If radio astronomers would discover a signal containing a repeating sequence of prime numbers then they would claim to have found extra-terrestrial intelligent life. Why? Because they consider mathematics as universal throughout the entire universe to which only intelligent life forms have access.
Mathematics is universal. That basically means that mathematics is discovered and not created. We use, for example, $\pi$ as the ratio between circumference and diameter of a circle, that ratio is the same everywhere in the universe. Not the symbol $pi$, the decimal number system and so forth.
We take the existence of mathematics for granted, we don't question when and how it was created. Where does that vast body of mathematics come from? Was it created with the Big Bang? If so, than the ( mathematical ) models of physicists that explain their Big Bang theory look naively simple.
It's rather vague to discuss if there was mathematics before the Big Bang. But -if- there was a point from which everything was created than that creation must have included -all- of mathematics. If we don't accept that than we are saying that we are the most intelligent life form in the universe, because mathematics is created by us and not discovered by us.
What -is- the origin of mathematics?
Selasa, 27 Desember 2011
Senin, 26 Desember 2011
December 26, 2011
The Mathematical Association of America is closed
from December 26, 2011 - January 3, 2012.
See you in 2012 and thanks for playing MAA MinuteMath!
MAA's 3 Books. 3 Days Sale is back for JMM 2012!
Minggu, 25 Desember 2011
HP, Canon LBP 2900B Printer ഇന്സ്റ്റലേഷന്
ഐടി പ്രാക്ടിക്കല് പരീക്ഷ നടക്കുന്നതിനിടെ പതിവു പോലെ പ്രിന്റര് ഇന്സ്റ്റലേഷന് നടത്തുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് പോസ്റ്റ് പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിക്കണമെന്നാവശ്യപ്പെട്ട് പലരും സമീപിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. പ്രധാനമായും HP, Canon പ്രിന്ററുകള് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യേണ്ടതിനെപ്പറ്റിയാണ് പലര്ക്കും അറിയേണ്ടത്. HPയുടെ എല്ലാ പ്രിന്ററുകളും കാനോണ് LBP 29900B പ്രിന്ററും ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യേണ്ടതിന്റെ രീതികള് ചുവടെ കൊടുത്തിരിക്കുന്നു. ഹസൈനാര് സാറാണ് ഇത്തവണയും സഹായത്തിനെത്തിയത്. 10.04 ല് HP പ്രിന്ററുകള് പലപ്പോഴും ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക്കായി ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ആവാറുണ്ട്. എന്നാല് ചില പ്രിന്ററുകള് Pluggins ഇല്ല എന്ന മെസ്സേജ് കാണിച്ച് പ്രിന്റിംഗ് നടക്കാറില്ല. ഇതിന് പരിഹാരമായി താഴെയുള്ള ഡ്രൈവര് ഉപയോഗിക്കാം.
1. ആദ്യം സിസ്റ്റത്തില് പ്രിന്റര് Add ആയിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില് അതെല്ലാം ഡീലിറ്റ് ചെയ്യുക.
2. ഇനി Printer കണക്ട് ചെയ്യുക.
3. ഇവിടെ നിന്നും DRIVER ഡൗണ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്ത് Extract ചെയ്യുക.
(C the Download button on the top right corner of the new page)
4. Extract ചെയ്ത ഫോള്ഡറിലെ install എന്ന ഫയലില് ഡബിള്ക്ക് ചെയ്ത് run in terminal ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക.
( ഈ പാക്കേജ് കണ്ടെത്തി ഇന്റസ്റ്റലേഷന് സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ് തയ്യാറാക്കിയത് Malappuram IT@School Master Trainer ഹക്കീം മാഷ് ആണ്.)
5. ഇന്സ്റ്റലേഷന് പൂര്ത്തിയാവുമ്പോള് പ്രിന്റര് ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക്ക് ആയി Add ആയിട്ടുണ്ടാവും.
6. ഇനി പ്രിന്റിംഗ് നടത്താം. പ്രിന്റിംഗ് നടക്കുന്നില്ലെങ്കില് സിസ്റ്റം റീബൂട്ട് ചെയ്യുക.
റീബൂട്ട് ചെയ്തിട്ടും പ്രിന്റര് ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക്ക് ആയിപ്രിന്റ് ചെയ്യുന്നില്ലെങ്കില് താഴെയുള്ള രീതിയില് പ്രിന്റര് configure ചെയ്യുക.
(പ്രിന്റര് Add ആയിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില് ഡീലിറ്റ് ചെയ്യുക.)
7. ശേഷം ടെര്മിനലില് താഴെയുള്ള കമാന്റ് ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്യുക.
sudo hp-setup
ശേഷം നിര്ദ്ദേശത്തിനനുസരിച്ച് മുന്നോട്ട് പോയി Printer Add ചെയ്യുക. Test page പ്രിന്റ് ചെയ്യണമെന്നില്ല.
8. സിസ്റ്റം റീസ്റ്റാര്ട്ട് ചെയ്യുക.
HP യുടെ സ്കാനറുകളും ഇത് ഉപയോഗിച്ച് പ്രവര്ത്തിപ്പിക്കാന് സാധിക്കും.
NB: ചില HP പ്രിന്ററുകള് താഴെയുള്ള രീതിയില് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യേണ്ടി വരാറുണ്ട്.
http://foo2xqx.rkkda.com/
1. സിസ്റ്റത്തില് cups മായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട പാക്കേജുകള് അപ്ഡേറ്റ് ചെയ്യാനുള്ളവ അപ്ഡേറ്റ് ചെയ്തു.
2. സിനാപ്റ്റിക്കില് നിന്ന് portreserve എന്ന പാക്കേജ് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്തു.
(sudo apt-get install portreserve)
ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് hplip ന്റെ പുതിയ ഡ്രൈവര് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്തു. ( ഇത് ആവശ്യമില്ലെങ്കിലും അത് ചെയ്തിരുന്നു എന്നത് പ്രത്യേകം ഇവിടെ ഓര്ക്കുന്നു.)
ശേഷം താഴെയുള്ള സ്റ്റെപ്പുകള് ഓരോന്നായി ചെയ്തു.
3. നിലവിലുള്ള cndrvcups-capt ഡ്രൈവര് ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് അത് അണ് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യുക..
4. System-Administration-Printing ല് പോയി LBP പ്രിന്റര് Add ആയിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില് ഡീലിറ്റ് ചെയ്യുക.
5. പ്രിന്റര് പവര്ഓഫ് ചെയ്യുക.
6. ഇവിടെ നിന്നും libstdc++5 ഡൗണ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്ത് ഡബിള് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്ത് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യുക (C the Download button on the top right corner of the new page)
7. ശേഷം ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് Capt_driver_2.0 ഡൗണ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്ത് Extract ചെയ്ത് താഴെ പറയുന്ന ക്രമത്തില് ഡബിള് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്ത് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യുക.(C the Download button on the top right corner of the new page)
cndrvcups-common_2.00-2_i386.deb
cndrvcups-capt_2.00-2_i386.deb
ഇനി താഴെയുള്ള കമാന്റ് ഓരോന്നായി റണ് ചെയ്യുക, (കോപ്പി ചെയ്ത് ടെര്മിനലില് പേസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യുക.)
sudo /etc/init.d/cups restart
sudo /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p LBP2900 -m CNCUPSLBP2900CAPTK.ppd -v ccp:/var/ccpd/fifo0 -E
sudo /usr/sbin/ccpdadmin -p LBP2900 -o /dev/usblp0
sudo /etc/init.d/ccpd start
(കമാന്റുകള് ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് കോപ്പി ചെയ്ത് ടെക്സ്റ്റ് എഡിറ്ററില് പേസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യുക. ശേഷം അവിടെ നിന്ന് കോപ്പി ചെയ്യാം)
മൂന്നാമത്തെ കമാന്റ് ടെര്മിനലില് പേസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യുമ്പോള് OK എന്ന് ടെര്മിനലില് തെളിയും. തെളിയണം. ഇത് വന്നില്ലെങ്കില് System-Administration-Printing ല് പോയി LBP പ്രിന്റര് ഡീലിറ്റ് ചെയ്തതിന് ശേഷം സിസ്റ്റം റീസ്റ്റാര്ട്ട് ചെയ്യുക. ശേഷം മുകളില് പറഞ്ഞ അവസാനത്തെ മൂന്ന് കമാന്റുകള് മാത്രം ഓരോന്നായി വീണ്ടും ടെര്മിനലില് റണ് ചെയ്യണം.
ഇനി പ്രിന്റര് പവര് ഓണ് ചെയ്ത് ഏതാണ്ട് 15 സെക്കന്റ് കാത്തിരിക്കുക.
LBP 2900 ready for printing എന്ന മെസ്സേജ് പാനലില് തെളിയും.
8.ശേഷം താഴെയുള്ള കമാന്റ് റണ് ചെയ്യുക.
sudo update-rc.d ccpd defaults 20
9.System-Administration-Printing തുറക്കുക. അവിടെ LBP യുടെ രണ്ട് പ്രിന്റര് കാണാം. ഇതില് LBP2900 Default ആയിട്ടില്ലെങ്കില് Make default ആക്കുക. (മറ്റേതില് Right Click ചെയ്ത് enable അണ് ചെക്ക് ചെയ്യുക.)
10. ശേഷം ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്ത് പ്രിന്റ് ചെയ്യാം. (Print test page വര്ക്ക് ചെയ്യണമെന്നില്ല.)
ഇനിയാണ് ശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ടത്. സിസ്റ്റം ഓരോ പ്രാവശ്യം ഓഫ് ചെയ്യുന്നതിന് മുമ്പ് പ്രിന്റര് ആദ്യം ഓഫ് ചെയ്യുക. സിസ്റ്റം സ്റ്റാര്ട്ട് ചെയ്ത് login ചെയ്തത് എല്ലാ അപ്ലിക്കേഷനും പ്രവര്ത്തന സജ്ജമായതിന് ശേഷം മാത്രം പ്രിന്റര് ഓണാക്കുക. ഇനി പ്രിന്റ് ചെയ്യാം.
പ്രിന്റര് സ്റ്റാര്ട്ട് ചെയ്യാന് വെറൊരു കമാന്റും ആവശ്യമില്ല.
(എന്നാല് LBP2900 പ്രിന്ററിന് സിസ്റ്റം ഓരോ പ്രാവശ്യവും റിസ്റ്റാര്ട്ട് ചെയ്താല് മുകളിലെ അവസാനത്തെ കമാന്റ് - sudo /etc/init.d/ccpd start - ടെര്മിനലില് റണ് ചെയ്താലേ പ്രിന്റര് പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കൂ.)
പിന്നീട് പ്രിന്റര് എപ്പോഴെങ്കിലും ഓഫാക്കിയിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില് സിസ്റ്റം റീബൂട്ട് ചെയ്ത് മുമ്പ് സൂചിപ്പിച്ച രീതിയില് പ്രിന്റര് ഓണ് ചെയ്യുക. (LBP 2900B ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യുമ്പോള് അല്പം ക്ഷമ നിര്ബന്ധമായും ആവശ്യമാണ് കേട്ടോ ? )
LBP സീരിസില് പെട്ട മറ്റ് പ്രിന്ററുകള് ഒറ്റ സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ് ഉപയോഗിച്ച് ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യാം.
ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യാനുള്ള സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റും ഡ്രൈവറും ഇവിടെ ഉണ്ട്. ഇത് ഡൗണ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്ത് Extract ചെയ്യുക.ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്യാനായി extract ചെയ്ത ഫോള്ഡറിലെ canonLBP_install.sh എന്ന ഫയലിന് Execute Permission നല്കുക. ഇനി പ്രസ്തുത ഫോള്ഡറില് Right Click ചെയ്ത് Open in Terminal വഴി ടെര്മിനല് ഓപ്പണ് ചെയ്ത് താഴെ പറയുന്ന കമാന്റ് ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്യുക.
sudo ./canonLBP_install.sh PRINTER_MODEL
Ex: LBP3010 ആണെങ്കില് കമാന്റ് ഇങ്ങനെയാണ് നല്കേണ്ടത്.
sudo ./canonLBP_install.sh LBP3010
കൂടുതല് വിവരങ്ങള്ക്ക് ഇവിടെ നോക്കുമല്ലോ ?
അധ്യാപകരുടെ സംശയങ്ങള് താഴെ പങ്കുവെക്കാം. അത് പരീക്ഷിച്ചു വിജയിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളവര് മറുപടി നല്കുകയും വേണം.
Sabtu, 24 Desember 2011
Merry Christmas !
*★Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
*° •˛• ☃｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ☃˚╰☆╮
...To ALL readers :) ♥♥♥
Calculating Galois Groups in Mathematica
If you are ( like me ):
- ( relatively ) new to Galois Theory
- looking for software to support your study of Galois Theory
- prefer software written in Mathematica because you know your way around in it,
then you should continue reading this post.
This year I became quite a fan of the sites of StackExchange. It is a priceless source of readily available know-how. I did not know where to begin looking for Galois Theory Software ( although I knew it existed ) so I posted a question in Mathematics StackExchange here: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/93689/software-for-galois-theory As you can see I got answers fairly quick. It seemed that Sage, Magma have built-in support for Galois Theory. Both Mathematica and GAP have add-on package solutions. Needless to say these solutions will differ in capabilities, speed and so forth. But I wanted to focus on studying Galois Theorym and not wander off in software land. I accepted the Mathematica answer and pursued that route.
The package did not work!
Written more than a decade ( make that a century or more in software time ) ago or FIVE major releases of Mathematica ago. It got terminally deprecated. Function names used in the package were used in later releases of Mathematica with other, new functions. Other used functions got deprecated and were finally terminated. Software written with an older release can only be opened through the compatibility manager in Mathematica which is quite good at fixing issues. Not this time, which I ascribe to the sheer age of the package. In my confusion I posted the following question in Stack Overflow : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8624000/how-to-handle-tag-arrow-is-protected-message-in-mathematica
With some help I was able to correct the issues. I don't know how or where to post it because the download came from here: http://library.wolfram.com/infocenter/Articles/2872/
So if you don't want to go the same issues just follow the posts above. I am of course willing to share my version 8 compatible version of the package.
- ( relatively ) new to Galois Theory
- looking for software to support your study of Galois Theory
- prefer software written in Mathematica because you know your way around in it,
then you should continue reading this post.
This year I became quite a fan of the sites of StackExchange. It is a priceless source of readily available know-how. I did not know where to begin looking for Galois Theory Software ( although I knew it existed ) so I posted a question in Mathematics StackExchange here: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/93689/software-for-galois-theory As you can see I got answers fairly quick. It seemed that Sage, Magma have built-in support for Galois Theory. Both Mathematica and GAP have add-on package solutions. Needless to say these solutions will differ in capabilities, speed and so forth. But I wanted to focus on studying Galois Theorym and not wander off in software land. I accepted the Mathematica answer and pursued that route.
The package did not work!
Written more than a decade ( make that a century or more in software time ) ago or FIVE major releases of Mathematica ago. It got terminally deprecated. Function names used in the package were used in later releases of Mathematica with other, new functions. Other used functions got deprecated and were finally terminated. Software written with an older release can only be opened through the compatibility manager in Mathematica which is quite good at fixing issues. Not this time, which I ascribe to the sheer age of the package. In my confusion I posted the following question in Stack Overflow : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8624000/how-to-handle-tag-arrow-is-protected-message-in-mathematica
With some help I was able to correct the issues. I don't know how or where to post it because the download came from here: http://library.wolfram.com/infocenter/Articles/2872/
So if you don't want to go the same issues just follow the posts above. I am of course willing to share my version 8 compatible version of the package.
Fearless Symmetry 6/23: Equations and varieties
I read the sixth chapter of Fearless Symmetry.
To be continued with 7. Quadratic reciprocity
Part 1: Algebraic Preliminaries
Chapter 6: Equations and varietiesLogic of Equality
An equation is a statement, or assertion, that one thing is identical to another. In mathematics we replace is by = and use symbols that stand for the terms.History of equations
Long before algebra as we know it, ancient peoples were working with equations.
A triangle whose three sides have lengths 3, 4, and 5 is a right triangle which is an example of a Diophantic equation because the unknowns are restricted to integers. Around the late 1500s Descartes added the connection between algebra and geometry now known as analytic geometry. Descartes, as a philosopher believed that the physical universe was governed entirely by the laws of geometry. Newton ( and Leibniz ) discovered that this wasn't true, they had to invent calculus to solve their scientific problems mathematically.Z-Equations
A rational number is any number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers. Real numbers are rational iff it is a terminating decimal or a repeating decimal. The set of all rational numbers is usually denoted as Q. We will deal mostly with equations where all the constants are integers. Or equations "defined over the integers". A Z-Equation is an equality of polynomials with integer coefficients. One of the main problems in number theory is finding and understanding all solutions of Z-equations.Varieties
Fix the attention on a particular Z-equation. Write S(Z) for the set of all integral solutions of that equation, S(Q) for the set of all rational solutions of it, and so on. We call S an "algebraic variety". The variety S defined by a Z-equation ( or a system of Z-equations ) is the function that assigns to any number system the set of solutions S(A) of the equation or system of the equations.
For example define the Variety S as x^2 + Y^2 = 1
Then
S(Z) = {{1,0),(0,1),(-1,0),(0,-1)}.
S(Q) = {t in Q | 1-t^2 / 1+t^2, 2t/1+t^2}.
We can reformulate Fermat's Last Theorem using varieties as follows.
For any positive integer n, let V_n be the variety defined by x^n + y_n = z^n. Then if n > 2, V_n(Z) contains only solutions where one or more of the variables is 0.Systems of equations
The system
x^2+y^2=1
x>0
is valid and has solutions, but it does NOT define an algebraic variety because inequalities are not defined in C nor in any of the finite fields.
Take the system
x^2+y^2+z^2=w
w^4=1
x+y=z
then S(R) is the ellipse x^2+y^2+x y = 1/2.Finding roots of polynomials
The easiest general class of varieties to look at would be those defined by a single Z-equation in a single variable, for instance, x^3 + x - 2 = 0. The study of this type of variety is dominated by the concept of the Galois group. ( More in 8 and 13 ). If f(x) is a polynomial the roots of f(x) are the numbers c such that f(c)=0.Are There General Methods for Finding Solutions to Systems of Polynomial Equations?
On a purely number-theoretical level, leaving philosophy and logic behind, we also have the famous theorem of Abel and Ruffini: Unlike quadratic polynomials, for which we can use the quadratic formula, for polynomials f (x) of degree 5 or greater, there is no formula involving just addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and nth roots (n = 2, 3, 4, . . .) that can solve f (x) = 0 in general.Deeper understanding is desirable
The amazing discovery of Galois is that there is more structure to S(A). As we shall see, S(A) is not just a set; it is the basis for defining a representation of a certain group, called the Galois group. We will look at another series of very interesting and very important, though not so very simple, Z-varieties: elliptic curves. These two kinds of varieties will give us some of our main examples to help us understand Galois groups and their representations.
To be continued with 7. Quadratic reciprocity
Jumat, 23 Desember 2011
Kamis, 22 Desember 2011
Rabu, 21 Desember 2011
Selasa, 20 Desember 2011
Extrinsic Motivation
It's been a weird semester and this is going to be a weird post. I'm trying to work through how I made a mess of it, and doing that publicly is odd... but it fits with how this blog has helped me develop as a professional. I shared my portfolio at the beginning of the semester, which I put together to make a case for promotion to full professor, and I've been turned down for that by the college personnel committee and our dean, after a positive but slightly contentious department vote. The reason for for the no was no peer-reviewed publications. Serves me right, many say, applying for full without any.
I became interested in the teaching of math in a serious way when I got the chance to make over the math for elementary teachers at Penn State. We changed texts, and my friend Sue Feeley gave me some excellent reading recommendations in response to 'what do these teachers need to know, anyway?' I got more interested when I realized how amazing and challenging it was to think about, and just fun besides. I was going to quit graduate school and go teach high school, but my advisor correctly urged me to finish. The nail in the math research coffin for me was realizing just how few people would care about the research I was doing.
At Grand Valley they hired me to be a math educator, in what I still consider to be a minor miracle. What were they thinking? I didn't think too much of publishing then because I was really just learning the field, and then I just never got around to it. I was also changing (hopefully growing) so fast that it felt weird putting something into print - who knew if I was still going to be doing that in a year or two? Plus work in the schools with students and with teachers in professional development was so much more satisfying. That led me to blogging, as a way to share resources and post materials for teachers, and blogging led me to writing. (Such as it is.) It was ephemeral enough that I didn't feel chained by it, and informal enough that I could share my process and stream of thought, which I value over product.
Then I started getting positive attention at work for the blog. I had long accepted that the way I went about my job meant never being a full professor and I didn't mind at all. Several friends convinced me to consider applying for promotion, and when my chair mentioned to my wife Karen that I should, it became a home discussion, too. I decided to try; I could be a test case, since I didn't really care. But a funny thing happened on the way, and as I put together materials and considered the college criteria, I really convinced myself that I did fit the criteria. The one thing missing: peer review. I decided that my department would be the peers, and made the process about asking them about the quality of my scholarship. They felt it met the requirements, though some felt like that was the wrong question, and the right question was publishing. But our criteria don't require publishing.
So when the negative decision came, it was totally depressing. The dean made it clear that it's a "technical requirement," and, I'm sure he thought kindly, "if you had one paper accepted..." Which to me sounded like you're right, your work is deserving, but sorry, you forgot to check a box. My negative reaction to this makes me feel foolish beyond measure, because my life is a constant stream of blessings. This is so totally a first world problem. It made me feel unappreciated at work, despite the great support I received from many people. Karen suggested my reaction came from a lack of previous failures, and that is part of it, too, I think. It really mired me in negativity.
I went from doing what I love because I loved it, to caring what someone else would say about it. And now I probably will try to submit for publication, though every obstinate bone in my body says to hell with it. Because it makes a financial difference for my family, though I hate that this matters. Which takes me back to having been so fortunate that I can be such an idealist at this advanced age.
Then it finally connected to me both how we do this to students all the time. Care about the grade! And how this is parallel to the new and developing teacher evaluation programs. With much higher stakes, where a no means you're out of school or out of a job. It's a nasty proposition, having to manage your professional life or academic life with someone else's criteria and interpretation of those criteria hanging over your head.
Sympathy for the people really subjected to these extrinsic measures is helping me come out of my funk. Plus to still be doing the job I love, with the constant amazing work that students do when genuinely learning. Two #mathchats on math games this week! A new batch of student teachers to mentor next semester. I want to re-evaluate how I'm trying to motivate students, and to be honest about it.
It's a Wonderful Life, when measured by what actually matters.
At Grand Valley they hired me to be a math educator, in what I still consider to be a minor miracle. What were they thinking? I didn't think too much of publishing then because I was really just learning the field, and then I just never got around to it. I was also changing (hopefully growing) so fast that it felt weird putting something into print - who knew if I was still going to be doing that in a year or two? Plus work in the schools with students and with teachers in professional development was so much more satisfying. That led me to blogging, as a way to share resources and post materials for teachers, and blogging led me to writing. (Such as it is.) It was ephemeral enough that I didn't feel chained by it, and informal enough that I could share my process and stream of thought, which I value over product.
Then I started getting positive attention at work for the blog. I had long accepted that the way I went about my job meant never being a full professor and I didn't mind at all. Several friends convinced me to consider applying for promotion, and when my chair mentioned to my wife Karen that I should, it became a home discussion, too. I decided to try; I could be a test case, since I didn't really care. But a funny thing happened on the way, and as I put together materials and considered the college criteria, I really convinced myself that I did fit the criteria. The one thing missing: peer review. I decided that my department would be the peers, and made the process about asking them about the quality of my scholarship. They felt it met the requirements, though some felt like that was the wrong question, and the right question was publishing. But our criteria don't require publishing.
So when the negative decision came, it was totally depressing. The dean made it clear that it's a "technical requirement," and, I'm sure he thought kindly, "if you had one paper accepted..." Which to me sounded like you're right, your work is deserving, but sorry, you forgot to check a box. My negative reaction to this makes me feel foolish beyond measure, because my life is a constant stream of blessings. This is so totally a first world problem. It made me feel unappreciated at work, despite the great support I received from many people. Karen suggested my reaction came from a lack of previous failures, and that is part of it, too, I think. It really mired me in negativity.
I went from doing what I love because I loved it, to caring what someone else would say about it. And now I probably will try to submit for publication, though every obstinate bone in my body says to hell with it. Because it makes a financial difference for my family, though I hate that this matters. Which takes me back to having been so fortunate that I can be such an idealist at this advanced age.
Then it finally connected to me both how we do this to students all the time. Care about the grade! And how this is parallel to the new and developing teacher evaluation programs. With much higher stakes, where a no means you're out of school or out of a job. It's a nasty proposition, having to manage your professional life or academic life with someone else's criteria and interpretation of those criteria hanging over your head.
Sympathy for the people really subjected to these extrinsic measures is helping me come out of my funk. Plus to still be doing the job I love, with the constant amazing work that students do when genuinely learning. Two #mathchats on math games this week! A new batch of student teachers to mentor next semester. I want to re-evaluate how I'm trying to motivate students, and to be honest about it.It's a Wonderful Life, when measured by what actually matters.
Senin, 19 Desember 2011
Lowongan Guru Biologi
SMA Martia Bhakti Bekasi membutuhkan tenaga pendidik untuk mata pelajaran Biologi dengan syarat :1. Beragama Islam2. IPK >2,53. mampu mengoperasikan microsoft office ( Word, Excel, dan power point )4. Memiliki akta IVLamaran dapat dikirim melalui email : matematika3sma@gmail.com atau datang langsung ke SMA Martia Bhakti dengan alamat Jl. Jendral Sudirman KM. 32 Bekasi ( dekat GOR Bekasi ).
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