This semester I’m taking ME 274: Basic Mechanics II. What stands out most for me so far in the one day of lecture is the amount of technology that has been, for the most part, correctly used by our professor. Our professor has set up a very interesting way to use a common Wordpress blog that is effective in helping students learn the material. Students are allowed to register accounts, post comments, questions, and even new blog posts. Accounts aren’t visibly linked to a student’s career account so there is no ’shame’ in asking a question if you chose a non-identifying username. After every lecture, posts are made with the titles and basic information about the next homework problems. Students are then given the opportunity to discuss the problem, potential solutions, and their troubles in solving the problem. (more…)
posted by Jason Young at 12:39 am
With the return of school comes new gripes, as usual. There are plenty of things to rant about, especially as a student in the College of Engineering at Purdue. The topic that has bugged me the most this year is the use of online homework web sites as a substitute for real human interaction. In an effort to save both time and hassle, classes are increasingly turning to using online homework as a means of measuring a student’s progress and it drives me insane. I’ve used WebAssign and OWL as well as various class specific online homework modules. After dealing with online homework for over a year I’ve come to realize many of the pitfalls that make online homework a broken solution. A lot of these examples are specific to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) classes, so you liberal arts folks can go ahead and run away.
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posted by Jason Young at 4:13 pm
It seems that Prof. Rusi Taleyarkhan, a Purdue University Professor in the School of Nuclear Engineering, has been found guilty of scientific misconduct.
Quote from the Purdue News Service:
Purdue University on Friday (July 18) announced that an investigative committee with members from five institutions has concluded that two allegations against Rusi Taleyarkhan, a professor of nuclear engineering, constituted research misconduct.
I can’t really comment on this too terribly much as I’m a student in the School of Nuclear Engineering. That being said, I hope that this doesn’t tarnish the reputation of Purdue or NE there–there is only so much they can do and they couldn’t be expected to do more than they already have. So, that all being said, read up on it and see what you think.
posted by Jason Young at 11:39 am
The site Little Green Footballs comments on Obama’s new plan to rid the planet of nuclear weapons. Now I have been following everything that Obama says about Nuclear technology for personal reasons and most of it I simply think about and then add that to my list of reasons why Obama aggravates the piss out of me. I’m not saying he’s a horrible person and I’m not saying that I won’t vote for him (as I am still completely undecided), but he just is so aggravating sometimes that it’s ridiculous. Why would Obama take away our main deterrant force?
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posted by Jason Young at 1:43 pm