Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Art of Learning
Lifelong Learning in Programming
Learning by Online Debate and Discussion
The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
Education: Curriculum, Syllabus, Teaching Methods.
Learning: Making a Mental Model. Learning Styles, Cognitive Science
Understanding: Seeing the flow
Feeling: Balls to Bones
http://www.klee.ac/en/lsp/science_en_020730.pdf
Motivation/Why I wanna Learn:
---------------------------------
I'm doing it because I know it makes me stronger.
Being truthful. If I don't understand/know something admit it, learn and grow.
What happens when I do this?Where does it end?What makes it tick?How does it work?Why does it work in that way?Is there a better way to do this?Is there any direct way of doing this instead of the complex way?I just want to change this one parts behaviour independant of other parts?I've always wanted to do this. Can it do this?Where can I get to the meat of the matter?What can I use this for?
+ Read about ideas and technologies. Thought and discussed a) concepts, (WHAT) b) reinventing it, (HOW) c) tradeoffs, (WHY) d) applications. (WHERE)
+ Tried out ideas on a bare-bones model. a) Experimented with edge-cases, (what-if) b) Special circumstances, c) Special needs and applications. Didn't want complete it. Too complex.
+ Used libraries/tools. a) Tracing the flow of the system. b) Joining 2 things to create a new thing. Didn't add more things. Too complex. Have to design/create piping between tools/libraries. Piping Code and Processing code should be seperated.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Howto use Moodle for Creating a Learning Environment
[About]
What is Moodle?
About Moodle (details)
Moodle Demonstration Site
Moodle features course
[Howtos]
Writing Lessons using Moodle's Lesson-Module
Lesson-Module FAQ
Writing Books using Moodle's Book-Module
Books:
Using Moodle (online flash version)
Using Moodle (pdf version),
Using Moodle web-page,
Moodle E-Learning Course Development
Moodle 1.9 Teaching Techniques
Moodle Teacher Handbook
Moodle 1.9 Multimedia
Using Lessons in Moodle: An Illustrated Guide
Effective Use of Quizzes in Moodle
What is Moodle?
About Moodle (details)
Moodle Demonstration Site
Moodle features course
[Howtos]
Writing Lessons using Moodle's Lesson-Module
Lesson-Module FAQ
Writing Books using Moodle's Book-Module
Books:
Using Moodle (online flash version)
Using Moodle (pdf version),
Using Moodle web-page,
Moodle E-Learning Course Development
Moodle 1.9 Teaching Techniques
Moodle Teacher Handbook
Moodle 1.9 Multimedia
Using Lessons in Moodle: An Illustrated Guide
Effective Use of Quizzes in Moodle
Teach Yourself Mathematics in an Intuitive, Interesting and Fun Way
The "Head First Series" on Mathematics is a great resource on learning mathematics from the basics.
They're brought out editions on Statistics, Algebra and there's even a Manga Guide to Calculus (though this needs to be imported from US)!!!
The Teaching Company (TTC) have some good videos on learning mathematics (and other subjects too).
Wikipedia on "How to Solve It by George Polya",
Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning (Volume I) by George Polya,
Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning: Volume II Patterns and Inference by George Polya,
How to Solve It: Modern Heuristics by Michaelwicz and Fogel,
Teaching Math with Moodle 1.9 (open source free software and book)
Interview of Polya on Mathematical Abilities : http://tme.coe.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/v21n1_Editorial_KilpatrickPolya.pdf
"Mathematician's Mind - The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field" by Jacques Hadamard : http://www.inp.nsk.su/~silagadz/Hadamard_Essay.pdf (later this essay was reissued as the book)
Calculus: An Intuitive and Physical Approach (Second Edition) by Morris Kline
Mathematics and the Physical World by Morris Kline,
Mathematics for the Non-mathematician,
The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible by Keith Devlin
chycho (with Video Series on Mathematics freely available as a torrent)
How to Lie with Statistics
Head First Series:
Excellent article on Math Notation (Semiotics),
(Cut-The-Knot.org) Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles, Index,
According to the Rules (Rete AI algorithm in easy english)
Math Better Explained : Downloadable ebook with slides ($$)
Blog on Setting up Moodle for Mathematics
Teach College Math Resources (presentations etc)
========
3. Know about the ways of learning: The best way to learn anything is to discover it by yourself.
4. Try to read the faces of your students, try to see their expectations and difficulties, put yourself in their place.
5. Give them not only information, but “know-how”, attitudes of mind, the habit of methodical work.
6. Let them learn guessing.
7. Let them learn proving.
8. Look out for such features of the problem at hand as may be useful in solving the problems to come – try to disclose the general pattern that lies behind the present concrete situation.
9. Do not give away your whole secret at once—let the students guess before you tell it—let them find out by themselves as much as feasible.
10. Suggest it, do not force it down your throats.
==============
"e": The Story of a Number,
An Imaginary Tale: The Story of "i"
They're brought out editions on Statistics, Algebra and there's even a Manga Guide to Calculus (though this needs to be imported from US)!!!
The Teaching Company (TTC) have some good videos on learning mathematics (and other subjects too).
Problem Solving approaches to attack a problem from multiple angles
How to Solve It by George PolyaWikipedia on "How to Solve It by George Polya",
Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning (Volume I) by George Polya,
Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning: Volume II Patterns and Inference by George Polya,
How to Solve It: Modern Heuristics by Michaelwicz and Fogel,
Teaching and Learning
Mathematical Discovery: On Understanding, Learning and Teaching by George Polya,Teaching Math with Moodle 1.9 (open source free software and book)
Interview of Polya on Mathematical Abilities : http://tme.coe.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/v21n1_Editorial_KilpatrickPolya.pdf
"Mathematician's Mind - The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field" by Jacques Hadamard : http://www.inp.nsk.su/~silagadz/Hadamard_Essay.pdf (later this essay was reissued as the book)
Learning and Understanding Math Intuitively
The Mathematical Mechanic: Using Physical Reasoning To Solve ProblemsCalculus: An Intuitive and Physical Approach (Second Edition) by Morris Kline
Mathematics and the Physical World by Morris Kline,
Mathematics for the Non-mathematician,
The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible by Keith Devlin
chycho (with Video Series on Mathematics freely available as a torrent)
How to Lie with Statistics
Head First Series:
- Head First 2D Geometry,
- Head First Algebra,
- Head First Statistics,
- Manga Guide to Calculus,
- Mathematica Cookbook,
- Statistics Hacks, Statistics in a Nutshell
Links
How to Develop a Mindset for Math | BetterExplained,Excellent article on Math Notation (Semiotics),
(Cut-The-Knot.org) Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and Puzzles, Index,
According to the Rules (Rete AI algorithm in easy english)
Math Better Explained : Downloadable ebook with slides ($$)
Blog on Setting up Moodle for Mathematics
Teach College Math Resources (presentations etc)
========
George Polya’s 10 commandments for teachers:
1. Be interested in your subject. Convince the kids that mathematics is amusing.
2. Know your subject.3. Know about the ways of learning: The best way to learn anything is to discover it by yourself.
4. Try to read the faces of your students, try to see their expectations and difficulties, put yourself in their place.
5. Give them not only information, but “know-how”, attitudes of mind, the habit of methodical work.
6. Let them learn guessing.
7. Let them learn proving.
8. Look out for such features of the problem at hand as may be useful in solving the problems to come – try to disclose the general pattern that lies behind the present concrete situation.
9. Do not give away your whole secret at once—let the students guess before you tell it—let them find out by themselves as much as feasible.
10. Suggest it, do not force it down your throats.
==============
Fun Maths:
Arvind Gupta Math Toys and Books,"e": The Story of a Number,
An Imaginary Tale: The Story of "i"
The Teaching Company (Videos/Audios) on Learning Different Subjects:
[Mathematics]- TTC - Joy of Mathematics
- TTC - High School Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Chemistry
- TTC - Calculus Made Clear
- TTC - Understanding Calculus - Problems, Solutions and Tips
- TTC - Physics in Your Life
- TTC - Meaning From Data - Statistics Made Clear
- TTC - An Introduction to Number Theory
- TTC - What Are The Chances - Probability Made Clear
- TTC - Understanding Complexity
- TTC - Great Scientific Ideas That Changed the World
- TTC - Zero to Infinity - A History of NumbersTTC - Albert Einstein
- TTC - How to become a Superstar Student
- TTC - The Art and Craft of Mathematical Problem Solving
- TTC - The Art of Critical Decision Making
- TTC - Tools of Thinking - Understanding the World Through Experience and Reason
- TTC - Joy of Thinking
- TTC - Argumentation - The Study of Effective Reasoning
- TTC - Building Great Sentences
- TTC - Psychology of Human Behaviour
- TTC - Understanding Genetics
- TTC - Understanding the Brain
- TTC - Eckhart Tolle - In the Presence of a Great Mystery
- TTC - Nutrition Made Clear
- TTC - Biology And Human Behaviour
- TTC - Understanding the Fundamentals of Music
- TTC - Art of Teaching (Audio)
- TTC - Questions of Value
Monday, October 11, 2010
Learning, Evolution, Life and Civilization with Genes, Memes and Temes
Susan Blackmore on TED.com uses the basic law of "Natural Selection" and Units of Replication to explain Learning, Evolution and "Life"(sic). She explains how units of replication - Genes (physical), Memes (mental) and Temes (technological) are the driving forces for replicating information or "Life".
Memes use up nearly 20% of our energy and are indiscriminate in their propagation.
She seems to suggest that these memes need to be filtered to avoid ending our "civilization-as-we-know-it" from an untimely end.
She actually uses an old idea used to statistically calculate number of intelligent AND communicating ALIEN civilizations which made it through the dangerous parts of their history. These would be the civilizations which could possibly contact us if at all. She then modifies this equation to reflect Replicator Generations instead of Technology Revolutions.
Imagine an internet where both "good", "bad" and "ugly" ideas are roaming about cross-pollinating each other without any filteration device except for "Natural Selection" i.e. the meme which replicates most "wins".
Where humans/intelligent data mining bots are taken over by causes and holy-wars but now with much better equipment to carry out a solitary madmans delusions ("virulent/mad/bad" memes??)
As Susan says we don't know if our civilization will make it through the Temes Replication.
Further she proposes (in effect) that the internet is a VAST collection of Temes (good, bad and ugly) which replicates on its own.
Visions of Terminator 2 and RepRap and maybe WallE come alive in the above talks.
What is the "viewpoint" of a bacterium with respect to a human being and vice-versa.
After all we're relatives but with maybe better replicating capability (at least as far as ideas/memes are concerned).
We consider them life-forms of no great importance unless they're useful/harmful to us as in say
a) Yeast for yoghurt and other such uses - grow them and even sell them in sachets for baking cakes.
b) Disease causing bacteria- just wipe them out.
Maybe more "advanced" memes will view humans with the same angle - utility. Makes sense!!
There was a Doctor-Who episode called "Full Circle" with around the same premise as the storyline.
Maybe best taken with a pinch of salt... as evolutionary processes can be slow (or fast depending on the circumstance). Still thought-provoking as to why life is getting so complex.
Blame it on the Memes/Temes!! :-)
On a more "positive" side of the story on Memes and Temes.
Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from | Video on TED.com
Steve Johnson describes "The Liquid Network" of Britain (coffee-houses) which allowed people gather and talk and bounce ideas off each other.
Essentially allowed these coffee-houses allowed ideas/memes to "have sex" and "create little hybrid ideas" i.e. convergence and emergence of new and more powerful memes.
Its hybrid ideas like these that led to Hitech devices made with off-the-shelf low tech parts below.
Hitech incubators for premature babies don't work for long in African countries, as they don't have trouble sourcing spare-parts and finding tools/technicians to maintain them.
Somebody then observed that these countries have enough infrastructure to maintain cars!!
Putting these 2 memes together he thought of using off-the-shelf locally available car parts to build a premature baby incubator for African countries. So now they have car mechanics (not high-tech engineers) maintain these mash-up devices by simply replacing/repairing these worn-out parts.
Come to think of it this blog itself is a mash-up of all the above articles!!
AND
A meme/teme in its own right.
Anybody who reads this blog post replicates these ideas in their own head. Beware!! :-D
Memes use up nearly 20% of our energy and are indiscriminate in their propagation.
She seems to suggest that these memes need to be filtered to avoid ending our "civilization-as-we-know-it" from an untimely end.
She actually uses an old idea used to statistically calculate number of intelligent AND communicating ALIEN civilizations which made it through the dangerous parts of their history. These would be the civilizations which could possibly contact us if at all. She then modifies this equation to reflect Replicator Generations instead of Technology Revolutions.
Imagine an internet where both "good", "bad" and "ugly" ideas are roaming about cross-pollinating each other without any filteration device except for "Natural Selection" i.e. the meme which replicates most "wins".
Where humans/intelligent data mining bots are taken over by causes and holy-wars but now with much better equipment to carry out a solitary madmans delusions ("virulent/mad/bad" memes??)
As Susan says we don't know if our civilization will make it through the Temes Replication.
Further she proposes (in effect) that the internet is a VAST collection of Temes (good, bad and ugly) which replicates on its own.
Visions of Terminator 2 and RepRap and maybe WallE come alive in the above talks.
What is the "viewpoint" of a bacterium with respect to a human being and vice-versa.
After all we're relatives but with maybe better replicating capability (at least as far as ideas/memes are concerned).
We consider them life-forms of no great importance unless they're useful/harmful to us as in say
a) Yeast for yoghurt and other such uses - grow them and even sell them in sachets for baking cakes.
b) Disease causing bacteria- just wipe them out.
Maybe more "advanced" memes will view humans with the same angle - utility. Makes sense!!
There was a Doctor-Who episode called "Full Circle" with around the same premise as the storyline.
Maybe best taken with a pinch of salt... as evolutionary processes can be slow (or fast depending on the circumstance). Still thought-provoking as to why life is getting so complex.
Blame it on the Memes/Temes!! :-)
On a more "positive" side of the story on Memes and Temes.
Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from | Video on TED.com
Steve Johnson describes "The Liquid Network" of Britain (coffee-houses) which allowed people gather and talk and bounce ideas off each other.
Essentially allowed these coffee-houses allowed ideas/memes to "have sex" and "create little hybrid ideas" i.e. convergence and emergence of new and more powerful memes.
Its hybrid ideas like these that led to Hitech devices made with off-the-shelf low tech parts below.
Hitech incubators for premature babies don't work for long in African countries, as they don't have trouble sourcing spare-parts and finding tools/technicians to maintain them.
Somebody then observed that these countries have enough infrastructure to maintain cars!!
Putting these 2 memes together he thought of using off-the-shelf locally available car parts to build a premature baby incubator for African countries. So now they have car mechanics (not high-tech engineers) maintain these mash-up devices by simply replacing/repairing these worn-out parts.
Come to think of it this blog itself is a mash-up of all the above articles!!
AND
A meme/teme in its own right.
Anybody who reads this blog post replicates these ideas in their own head. Beware!! :-D
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Developing Effective Communication skills for Presentations, Negotiation and Cooperation with people
a) [WHY]
It's very important to present your ideas to the stakeholders and people who make the decisions.
This article started out as mail of 2 lines of copy-paste. But its grown into an article so blogging for other people to find and use.
Communication, marketing are some very important skills which are not taught in schools/colleges. But they're essential in day-to-day life.
Most people assume it's some kind of magic/in-born talent for some gifted people. However, like most things with patient practise we can grasp at least 50% of the skills by studying with the Masters in these fields.
I've seen some very hardworking, talented people miss out on what they deserve because they didn't have proper guidance on these very important topics.
b) [WHAT]
These are some good books that I found to be very useful in breaking the communication barrier.
I've personally benefited from reading, understanding and applying the techniques/principles given in them.
These people are gurus in their respective fields i.e.
a) Negotiation [Herb Cohen]
b) Marketing [Dale Carnegie] and
c) Open Source development [Eric S Raymond]
These books are available VERY cheaply on the roadside stalls or you can try for e bo oks also.
If you find reading tiring videos, Audio books, ebooks are also available on these topics.
c) [HOW]
[Communication skills]
1) You can negotiate Anything [Herb Cohen] Rating: (12/10)
This slim booklet is so powerful = power + full !!It helps you understand the games that go on behind the scene in any negotiation.
Whether its bargaining with a salesman or negotiating your salary with your boss.
As they say "You don't get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate"
This book has helped me to confidently negotiate my salary successfully at least 2-3 times.
This guy could negotiate with even ter ror ist s.
2) Art of Public Speaking [Dale Carnegie] Rating: (10/10)
This book is about effectively communicating your ideas.
So that people listen, understand and appreciate them.
"Effective communication" - Presentations, Emails, Phone conversations,
Business case presentations all come under this.
Have you seen a really great idea die just because the innovator could not sell his idea to others?
Have you seen speakers bore people into a coma during a presentation?
Have you seen an expert talk incoherently on a really good topic?
This world famous book teaches how to avoid all these and other basic pitfalls/mistakes people make.
It also teaches you some great methods/principles to follow in any communication scenario.
3) How to Win Friends and Influence People [Dale Carnegie] Rating: (10/10)
How to talk so that people listen to your ideas.
How and Why do people cooperate? Why don't they cooperate even if its in their interest?
How to get past the barriers which prevent people to cooperate for mutual benefit
4) How to ask questions the Smart Way [Eric S Raymond] Rating: (10/10)
http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
This small but powerful howto tells you how you can get people to help you.
All you need is to make it easy for them to help you.
A superb collection of methods to get an answer on a newsgroup/forum.
Helps equally well with team members who can help you but are too busy to sit with you for 30 minutes or more.
a) [WHY]
It's very important to present your ideas to the stakeholders and people who make the decisions.
This article started out as mail of 2 lines of copy-paste. But its grown into an article so blogging for other people to find and use.
Communication, marketing are some very important skills which are not taught in schools/colleges. But they're essential in day-to-day life.
Most people assume it's some kind of magic/in-born talent for some gifted people. However, like most things with patient practise we can grasp at least 50% of the skills by studying with the Masters in these fields.
I've seen some very hardworking, talented people miss out on what they deserve because they didn't have proper guidance on these very important topics.
b) [WHAT]
These are some good books that I found to be very useful in breaking the communication barrier.
I've personally benefited from reading, understanding and applying the techniques/principles given in them.
These people are gurus in their respective fields i.e.
a) Negotiation [Herb Cohen]
b) Marketing [Dale Carnegie] and
c) Open Source development [Eric S Raymond]
These books are available VERY cheaply on the roadside stalls or you can try for e bo oks also.
If you find reading tiring videos, Audio books, ebooks are also available on these topics.
c) [HOW]
[Communication skills]
1) You can negotiate Anything [Herb Cohen] Rating: (12/10)
This slim booklet is so powerful = power + full !!It helps you understand the games that go on behind the scene in any negotiation.
Whether its bargaining with a salesman or negotiating your salary with your boss.
As they say "You don't get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate"
This book has helped me to confidently negotiate my salary successfully at least 2-3 times.
This guy could negotiate with even ter ror ist s.
2) Art of Public Speaking [Dale Carnegie] Rating: (10/10)
This book is about effectively communicating your ideas.
So that people listen, understand and appreciate them.
"Effective communication" - Presentations, Emails, Phone conversations,
Business case presentations all come under this.
Have you seen a really great idea die just because the innovator could not sell his idea to others?
Have you seen speakers bore people into a coma during a presentation?
Have you seen an expert talk incoherently on a really good topic?
This world famous book teaches how to avoid all these and other basic pitfalls/mistakes people make.
It also teaches you some great methods/principles to follow in any communication scenario.
3) How to Win Friends and Influence People [Dale Carnegie] Rating: (10/10)
How to talk so that people listen to your ideas.
How and Why do people cooperate? Why don't they cooperate even if its in their interest?
How to get past the barriers which prevent people to cooperate for mutual benefit
4) How to ask questions the Smart Way [Eric S Raymond] Rating: (10/10)
http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
This small but powerful howto tells you how you can get people to help you.
All you need is to make it easy for them to help you.
A superb collection of methods to get an answer on a newsgroup/forum.
Helps equally well with team members who can help you but are too busy to sit with you for 30 minutes or more.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Does Your Career suit your Temperament?
Are you happy in your career?
If you answered "No or Maybe" read on for info on how to fine-tune your efforts at work.
If you answered "Yes" you can still use the information in this article to fine-tune your efforts at work.
How can knowing your personality type help you be happy in your chosen career?
"Do What You Are" a book by Barbara Barron describes how you can use your personality type to find the right job/role most suited to yourself.
Knowing your personality type will help answer the below questions:
What things drive you and motivate you? -
How do you like to make your decisions - intuitively, snap-decisions, think-it-over etc.
What qualities come naturally to you?
What kind of job are you most suited for these qualities?
We NEED you here:
There are job-types and even roles within a given job-type which desperately need YOUR type of thinking. It may be difficult to change your job all at once. But you can always take up a different job role that is more suited to your way of thinking. Or find a way to make the job-change.
On the other hand not knowing your personality type can be quite uncomfortable or even harmful.
There are LOTS of people who're stuck in the wrong job-role.
It's like an athelete-type chained to a desk-job or a professor type trying to deal with business.
It might be much more fulfilling for the athlete-type to take a more people-oriented/travelling kind of job or the proffessor-type to take up the role of mentoring/training people in the business. But then there are different types of athletes and proffessors too. So how do you know which job-role to go for?
If you answered "No or Maybe" read on for info on how to fine-tune your efforts at work.
If you answered "Yes" you can still use the information in this article to fine-tune your efforts at work.
How can knowing your personality type help you be happy in your chosen career?
"Do What You Are" a book by Barbara Barron describes how you can use your personality type to find the right job/role most suited to yourself.
Knowing your personality type will help answer the below questions:
What things drive you and motivate you? -
How do you like to make your decisions - intuitively, snap-decisions, think-it-over etc.
What qualities come naturally to you?
What kind of job are you most suited for these qualities?
We NEED you here:
There are job-types and even roles within a given job-type which desperately need YOUR type of thinking. It may be difficult to change your job all at once. But you can always take up a different job role that is more suited to your way of thinking. Or find a way to make the job-change.
On the other hand not knowing your personality type can be quite uncomfortable or even harmful.
There are LOTS of people who're stuck in the wrong job-role.
It's like an athelete-type chained to a desk-job or a professor type trying to deal with business.
It might be much more fulfilling for the athlete-type to take a more people-oriented/travelling kind of job or the proffessor-type to take up the role of mentoring/training people in the business. But then there are different types of athletes and proffessors too. So how do you know which job-role to go for?
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