White Snake in Feb.
Today we had professional photoshots. We are required to meet at 8:00a.m. and start. Unfortunately, people came in late or other reasons, we waited till nearly 9:00a.m. One thing before I returned school is to be punctural. One of my friends in Olympia told me that is all about plan. If you plan well, you will be there on time. I promised myself that I will take this serious and be on time. Today, when I wait for my classmates, I had a huge guilty feeling for my friends who wait for me when I was late. Here, one classmate took a picture of me right before the portait. Here is the area we spend a lot of time.
Right now, I am reading 'SuperFreaknomics'. Several years ago I read 'Freamknomics', which was well-written. If you read that one, you will not be disappointed with 'SuperFreaknomics'.
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