Other than the technical skills Ralston learns from his friends about the outdoors, how does Ralston use his educational background to help him in the canyon?

Ralston has a degree in mechanical engineering and this proves useful in his time of need in the canyon. Ralston constructs a makeshift pulley system to try and pull the chockstone out of place. Psychologically, this alternative is something for Aron to work on and try at. Without his mechanical engineering background, he might not have ever thought of this option at all.