Re: Take this self test and reflect on your results!

 

    I think it's an interesting test to do and I think we as educators need to take that more frequently. I think this is more like a reflection and check on myself in terms of my goal of teaching. The result didn't really surprise me that much as I know I value student's mental health much more than knowledge itself. I always believe that school is not the place for students to prepare for exams, but rather a place for them to establish their moral responsibility in society and become a person who has a fair and decent moral standard. 

My highest score is at nurturing which I don't feel surprised by that. I understand that that's not my teaching "style", it's just my teaching perspective. I think what the takeaway the test gave me is that in order for me to teach more effectively, I should first know my teaching perspective. Using my strength and belief and make the most out of it is the purpose of the test. 

My question here is that what if the result of the test changes too often? Does that mean we don't have a firm belief in what we believe in our teaching perspective? Do we have any specific supporting resources for different perspectives? 

Re:A puzzle to work on during the next two weeks: The scales problem

 First of all, here are the keynotes of the questions: 

1. we have 4 weights in total and they are all different weights. 

2. the 4 weights will have different combinations that weight herbs weight form 1-40 grams

Here are my thoughts, 

1. To measure 1 gram of herbs, there must be a 1-gram weight since that's the smallest weight possible. 

2. To measure 2 grams of herbs, we can put 2 grams of herbs and 1 gram of weight on one side and the other side must be a 3-gram weight. So, we have a 3-gram weight as our second weight. 

3. To measure 3 grams of herbs, we have a 3-gram weight. 

4. To measure 4 grams of herbs, we have 1+3 gram weights. 

5. To measure 5 grams of herbs, we have 1+3 grams but we need another 1-gram weight which doesn't work as we only have 1 1-gram weight. So basically, we have 5 grams of herbs and 1+3 grams of weight on one plate which is 9 grams in total. In order to balance the plate, we will have to have a 9-gram weight. So, we have a 9-gram weight as our third weight. 

6. To measure 6 grams of herbs,  6-gram herbs + 3-gram weight=9-gram weight 

7. To measure 7 grams of herbs, 7-gram herbs + 3-gram weight = 9-gram weight + 1-gram weight 

8. To measure 8 grams of herbs, 8g Herbs + 1g Weight=9g Weight 

9. To measure 9 grams of herbs, we have a 9-gram weight 

10. To measure 10 grams of herbs, 9-gram herbs=9-gram weight + 1-gram weight 

11. To measure 11 grams of herbs, 11g Herbs +1g Weight = 9g Weight + 3g Weight 

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14. To measure 14 grams of herbs, we have 14g herbs + 3g Weight +1g Weight+9g Weight = 27g which means we will have a 27-gram weight as our third weight. 

Similarly, we can use a similar method to weight the rest of the possible herb weights from 15g-40g. 

To students, I would ask if they have any other method to solve the puzzle using mathematical calculations. How many grams of herbs does the seller need to have minimally to make this calculation possible. 

Re:Thinking about math textbooks

 Math textbooks were a huge part of my education from Grade 1- 8 when I was still in China, the use of math textbooks was definitely much less when I started taking math courses in high school in Canada. What I noticed, in general, is that no matter where I am, the textbooks I have used in the past were always very dated and old. Most examples were shown in the textbooks from lower grades were somewhat real-life related. However, when the math problems get harder and harder, the example problems seemed so far away from our daily life experience. 

I especially loved the perspective the author took on how math textbooks were written. The examples they use, the vocabularies appear in different textbooks.  However, I think most textbooks are aiming to give students real-life experiences and hoping they can take a part of the examples in order to have a better understanding of the questions. In my opinion, textbooks are important as it acts as a learning map for most teachers and students, it represents a golden standard of what we should teach as an educator and what students are expected to learn. However, I also think about how teachers deliver knowledge makes a bigger difference in how well students learn the materials from the textbook. At the end of the day, textbooks can only deliver a limited amount of information and it can't predict what questions students might have and answer them at the same time. 

As a former student myself. I did use the textbook as a learning map to direct myself for the course in the sense of if I missed a lecture I have something I can refer to, kind of teach myself on the topic. However, I find I often reached for the internet more when I had any questions and watched a lot of youtube videos to show me step by step solutions to a problem. In university, I tend to use more textbooks while I was taking some higher math courses since there wasn't much information I could find online. 

As a TC myself, I feel safe in the sense that I have something I can rely on so that I have general control of the whole course plan without drifting away from the curriculum. However, I think I definitely need to modify the materials from a textbook to make it more adaptable/interesting for my students to not only understand but also know how to use them in real-life situations! 

Re: Mini Lesson Plan

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wtsnKg4RGQDmq4BvY3Q1lBGIhJoe2VC13J0AaWwCqYw/edit

Re: The Giant Soup Can of Hornby Island

 

This is such an interesting question and it's such a unique piece of artwork. Here are a few methods I might try to solve the puzzle questions. 

1. Since we know the actual soup can have the same proportions as the tank, I would measure the diameter of the actual tank and the soup can. Using the ratio method, I can then calculate the volume of the tank from the volume of the soup can. 

2. If measuring the diameter of the tank is hard to measure, we can measure the height of the tank by knowing how many lengths of the bike is there for the height of the tank. Knowing the height of the tank and the actual soup can, we then calculate the dimensions of the tank by using the ratio method. 

3. Using the reflection of the sunlight to calculate the height of the tank by using the bike. We then calculate the volume of the tank. 

To answer the question of is the tank is big enough to put out an average house fire. After some research, it seems the problem is so much more complicated. There are so many different types of a house fire, either it's an exterior fire or the fire is from different levels of the house, every scenario has a different strategy to put out the fire. It all depends on the individual situation. After some calculation, I think the tank might be enough to put out a small house fire. 

My own puzzle: there is math everywhere including from some famous artworks. See the attached paintings and notice the mathematical rules were used in the paintings. 

A link that I found might be helpful to have an in-depth understanding of the question. 

http://monalisa.org/2012/09/12/leonardo-and-mathematics-in-his-paintings/

Re: Video viewing and blogging homework: “Flow”, engagement and the Thinking Classroom

 "Follow the flow" has become one of my mottoes when I'm getting older each day and experienced all the happiness and sadness in my life. Follow the flow means a lot of things, follow your desire, follow your feelings, follow your passions, and importantly follow your heart. 

I don't think any successful people live like a zombie that they just do whatever they are asked to do without any inner motivation. I think the problem that a lot of people have nowadays is the lack of a "follow your callings" attitude. Maybe they are scared to try new things or be "different" from others, having the courage to take the initiative to follow the flow will be hard and painful, you need skills and knowledge, but once you get a hang of it or have a flow of it, your passion, curiosity, and willingness to work hard comes along naturally and it will feel good. Having a unique personal "flow" is important and is also a key to happiness. It gives you a reason to look forward to the future, The beauty of being able to "flow" is the endless possibilities it will give you. I believe that there are still so many unknowns about our brains. How the human brain function is still a mystery to us, I believe there are always reasons behind so-called "unconscious behaviors". I think those "unconscious behaviors" are carefully processed/calculated by our brains which is sometimes the best we could have done in that situation even though sometimes it looks like a bad decision. 

I do believe in "fate" but under the circumstance of "doing my best". I think the statement reflects on my motto of "follow the flow" because I have done my best, whatever life leads me to is meant to be. To feel fulfilled and happy in your life, one should accept whatever life throws at you, adapt it, and learn to enjoy the process of it. 

I know there are so many obstacles along the way to our "goals", but isn't the journey to our destination is the most fun part?  Learn to enjoy the process and follow the rhythm of your life, believe that a positive mindset will lead you to where you belong!