Site swap notation

SC 130 Physical Science has centered on performing experiments with physical systems that obey mathematical relationships. Mathematics has been at the core and center of the course.


The board from yesterday was still up which shifted the focus from whether mathematics should be taught abstractly or in a specific contexts to a focus on what does it mean to be mathematically literate in a mathematical universe?


During the term the students repeatedly demonstrated a complete loss of algebraic knowledge, although all had completed either MS 100 College Algebra and some had completed MS 101 Algebra and Trigonometry. Given this, how can a student prove that they "know" mathematics?


What does "mathematical literacy mean?"

What does it mean to "understand" mathematics? To be able to do mathematics?

How can or should student demonstrate mathematical knowledge in this age of AI? Where copy and paste results in solutions?

How should mathematics be taught?

Should mathematics be taught?

On another note, is everything mathematical? 


The new objects this term. 

Harston throwing threes

Maylanica, one ball practice

Leila'Ona two ball practice

Maylanica

In this laboratory a system of abstract notation is taught without context. Just as symbols on a board. The notation is site swap notation mapped out linearly. Students usually quickly discern the pattern and are able to determine what should appear in subsequent sites. Once the class demonstrates mastery, then the illusion of understanding is taken away. Absent context, the mathematics has no meaning. The mathematics is no more useful than the quadratic formula - neither site swap nor the quadratic formula are ever again used by the non-major students in physical science. 

Mitchy and Harston

Site swap abstract introduction end point.

Jenry-Thor

Then the context is introduced: site swap mathematics is the mathematics of juggling. Useless? Of what use will factoring a quadratic ever be to non-majors in a general education science course? They are more likely to entertain children with their juggling skills than to ever solve a quadratic equation in their life. That there is a mathematical system underneath is a core theme to the course: the physical universe is mathematical. 

Ellinae

Seniko

Leila'Ona

Maylanica and Iva Faye play two ball passing

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