Mikhail Popov is a Probability & Statistics student at Cal State Fullerton who loves drawing and mathematics. His artwork can be found at Bearloga.
January 30th 2010 : permalink : 3 notes : Comments
I recently turned 20 and here’s something I want to ask of the internet:
Should it matter if a friend — especially one of your best friends who has remembered in the past — forgets it’s your birthday?
January 29th 2010 : permalink : Comments
nothing establishes a connection between textbook authors and the students better than getting away with mony python homage
(from Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing by Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau)
January 25th 2010 : permalink : Comments
randomsaxophonist-deactivated20 asked: I suppose that depends on the nature and extent of his disability. I, like you, would like to be optimistic that he is capable, but only being capable is unfortunately not enough. Thank you for your answer. How do you like Cal State?
I adore the faculty there. All the teachers I have had so far have been absolutely amazing. They are so passionate about the subjects that they teach and they care for their students. Unfortunately, due to California’s politicians being awful at math, economics, and sensibility — while at the same time being awesome at spending money on crap — fees are going up and professors are forced to take furlough days off. Nice campus, great library, but bloody terrible parking situation.
I like it, but it could use a lot of improvements overall.
Anonymous asked: Even those people with learning disabilities like my little brother?
Hm… That’s a good point. Well, I think math — unlike literature, for example — is a very progressive subject. That is, you start with the basics and then move up one step at a time, advancing to more complicated ideas. Not knowing anybody with a learning disability, it’s hard for me to say whether, with enough effort from both the teacher and the student, my claim is as solid as I thought it was.
I really want to believe that everyone is capable of it, that nobody should be afraid of it. But if we consider an analogy of a handicapped man attempting to climb up a set of stairs to the next floor, while some may skip some steps and get there really fast, some may go at a medium or slow pace, should I not believe that the man is incapable of reaching the top, despite the handicap?
It’s a very interesting point, thank you.
Not all people can draw masterpieces or even learn to. Not all people can write beautiful poetry and pen thrilling or whimsical stories with character development and themes. Not all people can play music or create wonderful melodies. Sometimes you’re gifted with creativity and talent, and sometimes you’re not.
But I truly, deeply believe that everyone can be good at math. I honestly believe that every person has the potential in them to excel in mathematics. Some may be more more gifted than others, but there is no topic in that field that is impossible to grasp for anybody, given time and effort.
I think somewhere down the line, perhaps when we are children — when we are most vulnerable — some people are scared by it and something goes wrong and they begin to hate it and begin to believe that they will never “get it,” and so they embark on a downward spiral into failure when it comes to the subject.
I don’t know whether it’s the media’s portrayal of maths, physics, chemistry, biology; perhaps innocent colloquialisms like “it’s not rocket science;” parenting influences; or even poor teaching at the elementary level.
But whatever the cause, the effect never ceases to depress me: that young people end up forcing themselves into a self-fulfilling prophecy of not being good at math.
Every single person has the potential.
No exceptions.
I fell asleep at 3am. It’s 6:20am right now and I’m eating breakfast.
I hate Mondays.
January 24th 2010 : permalink : 1 note : Comments
Through different questions, this thing has been able to determine that I was thinking of:
It struggled at the end but I’m still incredibly impressed.
