Just want to add some stuff, but still a draft:
Why are you doing engineering?
CEans, make sure you understand the engineering course you are taking. This might sound silly, but I'm sure there are many who select a degree for the sake of taking something. Ask yourself why you are taking it, as well as your "expectations" from the course.
Remember, as an engineer,
your goal is to solve practical problems that exist in your engineering field. You must be aware of these problems, or else you won't know why you are being an engineer in the first place!
Also,
do not be lazy for goodness sake. Asking others to do your work will not make you a better engineer. Be proactive!
Study the course plan thoroughly (in detail)
The 1st year is usually a general year. Look at the 2nd year onwards and see the kind of subjects that are being taught and what will be taught next semester or next year. It is during this time that you will "specialize" in your degree. By knowing what you will learn, its easier to narrow down ideas for your seminars, mini projects as well as the Final Year Project.
How to select a title for seminars and projects
I'll try to give a guideline on how to select your seminar and project titles. However, be aware that institutions around the world may implement their Seminar and FYP differently. Make sure you read your college's policies about how they are run.
Seminar Topics:
Depending on your institution, you will be headed by a coordinator from your own department. He/She may already give a list of seminar topics to choose from. If not, start searching for a particular theme. For example, if you are doing Computer Engineering, you might think of Computer Security or Embedded hardware.
To find a theme, please read online engineering news, blogs and journals to see the current and upcoming trends regarding your degree. If you already know what your specialization, its easier to search and appreciate the news that are related to it. Its much better than reading EVERYTHING, which may lead to information overload (and total confusion!). Hopefully you'll get a topic title after reading a particular article that interests you.
The internet might be the most common source for information, but make sure you actually visit the library as well. Yes, the library.. the place in your college with thousands of books! The library has MUCH better sources of information. Make the habit of reading books and referencing from them properly.
Mini Projects:
This may be defined as:
- a side project you choose to do in your free time
- an assessed project that is part of a course or lab
In these cases, its best to do a project based on something you've already learned. Review the classes that you've already taken (or are currently taking), and see which interest you most. Some professors may give some mini projects for you to do based on their research interests, so don't be shy to ask them for assistance.
Know your abilities in completing the mini-project. Don't waste your time with an advanced topic if you don't have a resources or skills to pull it off, no matter how "cool" it sounds. Its best to do a project that will implement knowledge you've gained throughout your studies. If you already have particular interests you've picked up, do try to base your mini project based on it.
Final Year Project:
Ah yes, the ultimate destination for aspiring engineers
FYP's will be somewhat based on what you've learned up to now, as well as related stuff thats beyond your degree syllabus. The important thing to remember is that FYP's require dedication for research.
Depending your your institution, your department may give a list of topics to choose from. If not (or you'd like to do something else than what is offered), it is important to aim for FYP's that are not common. Due to the fact that your mission is to solve practical problems, you'll be wasting time to do a project that's been done many times over the past few years (or decades). You can certainly choose it for the sake of completing your degree, but you and the rest of the engineering community will not benefit much from the output.
Just like seminar topics, engineering news, journals and blogs are a good source to find current trends. Also, like mini projects, do not undertake a project thats too complex.. just make it advanced enough to stretch the limit of your skills and knowledge. Do ask your lecturers for any advice of choosing a FYP title. Most would certainly love to give their own titles, as its related to their own research work. Find a lecturer who has matching interests with yours
The rest of the FYP research will certainly come from the library. Make the Library your second home, because you'll need to spend most of your time there. Ask the librarian in charge of the Engineering section on how to search book titles and authors efficiently and effectively.
Thats it for now. I will certainly update this from inputs from other CEans, as this is far from being a perfect guideline. Please do comment!
1st February 2008, 11:57 PM
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Re: Before you post - read this!
I guess that knowledge was really important for those lazy bumps who wish they had projects made from heaven!
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