Class Assignments, Newest First
For the NINTH class
In our final class I will draw on the following materials:
1) "Identity", by A. R. Ammons
2) "in time of daffodils(who know" by e e cummings
3) Poem of the Day, for Sunday 17 May 2020: A. E. Houseman, "Loveliest of trees, the cherry now"
4) How Scientists Know About Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
5) TWO Cultures?
Concerting Creativity
A) Think about what human creativity (as opposed to the inherent creativity of our universe) means to you, in the light of the topics of this course.
B) Consider any differences you can cite -- and defend with specific examples -- between the nature of creativity in science and in the arts.
C) Think of a example of one each: a great work of art and a great work of science. Why are they so highly regarded?
••••••
For the EIGHTH class
In our eighth class, I will draw on the following materials:
1) The Stuff of Life
2) How Scientists Know About Evolution. Also review How Scientists Know About Genes, especially the last three videos: comparing DNA sequences, and newly added videos on gene music and protein music.
3) The Artist's View
For the SEVENTH class
First, listen:
In our seventh class, I will draw from the following materials, after continuing with
1) How Scientists Know about Gravitational Waves and Fields, from last week's assignments.
On this subject, also watch from The New York Times:
You Need Something New to Watch. What About the Universe? Discover the boundaries of science — from your couch.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/opinion/the-sound-of-gravity-einstein.html?smid=em-share
2) Merging Realms of Belief
3) How Scientists Know about Genes
••••••
For the SIXTH class
In our sixth class, I will draw from these materials.
1) Science, Religion, and Belief
2) How Scientists Know about Dark Matter
3) How Scientists Know about Gravitational Waves and Fields
Added 2020-04-28: Watch You Need Something New to Watch. What about the Universe?.
4) And see what you can make of this poem.
••••••
For the FIFTH class
In our fifth class, I will draw from the following materials.
1) A Fractal Model of Creativity in Science
2) Our Creative Universe
Think about differences in how the word "creative" is used in these two essays.
3) Poe and Whitman: Two Poetic "Takes" on Science
4) How Scientists Know About Cosmic Distances and Elements in Stars
Think about examples of creativity we have seen in science and the arts so far in this course.
••••••
For the FOURTH class, Thursday 16 April, 12:45 PM
Thanks to many of you for informing me about how you are preparing for class, and for your suggestions. In order to minimize repetition and make best use of class time (which means giving YOU maximum opportunity to express your views and ask questions), I will assume that you have already watched all videos, and have read and thought about the assigned writings. Jot down questions and comments to help jog your memory during class.
I plan to summarize briefly each essay or video before we discuss it, so if I you suddenly have no idea what I am talking about, reread the previous paragraph, and you might know why.
In our fourth class, I will draw from the following materials.
1) Watch this video:
Can you do this?
If you have some musical ability, try to memorize the tune played in the first stanza of the music (repeated in the next two stanzas). Then try to sing/hum/whistle that tune along with the succeeding stanzas, as the players improvise. Why should this even be possible, and not only possible, pleasant even?
If you can do it with "Blue Monk", try it with this one. Harder, yes?
2) Read Theme and Variation in Music and Nature.
3) Read and watch How Scientists Know About Molecules. Some of these videos are challenging and might result in more questions than answers. But try to get the gist of them, and bring your questions. We study chemistry because many things we can see, and need to understand (such as this pandemic), are caused by things we cannot see.
If things go well Thursday, we will move from chemistry to other matters, some of which are easier to understand if you know a little chemistry.
••••••
For THIRD class, Thursday 9 April, 12: 45 PM
In our third class, I will draw from the following materials. Click the colored links to find them.
1) What is Creativity? Study, think about, and be ready to discuss the painting, Da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine."
2) Read my email of April 3, subject "That Gas Simulation". Did it clarify for you just how the computer simulation was constructed, and why it is so marvelous that the moving objects reproduce real-gas behavior, although they are merely programmed as objects with mass and energy of motion? Bring your questions.
3) Before we can get very far into how we know about atoms -- and the next subject, molecules, -- we need some basic background from this video about electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum. After watching this video, you might want to read into Wikipedia's entry, Electromagnetic Radiation, until it gets deeper than your interest or background allows. We will consider How Scientists Know About Electromagnetic Fields and Waves (site not ready for prime time) later on, but for now, we need to appreciate them as tools for knowing other things.
4) Read How Scientists Know About Atoms. Yes, I know I assigned this last week, but we didn't get there; this week, we will.
••••••
For SECOND class, Thursday 2 April, 12:45 PM
What to Read, Watch, and Study
First, watch and think about THIS VIDEO. Also watch THIS VIDEO.
In the second class, I will draw from the following materials. Click colored links to find them.
1) What is Science?
2) How Scientist Know About... Atoms
3) To better introduce you to each other, I will ask each of you to give your name, and to describe briefly an example of creativity.
Improving Our Classroom
Zoom simply cannot be like being together. But we can try whatever you like to make it more personal. Maybe we will learn some things that can help other users.
Based on your feedback, here are some procedural changes for our classroom. I welcome other suggestions about how to make the classroom more personal.
1) Please participate with your microphone UNmuted, unless you strongly prefer otherwise. Mute yourself if you need rectify some unexpected noise, or need to do something noisy, like moving your computer, which can make harsh noise for others that you don't even notice. Be sure to unmute yourself again when finished.
2) Please use the electronic method of raising your hand ("digital hand"), and leave it raised until I have responded to you. If you wish, hold up your real hand (analog hand?) as well. There are several advantages: I can see the digital hand better than the analog hand; I can see it when I am sharing my computer screen; and it does not go away until you or I dismiss it, so if several people raise their hands, I can get to all of them.
3) If you do not wish to see yourself among images of classmates on your screen, click on the little blue menu on your own image, and select "hide self". Others will still see you, but you will not be among the student images on your own screen. REMEMBER that your classmates can still see you! If you don't want to be seen at all, turn your video off with the button next to your mute button. There is a button for revealing yourself to yourself at the top of your screen.
4) Do you miss having conversations at break and before and after class? Zoom allows me easily to send groups of people to private “rooms”, which might allow interactions during these periods. Thursday, I’ll talk about how we might use it.
5) More might appear as I receive feedback.
••••••
For FIRST class
What to Read, Watch, and Study
First, read and think about THIS POEM.
In the first class, I will draw from the following materials. Click colored links to find them.
1) Introduction to One Culture
In this introduction to the full One Culture website, pay particular attention to what the page has to say about Imagination and Science, Science and Values, and Paths to Knowledge.
2) Poetry and Science: Creative Forces
3) How Scientists Know About Bird Migration
What does the term creativity mean to you? Maybe write down some ideas, and put them where they will remind you to look at them again at the end of the course.
••••••
