Summary 1st Draft (revised 6/10)

In the article, “Top Sustainable Technologies in Green Construction” by ConstructionClimateChallenge (2019) claims that green construction “makes buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable”. This article focuses on introducing sustainable construction technologies that enhance the environment. There are three main topics which are materials, applications, and design. Firstly, the technologies under materials: “Cool roofs”, “Electrochromic smart glass”, “Rammed earth bricks”, “Green insulation”, “Biodegradable materials”, and “Sustainable resource sourcing” suggest that it helps in the reduction of “heat absorption” and the harmful impacts on the environment by using recycled or sustainable raw materials. Secondly, the applications which are “Water efficiency technologies”, “Sustainable indoor environment technologies”, and “Solar powers”. These applications intend to conserve resources and discourage the use of substances and materials that cannot be renewed while reducing damaging impacts on the environment. The last point is design which includes “Low energy house and Zero-energy building design”, “Self-powered building” and “The use of smart application”. They are designed to conserve and produce energy for the building to generate sufficient power. Green construction not only makes buildings more sustainable by using resource-efficient and environmentally process but also reduces costs for building owners. While I agree to some extent with ConstructionClimateChallenge that green construction helps to reduce costs even though the start-up cost for building a green building is high, I feel that it will be covered eventually by the reduction of costs through green construction.

Reference:

ConstructionClimateChallenge.com (2019). Top Sustainable Technologies in Green Construction.

https://constructionclimatechallenge.com/2019/02/19/top-sustainable-technologies-in-green construction/

Assignment 1: Self Introduction - Formal Letter (Revised 6/10)

 Dear Professor Brad,

My name is Tay Yume and I am writing this letter to introduce myself to you to allow you to know me better as your student in the effective communication class. Having graduated from Integrated Facility Management in Temasek Polytechnic, I have been exposed to some of the modules that are in my current course which is Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Building Service). With this similarity that the course have, I finally decided to enroll in this course to further my studies. My interest in engineering started when I was young as I enjoyed constructing different structures using legos and making sure that they are able to stand on their own.

For my weakness in communication, I tend to be quite shy while talking to a big audience and it always hinders me while I am doing presentations. With this weakness at hand, I usually will end up portraying myself as an unconfident person even though I know what I need to deliver during my presentation. 

On the other hand, I am someone who is a good listening ear to my friends and is able to provide some advice to them. I am also able to lead a group in group projects if there is a need too. I will take the initiative to start the ball rolling and get the team to be on tasks so that we do not need to rush at the end. 

My goals for this module is to be able to improve and be more confident during presentations as well as to be able to improve my writing. I am quite weak in my writing as I have a limitation on my vocabulary. I always have the tendency to write as though I am talking so it really reflects on my writing which causes it to be grammatically wrong. As for my presentation skills, I always tend to get really nervous whenever I need to present in front of a big group of people and it always makes me look as though I am weaker in speaking as compared to my groupmates when there is a group presentation. This issue always stresses me as due to my presentation skills I feel that I will pull my team down during presentations. I hope through this module, I will be able to improve both my writing as well as my presentation skills. 

In my opinion, I think the thing that differentiates me from others is that I am more of a hands-on person in terms of me being able to figure things out by myself without any instructions or steps to follow. An example that I have would be that whenever I get a new gadget, I would not read any of the instructions on how to start up the item and go straight to using it and figure it out by myself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my introduction letter about myself.

Best regards,

Tay Yume

Revised on 6th October 2020

Read: Wei Ying's, Tobi's and Eryn's Blog

Task 3 - The importance of the communicating skills of engineers - Quote 3 (Revised 16/9)

Communication 

“Employers identify communication as 

one of the basic competencies every graduate should have, 

asserting that the ability to communicate is 

valuable for obtaining employment and maintaining

 successful job performance.”

Sherwyn Morreale, Michael Osborn & Judy Pearson, Professors of Communication (2000)

Explanation: 

Communication is something that everyone in the workforce requires as

 it helps to convey the message that we want to bring forth to our employers 

 Without being able to communicate well with our employers, 

we will not be able to build strong relationships with them.

Revised on 16th September 2020