Cleared Up

I might as well use this snow day to write my blog, right? Anyway, after the Powerpoint in class Tuesday, I thought I had the wrong definition of an algorithm. As an example of an algorithm, a mathematical equation was shown. I thought back to the video I posted last week about how to solve a Rubik’s cube. I didn’t think an equation and Rubik’s cube had much in common. I went to a website (http://www.apmaths.uwo.ca/~rcorless/AM563/NOTES/Nov_23_95/node5.html) just to clear up algorithms and heuristics for myself. The video did show exact steps for solving the cube, so it must be an algorithm. Although steps are not quite written out like a quadratic formula, they still apply. 

Now, since that's cleared up, could all this snow do the same, please?

That Sounds Good To Me

Previous to taking this test (on http://www.edutopia.org/mi-quiz) after I read about MI intelligence, I automatically thought of myself as a visual-spatial type person, no question about it. The results of the test, however, suggest that I learn best through music.

Linguistic                               42%

Logical-Mathematical           44%

Visual-Spatial                        58%

Intrapersonal                         50%

Interpersonal                         38%

Musical                                   69%

Bodily-Kinesthetic                 50%

Naturalistic                             17%

You Are a Musical Learner

Your mantra: That sounds good to me!

You probably sing to yourself while walking down the street. Keep it up! Musical intelligence is associated with enjoying music, singing (vocalists), making music (composers), and playing an instrument (instrumentalists). You are sensitive to sounds and the emotions music conveys. You have a unique ability to know when something is off key.

Tips for the way you learn:

         Listen to music while you study to connect its patterns and sounds with the subject you are studying. Replay the same song just before a test.

         Create a rhyme, song, or chant for material you would like to memorize.

         Associate what you're learning with a song you like.

                  Use your ability to distinguish sounds as well as hear the beat, tone, or chord in a song by learning an instrument or mixing sound.

Perfect Protege

Out of the two Hock studies, I enjoyed reading about the MI theory overall. The most interesting type of intelligence to me is the musical intelligence. Child protégés are so rare and astonishing in their ability to master a certain task, such as playing the piano. I found a video of a 6-year-old girl who picked up playing the piano from her grandmother. I am sure that if anyone heard her music, they would never guess her age.  Unrelated to the study is also the fact that this young pianist, as stated in the video, is surrounded by talented siblings. This would have a large effect on her interest in music. Protégés are blessed with whatever ability they are given, whether it was influenced by others or a God-given talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUx4t4W4eVY&feature=fvwrel

If I Only Had a Cube

Doing a blog during spring break isn’t really something I want to do, at all, but as I was doing the required reading, I came across the word, “algorithm” as well as the definition. An algorithm is a logical procedure used to solve a problem. I figured I could use this chance to research how to solve a Rubik’s cube.  The steps are somewhat confusing and I still don’t know how to solve one, considering I don’t even have a Rubik’s cube. The “teacher” even used the word “algorithm” in his video, too. His logical procedure was quite helpful and maybe someday when I actually have a cube of my own, I will research the video once again.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ah0y_the-easy-way-to-solve-a-rubik-s-cub_lifestyle

“Love is like a Rubik’s Cube, there are countless numbers of wrong twists and turns, but when you get it right, it looks perfect no matter what way you look at it”

- Brian Cramer

Remember When

Chapter 8 was all about memory, an important study in psychology. Since I was curious about repressed memory, I decided to do more research.  The article I found is about childhood and how an abused child may “blank” on a time-period in their life, possibly years of their childhood. Dissociative amnesia is a metal disorder for people suffering from past memories of traumatic events. The article stated that repressed memory could also be spontaneously recovered once the child is older. Therapy techniques may also be used in order to help the memory resurface, but as we learned in our Myers books, these memories are more often false.

In fact, I could actually relate the topic to my own experience. Back in Atlanta, at The Ronald McDonald House, I met a volunteer that spoke of accident he was in ten years ago. Over this ten year span, he told me he was now able to remember the accident more vividly. At the time, I didn’t know any better and feared remembering my own accident, which would be quite startling. Now, I go back and think, “Was his memory truly accurate?” Maybe he imagined what went on ten years ago and began to believe it true. In either case, my memory is not one I want to retrieve through imagery or repressed memory therapy.


http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-repressed-memory.htm

"We lived and learned, life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt"

-Alan Jackson

You've Got Mail

In tonight’s homework reading assignment I read all about classical conditioning. Much of the text was about Ivan Pavlov and his experiment with dog saliva, which I found somewhat gross. I read that when experiencing a natural unconditional stimulus and an event occurs afterward, we make an unconscious connection between the two. In the same sense, whenever a conditional stimulus occurs, we learn that there is a connection between that and the learned conditional response. I decided to search for videos about classical conditioning, expecting to find dull, boring examples. As soon as I found the video below, I knew it was the one I wanted to include. A human experiment was conducted regarding classical conditioning using an Altoid and the common, “You’ve got mail” sound. Enjoy this video about “Classical Conditioning in the Office”.

http://vimeo.com/6217895

“…I’ve been conducting a similar experiment.”

Jim Halpert