Spring 2012

I LOVE a new semester - figuring out where my classes are, buying books, making schedules and notebooks and file folders (on the computer).  It's a bit different that when I was younger, mostly because almost everything is on my laptop.  But it's still the same - new and exciting - a fresh start!

Questions

One of the things we were supposed to do in Michael Day's Intro to Doc Studies was to keep a list of questions.  I never really felt like I had any questions, but I just realized that's because I try to get my questions answered as soon as they come up, so they don't stay questions. 

But I'm in the middle of reading an article and I don't want to forget this question:  Is an abstract part of the article (like an intro) or should the article stand alone, without the abstract.  I'd always assumed it was the later, but the article I am in the middle of seems to assume it's an intro to the paper.  I'll look it up later.

And regarding the concept of questions - as I said, I don't hold onto questions any longer than I have to.  The internet is a wonderful thing - so much factual info can be had so quickly.  Which is why I like deeper questions - puzzles with no obvious answer.  So I don't carry around questions - I get them answered even if I have to talk to people to do it - but I do carry fears.  Lots of fears!  But that's a subject for another day.

Met someone

OK - I'm not lonely anymore cuz I've been hanging out with Craig Johnson of Centennial.  He lives in a yurt that he built with his own hands twenty years ago.  It's been up-graded since then - has electricity and running water, and new this winter - forced air heat.  So that's why I haven't been around much - he's been occupying my free time.  But now I'm trying to get work done for the end of the semester, so I'm home alone working.

Still lonesome

Well, I took care of the things that were stressing me, but I'm still lonesome.  I've never been good at making new friends - somethings never change. 

Lonesome

The downside of coming out here alone is even more loneliness than before.  I still have my dear friends who I can call or text, but it's not the same as actually seeing them face-to-face.  It's been demonstrated repeatedly that people need physical human contact in order to thrive, and I'm feeling that lack.  Just rubbing elbows or getting a hug is such an important part of life.  I am making friends, but it's a slow process.  I'm not even talking about a "relationship" - I didn't have that back in Chicagoland anyway.  I'm talking about relationships - friendships.  People to whom I can say, "I'm stressing and I just need someone to talk with, to be with."  I'm not very good at making and keeping friends, although I am doing much better than I used to.  At least I know that I need it; there was a time when I thought I didn't.  I still remember wanting to be a disembodied brain, like on that one Star Trek video.

I'm stressing about money - my old bank account (which should have been closed by now) and my need to get my prescription filled and not knowing how to pay for it.  I should have ordered it online, but I let time get away from me.  Now I have to go do it at Walmart and I'd rather go anywhere than Walmart.  Stress, stress, stress!!!  I know - to most people those are little things, but I know how to turn any little thing (especially if it has to do with money) into an end-of-the-world scenario.

Just keep repeating:  "This too will pass."

My Topic?

OK - this is my first attempt to verbally articulate my thoughts on my dissertation.  First some background.

We traditionally say that Physics is the Hardest Science, Chemistry and Biology are Hard Sciences and Psychology, Sociology, Education, etc are called Soft Sciences.  Of course some people think that refers to the difficulty of the material, but actually it refers to the expected rigor applied with regards to the "scientific method."  (OMG!  I'm writing like a researcher.  Yuck!  But I think I've figured out why - more on that later).

OK - so my thought is that these are in backwards order.  Most people think Physics is the most difficult because it uses Calculus (oooo!  scary!).  But actually Physics uses fairly simple formulas to model fairly simple systems subject to relatively easily-controlled, relatively easily-measured forces.  Traditional chemistry (as taught in my High School in the 70's) didn't use much more than arithmetic and geometry; while Biology just used basic observation and classification (which is math - at the early elementary level).  (Of course my Biology class just had to listen to my soon-to-retire teacher discuss his financial plans - but that's another story.)  So some people think the relative hardness is related to the necessary mathematics.  The "soft" sciences just use that "soft" math of Statistics.  But Statistics is actually something that comes after Calculus.  However it is taught at a Freshman/Sophomore college level as an introductory course because so many people need to use it.  People need to know how to interpret statistical reports and evaluate statistical arguments in everything from political science and law to medicine and education, even if they don't understand the theoretical math.  Everything is supposed to be supported by research and research means Statistics.

Chemistry stuff is harder to measure than rolling a canon ball and a marble down an incline, and biology is still harder.  These are hard to measure and model mathematically because they are made of so many "moving parts", so to speak.  I can prove both spheres hit the ground at the same time regardless of temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, or anything so confusing as people.  As science gets "softer," it is studying more complex systems.  Then suddenly (10 or 20 years ago?), someone did the impossible - mapped the human genome.  (I'll admit that most of what I know about DNA analysis came from various forms of fiction - TV, movies and murder/suspense mysteries.  I love Robin Cook & Tess Gerristern.)  Anyway, that DNA stuff took an awful lot of math and computer stuff (programming).  So now I'm thinking along the lines of what comes after - arithmetic, algebra, geometry, analysis, calculus, probability (& statistics), . . .  What comes next?  Well, I've always consumed info, especially when it comes in popular media, so I know the answer.  There's topology & differential geometry (they were around popular back in the day).  Then came Game Theory, Fractals, Fuzzy Logic, and Chaos Theory.  There may be more, but those are the ones I've read about.  I know a very little about fractals and fuzzy logic; I need to learn the basics of game theory & chaos theory.  But what I do know about these fields is that they are useful in modelling complex systems - like a classroom!

So now I'm there.  I'm scanning papers for good background on how these various models have been used on complex systems, including social systems (dang, mustn't forget the social networks & that math).  There's one or two on education so the background does exist.  This could be serious, breakthrough stuff.  Scary! Seriously scary!!!

First Day of Classes - 8/23/11

OMG!  It’s better than I ever could have imagined!  I’m taking 3 courses and 2 seminars, except they’re all really seminars – a bunch of people sitting around a table talking about a common subject.  Four out of five are Intro courses – Intro to Doc Studies, Intro to Research in Ed, Orientation to the Math Ed PhD program, and a Research seminar (we’re preparing for a big meeting of the PME).  The final course is Larry’s Principles and Methods for Integrated Approaches to Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science.  We’re going to be writing Lesson Resources which is like very elaborate lesson plans.  I’ll be writing papers and/or making presentations in all of my classes.  The main emphasis of this semester is to focus on a research topic.  In addition I’m expecting to develop a support network and re-establish my writing skills (esp. citations).  I’ve got an entire 4 to 6 months to focus on only that.  What an incredible opportunity!  I am so glad I decide to partake in this little bit of insanity.