<div dir="ltr">So awesome! I look forward to joining a morning session when the timing is right :)<br>Appreciate the initiative, thanks Tom!</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div>Make a great day,</div><div>
Morten H. D. Fuglsang</div><div>US: +1 415 799 6931 // skype: FlyvendeHest</div></div>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 11:14 PM, Marina Kukso <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:marina.kukso@gmail.com" target="_blank">marina.kukso@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>hey tom,<br><br></div><div>***wall of text incoming***<br></div><div><br>this is so cool and i really appreciate how well-thought-out and well-written your proposal is for creating a safe math learning environment. have you heard of the <a href="http://www.berkeleycompassproject.org/" target="_blank">berkeley compass project</a>? they work with physics freshmen at berkeley to help create a learning support network in a program that's famous for serving a weeding out function. also, if you are interested in readings about inclusive math pedagogy, just let me know and i'll be happy to shower you with pdf's.<br>
<br>while i love some of the principles that you've outlined as being productive
social norms for learning based on the boxing gym metaphor, my suggestion would be to consider not using the boxing gym metaphor in the name of the group. my own perspective (and the perspective of many women i know), is that boxing
gyms are pretty heavily coded "MALE - do not enter unless you want to be
looked up and down, humiliated, and judged.". they're up there with free
weight rooms, mechanic shops, lumberyards, and hardware stores. (to give
a free weight example, when i was in college, it was so bad that a
friend and i would only go to the free weight room at the gym together
because the judging, humiliating looks and patronizing smiles were just
too much. we actually couldn't even focus on figuring out how to use the
machines because we were so preoccupied with the eyes on our backs.
women's bodies are subject to so much scrutiny by strangers all the
fucking time (i was harassed twice in the first 15 seconds of a run
yesterday!) that it was just not worth it to have to experience this
degradation in order to use this part of the gym, so after a couple
times we never went back).<br><br></div>i had no idea though that these were the social norms in boxing gyms - everything that you shared is really instructive and definitely broke down a lot of my misconceptions. it's entirely possible that boxing gyms aren't at all like my image of them, that many of us women have unfair misconceptions about what they're like, but if you use this metaphor, you'll have to battle against that expectation. additionally, it's also possible that your experience of the boxing gym space is shaped by your experience as a man and that a woman might experience a boxing space differently. i honestly have no idea whether that's the case and would love to learn more about your experience with boxing gyms.<br>
<br></div></div><div>i wonder if others have similar thoughts about the boxing gym metaphor and also ideas for other metaphors that might let people know that "this will be a study group that supports you in your learning" (although you could just call it "math study group" and list the "ground rules." or just go full hippie: "inclusive math study group.")<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
</font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div>- marina<br></font></span></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="im">On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 9:57 PM, Thomas Fitzpatrick <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:fitzsnaggle@gmail.com" target="_blank">fitzsnaggle@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
If there are no objections, I'm reenstating Morning Math. I think a
new name is in order and would like to field a couple - Math Gym,
Visceral Mathematics, Romancing Methods...<br>
<br>
Sessions will start at 7:30 AM. I will be staying and holding up the
torch until 11:30. Participants are free to come and go as the
please between those times on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday (no
pressure to show up on all days, but I will be there) with the
possibility of more days.<br>
<br>
All levels are welcome - there will always be something to do. The
vision is that despite skill levels and relative experiences, we can
all benefit from contact with each other as Mathematicians.<br>
<br>
My favorite learning environment is a boxing gym and I think that is
where our social norms should be derived from.<br>
<blockquote>* Many different styles of boxing and training -
trainers are free to take on students, students can go to new
trainers, or you can have no trainer and get bits of advice from
many people<br>
* People arriving and leaving at disparate times as opposed to
Karate classes where everyone must arrive at the same time. The
flow is mantained regardless. You tell your trainer you are
arrived and start your warm-ups. When they are available they will
teach you something or give you an exercise you are familiar with
- coming around to check on you and correct your form.<br>
* All skill levels and levels of fitness - Hanger-ons, the
elderly, novices, pros, trainers all derive social satisfaction.
Everyone is free to improve at their own pace without being turned
away from the sport. Bullying is not tolerated<br>
* Everyone is given the opportunity to teach - this advice is
trusted based on their reputation - many views abound and the
student is free to choose the styles and techniques they want to
emulate.<br>
* Instruction is given and then the student is left to practice
the motions - the memory is important - by they have to get a feel
for it on their own. They can be corrected, but the trainer is
also free to help other students.<br>
* Some routines are done in groups while others are done alone -
most can be practiced in both contexts<br>
* The right exercises are chosen to get you to the next level.
There is no set protocol for what you do each time. You are free
to choose what you do next - though others may tell you better.<br>
* No one goes in the ring without a trainer watching (the analogy
breaks down here)<br>
* Sparing is the most valuable experience as it builds your fight
intuition. We predict punches - we don't react. It takes half a
second for your brain to tell you to move - if you have to wait
you will get hit. That is why you will often take it slow or only
do defense or offense to trim your concerns. <br>
* The focus is learning. Preparing for your match.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
The primary question I have is how to teach Mathematics the way
Music/Sports are? How do you teach intuition and problem solving?
How do groups with disparate schedules and skill levels benefit the
most from each other? I propose the following norms. (I will pare
them down over time):<br>
<blockquote>* Agreements on reading materials/problems are between
those you agreed to read with - not the entire group<br>
* You can come to as many or as few sessions as you please - there
will always be something to do. (analogous problems)<br>
* Progress and minutes are prominently displayed to bring people
up to speed without breaking the flow<br>
* Discussion groups form and disperse based on the creative
process. <br>
* It is better to ask questions than to give others the solution
when they are solving a problem. Empathize to give the right hint<br>
* It is better to try problems than to merely discuss, pencil must
move over paper (or code across screen) - experience is more
valuable than lectures.<br>
* Pictures are essential tools<br>
* Assisted/Group work is valuable for discovering the process, but
the intuitive jump or connection is up to the student<br>
* Problems can be generalized, specialized or analogous problems
chosen to keep everyone in the loop - to give and get insight as
student and teacher.<br>
* The learning zone is right beyond your current abilities, but
not so hard you have nothing to grasp onto.<br>
* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated-World-Class-Performers-EverybodyElse/dp/1591842948" target="_blank">Talent
is overrated</a><br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Here are some books I would personally like to study with anyone -
in these time slots or otherwise. Suggestions are welcome :)<br>
<br>
# Good general Problems<br>
<a href="http://gurmeet.net/puzzles/" target="_blank">Delightful Puzzles</a> - Scroll to Bottom for
other great lists - These are very accessible<br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Stanford-Mathematics-Problem-Book/dp/0486469247/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380010455&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Stanford+Mathematics+Book" target="_blank">The Stanford Mathematics Problem Book </a>- Has a
hint key and an answer key!<br>
<br>
# Problem Solving Techniques<br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Solve-It-Mathematical-Princeton/dp/069111966X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380010351&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+solve+it" target="_blank">How To Solve It</a><br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Plausible-Reasoning-Patterns-Inference/dp/4871878341/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375257566&sr=8-2&keywords=plausible+reasoning" target="_blank">Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning</a><br>
<br>
# History of Math<br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144196052X/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=" target="_blank">Mathematics and Its History</a><br>
<br>
# Applied Mathematics<br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Methods-Mathematics-Calculus-Probability-Statistics/dp/0486439453/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1380010629&sr=8-4&keywords=Methods+and+Mathematics" target="_blank">Methods of Mathematics Applied to Calculus,
Probability and Statistics</a><br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Numerical-Methods-Scientists-Engineers-Mathematics/dp/0486652416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371662965&sr=8-1&keywords=hamming" target="_blank">Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers</a><br>
<br>
# Discrete Mathematics<br>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Mathematics-Foundation-Computer-Science/dp/0201558025%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-z-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0201558025" target="_blank">Concrete Mathematics</a><br>
<br>
There is interest in studying <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Complex-Analysis-Tristan-Needham/dp/0198534469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380010478&sr=8-1&keywords=visual+complex+analysis" target="_blank">Visual
Complex Analysis</a>. The Complex-plane is an alternative to x-y
coordinates that makes many problems much easier and more intuitive
to reason about. It was named Complex to be vindictive by
mathematicians who didn't understand its worth. AND IT USES PICTURES<br>
</div>
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