Cancer Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 Subject line from a real email today (today is the last day of winter quarter): Advanced Lab Oral Reports: Tractor Beams This is what physics departments need more of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 Are we talking energy fields which hold objects in place or move them around? Or are we talking tractors with mounted particle beam weapons? Or do you find both equally interesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 In this case, it's the former. Levitating and manipulating small plastic beads with ultrasound beams. That's good enough for a one-quarter undergrad project in a remote environment. The second is a worthy item as well. There will be more projects. Starlord 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted March 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Starlord said: Or are we talking tractors with mounted particle beam weapons? Put me down for a squadron or three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 I have only come here seeking knowledge, things they would not teach me of in college Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 Ya gotta prove yourself worthy first. Think "Wax on wax off" but in a more geeky vein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted March 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 There's a story of one of the old Greek masters, maybe Plato, who had someone come to him speaking to learn wisdom. The master's solution was to take him out to the river and hold him under. When he finally let the poor sap up, he is alleged to have said something like, "When you desire wisdom as much as you now desire air, come and see me." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Probably Anaximenes of Miletus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Toward an Epistemology of Physics Just learned of this; haven't read it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 After you read it, let me know what you think. Please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Realistically ... that isn't going to happen for at least months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 No worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 What I don't know is if it really is epistemology, or if it a little below that level and is just about instructional methods in physics. I think it better than even odds that it's the latter. It was cited by the speaker today as he gave a talk about his thesis work in physics education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 Had a look at t, pdf is over 122 pages and just stops suddenly...weird. Someone might have copied it from elsewhere and uploaded it to the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted March 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 My school has been doing a hybrid in-person/distance learning model for classes this year. For example, my current (e.g., 2nd period) class has 27 students, of whom 12 are distance learners. It's been kind of a pain in the neck. I've adjusted largely by going to a flipped classroom model. I record the lectures and post them online along with readings and assignments, and we spend most of the class time answering questions and working on assignments. Distance learners can contact me for assistance as needed. My school has announced that the hybrid model will not be maintained next year, but that online-only sections of courses will be offered for those who want them. They've asked for volunteers to teach such sections. I signed up. I'm doing it anyway, so why not? Old Man 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 Course grades ... posted. DGAF level ... meter has melted and is flowing across the floor. Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted March 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 This is going to be me in about 3-4 days. Until then, the screaming continues unabated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 Screaming resumed here. First day of next quarter is Monday. For comparison, I had about a month between the end of fall quarter and start of winter. Between winter and spring, about a week. And spring has the class I've taught before, but not in six years. Yarf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 A fellow teacher friend of my wife posted a picture of what her kindergarten students want to be when they grow up: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 No DC? Win for Marvel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted March 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2021 Things I Can't Say at School, Part 797: P: "I can't believe you would accuse my son of cheating! Little Johnny would never do anything like that! He's an angel!" Me: "So was Lucifer." Grailknight 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted March 29, 2021 Report Share Posted March 29, 2021 Quote Life is all smoke and mirrors. The Chemistry Department teaches about smoke. The Physics Department teaches about mirrors. ... "And today we start the course which includes the mirrors." Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archer Posted March 30, 2021 Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 On 3/24/2021 at 5:40 PM, Starlord said: A fellow teacher friend of my wife posted a picture of what her kindergarten students want to be when they grow up: At that age, I had a garbage can lid that I could use as a shield but nothing that could simulate web-shooters. And I also got stuck for a long time at the top of a very tall tree, which lessened my enthusiasm for actually being Spider-Man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted April 3, 2021 Report Share Posted April 3, 2021 Stunned to find an old K&E polar planimeter today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted April 4, 2021 Report Share Posted April 4, 2021 So I assigned group work last term and did an after-action survey in which I asked people (among other things) to rat out who contributed nothing to the group. I have a list of miscreants. I'm giving group work again this term. Shall I put all the slackers into their own groups? I am sorely tempted, because I am also doing this trick in the first team assignment as well. Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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