This week, I have been ploughing through some seriously deep and lengthy revision of Group Theory, including Symmetries, Conjugacy, Cosets, Normal and Quotient Subgroups etc....
Now, I have struggled to warm to Group Theory, as it is abstract, to say the least, and there is a lot of technical jargon to learn. However, I often find that to learn a subject that is rich in 'bits' of information, as well as concepts; I often learn best from repeatedly (Old School), revising the definitions and doing exercises.
To do this, I have made circa 200 flash cards, with all the definitions etc, on them. On one side is a question, and on the other is the solution or theorem that is being tested. It's boring, but it works. What more can I say? I now know more Group Theory 'off-the-cuff', than I did a week ago.
Even so, that type of revision can become a little tedious. So this week, I started surfing the Web, looking for any video lectures, that may assist in making my understanding of Groups a little deeper.
And, I came across a rather interesting if not, unconventional, Professor, whom I have been in correspondence with via email, this week.
He is Professor Hugo de Garis, currently based in China, and his newest online project, is a compendium of You Tube based video lectures for Pure Mathematics, Mathematical Physics and some Advanced Computer Science.
Now, my own project is to move me from just a GCSE in Maths to a PhD in Mathematical Physics, using a lot of self- learning and also some courses from institutions such as The Open University. Hence, why this blog has been created.
Having studied towards this goal for two+ years, I have realised that there is a severe lack of available part-time or distance learning courses in Mathematical Physics, beyond the odd module offered by U.K Universities, at first, second or third year Undergraduate level.
This means that a lot of my study needs to be 'self taught'. The only problem with this style of learning, is that it is difficult to know which subjects to learn, without getting bogged down in interesting but irrelevant 'forks in the road'. Also, some of the subjects at masters / PhD level, are difficult to follow for a lonely distance learner, with no real support from a supervisor.
A big problem! And one, I suspect, that would put off all but the most tenacious and bloody minded of individuals, hoping to educate themselves among the boundaries of current physics and mathematical knowledge.
Enter - Professor de Garis. The reasons I mention, are exactly why the Professor's video lectures caught my eye.
His plan, is to record 600 video lectures that are progressive, starting at 3rd year undergraduate level, taking a progressive path through the mathematical background needed to be able to tackle beyond PhD level physics.
His aim is to cover each and every level / area of knowledge that is needed, in 3rd year Undergraduate, 1st, 2nd and 3rd year masters study and then, as he describes it, Phd level 1 (what you would learn during a PhD) and also PhD level 2 (well beyond post doctoral studies).
There is an introductory page / pdf available that explains his project, which can be found HERE.
What is different about these lectures, is that they are no frills, recorded in HD in a drawing room with a white board. They are of a conversational style and are not like the fast moving and difficult to follow lectures that one often finds with some of the MIT lectures etc, that are available on line.
The introduction lecture does stray from maths and physics in the later third, but only to give context as to why this project is being conducted. It also goes some way to explaining why Prof. de Garis has decided to dedicate such a large amount of time towards this endeavour.
He does have some very unconventional views about a lot of things. He is also rather brave, describing the Chinese government in his intro lecture as, 'a brutal dictatorship'; although hedoes assure the viewer that they would only be interested in his views, if he was broadcasting them in the Chinese language. Still, I'm not sure I would take the chance!
However, I believe that to understand his politics and ethics through examining his interests; mathematical, philosophical and geopolitical; does allow one to understand why he is embarking on this project; and also, why watching its progress will be all the more compelling.
He plans to have completed all of the core videos within a few years and then plans to spend another 10-20yrs, providing further enrichment material on video, to supplement the core of the study programme.
It's all free, and he even provides details of where a student can obtain all of the books needed for free, on the internet, if required. This opens the door to those in the world who are living below the poverty line, which I like the thought of.
The videos can be found at this Link - Professor Hugo de Garis.
Anyway, I'm now off to play with my new iPad that arrived this morning, which should make watching online study material, that much easier. I hope that my new purchase will take my study practices to a whole new level. We shall see!
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Saturday, 23 June 2012
An Efficient Study Schedule
I reckon, that I have been studying in a rather inefficient way over the last few months, despite having the best intentions to be as near to 100% efficient, as possible.
What do I mean exactly? Well, a typical study week, currently consists of me reading the Unit for that week, do a few exercises and write a rough draft for the TMA questions, that the Unit covers. What I haven't been doing, is any real revision of previous units or exercises. I have done a few, but they have been very much a token effort.
So, I have decided to be a little more rigid with my allocated study time, from now on, until the exam in October. I also tend to find some activities much more mentally taxing than others, and I tend to find myself less able to cope with the more difficult material, at night. I have penned a list below, of what I personally find the most mentally taxing activities (most difficult at the top):
1. Read New Unit Material
2. Formulating answers to TMA questions
3. Tackling Unit Exercises for the first time
4. Re-reading previously learnt Unit material
5. Revision exercises from previous Units.
I don't know how others find these activities? I may be a little unusual, since because of my Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, I find the act of reading to be a more time consuming activity, than most people probably would.
With this in mind, I plan to split my studying as follows:
Read New Unit Material - 3/4hr per day
Formulating answers to TMA questions - 1/2hr per day
Tackling Unit Exercises for the first time - 1/2hr per day
Re-reading previously learnt Unit material - 1/2hr per day
Revision exercises from previous Units. - 1/2hr per day
Total 19-20hrs per week.
So far, I have been spending this amount of time on just points 1,2 and 3, above.
Anyway, lets just see how it goes. As John Steinbeck once said, '...of mice and men... '!
What do I mean exactly? Well, a typical study week, currently consists of me reading the Unit for that week, do a few exercises and write a rough draft for the TMA questions, that the Unit covers. What I haven't been doing, is any real revision of previous units or exercises. I have done a few, but they have been very much a token effort.
So, I have decided to be a little more rigid with my allocated study time, from now on, until the exam in October. I also tend to find some activities much more mentally taxing than others, and I tend to find myself less able to cope with the more difficult material, at night. I have penned a list below, of what I personally find the most mentally taxing activities (most difficult at the top):
1. Read New Unit Material
2. Formulating answers to TMA questions
3. Tackling Unit Exercises for the first time
4. Re-reading previously learnt Unit material
5. Revision exercises from previous Units.
I don't know how others find these activities? I may be a little unusual, since because of my Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, I find the act of reading to be a more time consuming activity, than most people probably would.
With this in mind, I plan to split my studying as follows:
Read New Unit Material - 3/4hr per day
Formulating answers to TMA questions - 1/2hr per day
Tackling Unit Exercises for the first time - 1/2hr per day
Re-reading previously learnt Unit material - 1/2hr per day
Revision exercises from previous Units. - 1/2hr per day
Total 19-20hrs per week.
So far, I have been spending this amount of time on just points 1,2 and 3, above.
Anyway, lets just see how it goes. As John Steinbeck once said, '...of mice and men... '!
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Where Are We Now?
Okay, I haven't been able to blog recently.
In fact, I haven't been able to do much, other than lay on my back following spinal surgery at the end of May. One blood clot later, I am morphine soaked, immobile and miserable. Walking with a crutch is not much fun.
As far as M208 is concerned; for the first two weeks of June, I was unable to do anything, as the medication prevented me from even being able to read a newspaper. However, nil desperandum. I did have, what turned out to be a very good exercise in disaster management. Following difficulties in the prior eight weeks with a bereavement, I was on the back foot but had managed to keep up with studying and my TMA's.
I forgot to mention, that I scored 85% for TMA03, last month; a distinction grade, but well away from what I had scored in the previous two, TMA's. The marks were dropped because, due to time constraints, I literally had to use my draft paper, as my actual final submission; so I did not have the chance to review my work, which is what I usually like to do.
So, fast-forward to early June, I put a call through to my tutor, who was very helpful on this matter. He spent twenty minutes, discussing some mathematical points of order, and then he allowed me to have a two week extension on the submission date for TMA04, should it be needed.
Well, I have managed to reduce my medication sufficiently, to allow me to do some studying in the last ten days. I have read the first three analysis units and completed three quarters of TMA04. As it stands, today, I am one third of the way through the fourth unit book of analysis and due to start the TMA questions for this unit, on Friday.
All told, I think I should be able to submit my TMA, only 3 days over the published submission date, in time for starting the Group Theory B, sections.
I am becoming a little anxious about the exam, already. It is due in the second week of October, and I had planned to do some revision on Linear Algebra and Group Theory over the last eight weeks, but it just didn't happen.
But, If I can come out of this last three months with a Grade Two pass for the course, then I will be happy, such has been the 'disaster' of ill health and outside influences.
It is truly turning out to be my annus horribilis.
In fact, I haven't been able to do much, other than lay on my back following spinal surgery at the end of May. One blood clot later, I am morphine soaked, immobile and miserable. Walking with a crutch is not much fun.
As far as M208 is concerned; for the first two weeks of June, I was unable to do anything, as the medication prevented me from even being able to read a newspaper. However, nil desperandum. I did have, what turned out to be a very good exercise in disaster management. Following difficulties in the prior eight weeks with a bereavement, I was on the back foot but had managed to keep up with studying and my TMA's.
I forgot to mention, that I scored 85% for TMA03, last month; a distinction grade, but well away from what I had scored in the previous two, TMA's. The marks were dropped because, due to time constraints, I literally had to use my draft paper, as my actual final submission; so I did not have the chance to review my work, which is what I usually like to do.
So, fast-forward to early June, I put a call through to my tutor, who was very helpful on this matter. He spent twenty minutes, discussing some mathematical points of order, and then he allowed me to have a two week extension on the submission date for TMA04, should it be needed.
Well, I have managed to reduce my medication sufficiently, to allow me to do some studying in the last ten days. I have read the first three analysis units and completed three quarters of TMA04. As it stands, today, I am one third of the way through the fourth unit book of analysis and due to start the TMA questions for this unit, on Friday.
All told, I think I should be able to submit my TMA, only 3 days over the published submission date, in time for starting the Group Theory B, sections.
I am becoming a little anxious about the exam, already. It is due in the second week of October, and I had planned to do some revision on Linear Algebra and Group Theory over the last eight weeks, but it just didn't happen.
But, If I can come out of this last three months with a Grade Two pass for the course, then I will be happy, such has been the 'disaster' of ill health and outside influences.
It is truly turning out to be my annus horribilis.
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