iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

To me, the "physics" in the scenario is (are?) 1. An interaction caused it to slow. 2. Track energy through the interaction. 3. The detailed properties of the interacting objects affect pts 1 and 2. The math is used to answer the question "how much?" for any of the 3 points.

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Oh man, I want a Rubens tube so bad. It's always great when your physics demo looks like it would be at home at a heavy metal concert.

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We got a wave table last year and it is SO FREAKING COOL. I spent the better part of a whole day giggling about interference.

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Do you have a template for their work which forces multiple representations for the problem or do you do it like a) draw motion diagram, b) find distance, c) draw a graph ?

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Surely there are more things, but that's what I have off the top of my head. I'd love to hear any thoughts on how people address these things! Maybe there are easier ways forward that I am just missing. Maybe my premise is wrong! I surely don't know how to do this job the *best* way.

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4. Graded items. Qualitative reasoning requires students to write lots and lots of words. This, too, is a skill in which students tend to be weak. Many are worse in their writing than they are in math. This makes assessing their understanding when it is filtered through their writing proficiency.

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3. Labs. Given the limited time, we had to choose between tutorials requiring observations and hard data collection + analysis. This was the biggest schism. Some said it was a huge disservice to our students to leave out graphical analysis which really only makes sense with the equations.

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2. Teaching physics conceptually requires logical reasoning based on definitions and principles. This is also hard (arguably harder) for our students. We don't have much training in TEACHING this but I've taught math or math-like skills my whole life.

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1. We do worked out problems in small groups during class time. Their weakness in math is so glaring that it is hard to ignore. BUT it takes significant time to correct for students to improve.

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No fruit was born because it's a hard topic. We mostly agreed that the middle-of-the-road where we split time wouldn't help much. I don't remember much of the discussion, but here are some of the things I think make it hard to address.

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I'm as surprised as you are that it came out so nicely. I think about this issue a lot. We had a great debate in our department many years ago about the degree of mathematical proficiency we ask of our non-majors. It didn't bear much fruit.

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Technology Connections @techconnectify.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

For people who will study a good amount of physics, the investment in the math will eventually pay off as it eventually becomes a natural language. For those who only take a course or two, most don't get any return on the mathematical investment.

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Reposted by Scott Carr

just start saying this plainly to more people i'm serious.

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A two under for me today! I got it from the hint for the definition. I had to watch the explainer (thanks for pointing those out!) to understand the clue. I was otherwise completely lost.

MathMatize Memes @mathmatize.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Reposted by Scott Carr

When the slide is continuous but not differentiable #MathSky

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Reposted by Scott Carr

Dr Dan Jones @hookean.bsky.social · 16/11/2023

Newton's Laws of Motion ;) #ITeachPhysics

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W. Brian Lane (he/him), PhD @wbrianlane.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

As a kid I thought social norms were stupid. As an adult I see the norms are the the only thing keeping us on this side of Cthulhu.

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Reposted by Scott Carr

Parenthood and teaching are really both about insisting on social norms to prevent absolute chaos aren't they

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I wasn't sold on the series in book 1. I liked the story ok but didn't really love the characters. It got better!

Each book in the series is so different that it stays fresh. The characters are great. I hope you enjoy the ride!

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When I got a faculty job I got a new backpack for the first time since undergrad. Eight years later and I am genuinely still excited about it.

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Wordle 1,319 6/6 ⬛⬛🟨🟩⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩⬛🟨🟩⬛ 🟩🟩⬛🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Eesh

I see a lot of discussion about the halt on federal spending. Don't forget to read the primary document for yourself. Don't be swept up in political outrage without first assessing if the outrage is warranted. Root your fury in the facts. Here's the link to the OMB memo.

washingtonpost.com

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2 over par for me. I didn't get it. I still don't get it.

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Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

I am doing an independent study with two students in acoustics this semester (basically just going through a book, not my specialty) and it's pretty wild how much of "music" is post-processing in your brain.

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Reposted by Scott Carr

There is simply no plausible argument that the president has the constitutional authority to refuse to spend appropriated funds because he doesn’t like how the money is being spent. The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.

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It's only ever a series of ticks. Pitch is all in your head. (Audio on. Sorry for shaky cam.)

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World Bollard Association™️ @worldbollardassoc.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

I stopped being (as) impressed by LLM performances on "human exams" when I learned that the exam material is, itself, part of the training data. If not the exact wording of the questions, the content was there. I still think they are cool, but they don't *think*

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Reposted by Scott Carr

💛WIN A BOLLARD💛 The most popular competition in the history of social media is back. It's the prize you've all been waiting for. Repost and follow to be in with a chance of winning this gorgeous Monoscape Bridgeford Smooth Grey Concrete Bollard worth £252.42. #WorldBollardAssociation

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Reposted by Scott Carr

Clive Hill @clivehill.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Did you know that Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock move "Speed" had no director? If it had direction, it would've been called Velocity... #ScienceJoke #DadJoke

media.tenor.com

a bald man with a beard is saying i 'll get my coat .

ALT: a bald man with a beard is saying i 'll get my coat .

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Scott Carr @twotheta.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

I loved those books! Haven't read them in years, but they were my favorites.

The feedback loops are so short. Continual loop of problem, realization, execution. You can up the risk for greater reward. Builds tension. It's a genuine masterpiece.

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

@brianbunton.bsky.social Minute Cryptic - 26 January 2025 "Crack second pitted olive" (5) ⚪️🟡🟡🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 1 over par www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

minutecryptic.com

Minute Cryptic

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I was incredibly slow at the recalled math facts and computation but I *understood what was happening* better than my peers. But my 3rd grade teacher tried to convince my parents I was bad at math and shouldn't move up

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Don't know the actual mechanism, but I always thought that the dark sides heat up, warming the gas behind them. Gas gets hot, moves faster, pushes harder.

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I got warm fuzzies just imagining hearing these phrases.