TMA03 Result

I passed!  95% score with marks dropped for:

A rounding error
Truncation of a hand written graph
Over simplification of an answer
A calculation mistake

So, I am very happy with the result; but having listened to Richard Feynman's audio book 'Surely You must be joking Mr Feynman...'; Feynman tells of a realisation that he discovered during his Princeton years, which I shall share here.

He describes how he believed that there are two types of knowledge.

1. Solid, adaptable and useful knowledge.

2. Knowledge that is learned, but yet it is brittle, non-malleable and difficult to apply.

He explains a situation when he was chatting with another Grad student and he posed a question about relativity.  He asked the student how he would work out the maximum amount of distance that an object could move from a gravitational body, in the shortest amount of time, with an initial velocity given.

The Grad student struggled with the problem and couldn't work out how to answer it.  Feynman explained, that to answer the question, simply involved working out the maxima of a function, created for the object.  This is undergraduate calculus, at best, and yet the student couldn't apply the knowledge he already had.

The reason I mention this interesting example, is that the calculus that I created for the TMA03, managed to score me 95%, yet I still don't feel that I 'own' the subject.  I am still having to keep referring back to the mechanical 'rules' of integration, each time I attempt a problem.

And, whilst I am a realist and understand that knowledge takes time to sink in.  It is still a nervous time, waiting for it to happen.

The time between first attempting a difficult new skill, and mastering it, can be a time of self doubt and wonder.  "Will I ever understand it?", "am I intelligent enough to cope with the course?"

Whilst these unanswered questions can be unnerving; they also provide the basis for the greatest feelings of triumph and accomplishment.  Because, after all that hard work, once you do master something that you once found almost impossible; you now know that you have a set of tools and techniques that you can use, to study, learn and achieve.

I'm not quite there yet, but I keep trying everyday.  Lets see what happens!

Physics and Maths, Studied this Week.

Another crazy week done and I have now recovered from the mental scars of Chapter D1 in MST121!  I have really started to now explore, other supplementary study materials, trying to expand and fill in gaps in my basic knowledge of maths and Physics.

I have headed some rather excellent and welcome advice from a learned, fellow blogger, Chris; who is very well qualified to make comments on topics such as study content and future paths.

I have purchased the Feynman Physics Lectures part 1, and am managing a chapter every few days.  This gives a nice easy going recap and re-introduction to some key physics concepts.  Also, I have purchased A First Course in Mathematical Analysis, David Brannan.

I have started to work through this exploration of real analysis / advanced calculus, but have needed to recap on some rusty algebra, including some not so deft handling of inequalities.  About 2yrs ago, I had gotten my mental arithmetic and algebraic manipulations, so that they were lightning fast.  However, I have notice a massive drop off in speed and my memory is occasionally failing me.
So, my brief start on analysis has also kicked me into practising more algebra and general maths skills, which is always worth doing.

I have also nearly drawn my End of Course Assignment, to a close, for S197, How The Universe Works.  I hope to finish it and send it off before Monday.

I am nicely into a rythm at the moment, with a nice balance of practise questions and new material.

Total study Time this week:  31hrs.

MST121
Chapter D1, Chance.  CMA questions completed for this chapter.
Recap on Chapter C1, Differentiation.

Other Study
Cambridge University practise Integration questions (Intro to Maths Tripos)
Practise questions on seperation of variables from internet: http://www.intmath.com/differential-equations/2-separation-variables.php

Other Reading
Lectures on Physics Volume 1, Richard Feynman: Chapters 1-7 (light touch review)
Mathematical Analysis David Brannan:  Chapter 1.1 - 1.3

S197
Completion and submission of EMA part A.
Completion of part B question 1.

Audiobooks
The Modern Scholar: Astronomy II, Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman!

A great bit of diversity this week and I am looking forward to blitzing the last 3 books of MST121, before preparing my final coursework for this maths course.  It's then a look forward to the autumn when I am pondering studying a few module books from other OU courses, such as M208 (probably, the Brannan book will suffice); also an early look at MST209 and some external maths stuff from Cambridge University, such as the advised reading lists for their pre- tripos course applicants.

Also, I may be on the cusp of getting my wife's permission, to let me work part-time and take on more study modules!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Modelling Uncertainty

Please, somebody help me.  I have just lost the will to live!  I've spent 4hrs tonight, studying and completing the MST121 block unit entitled, Chance.

What a load of old tosh.  I have never been so bored.  I actually nodded off in the middle of reading it.  I just can't get excited about stats and the tired way that most books seem to treat the subject.  I would like to have seen much more emphasis on applications in maths and science, rather than examples of parlour tricks, gamblers and rolling x amount of dice.

There is one good outcome of all this, though.  I was able to sit and complete all of the CMA questions, whilst doing my first reading of the unit material.  That means, I don't have to go back to it any time soon.

Tomorrow, I'm moving onto 'Modelling variation', which I hope is more interesting.

Note to self:  don't get drunk one night, and register for an O.U stats course - the hangover would be just too much to bare...

Richard Feynman and the Open University

I have now returned from my week off and feel raring to go again with some hardcore maths and physics.

Over the weekend, I ordered the first volume of Richard Feynman's infamous lectures on physics.  It arrived today and whilst leafing through the worn brown pages of the preface in my newly aquired second hand book, I had cause to pause and think, about some of Feynman's own opinions on the teacher and student relationship.

Feynman discusses how the student - teacher relationship, is the most important factor, in whether or not a student will be successful in learning physics.  This, he describes, is when a student discusses ideas, talks about ideas and thinks about ideas, with their tutor.  Ostensibly he extolls that this is the time when the learning happens.

I raise these points as it made me think about being an Open University student.  Those solitary hours, just me, my books and my thoughts.  I know that the tutors are there to support; but I personally don't normally have contact with them, unless I have serious issues or as part of the TMA process.  I'm sure other people have much more contact and find it useful.  But I don't.

However, what I have noticed about the Open University texts is that they are written in a way that is 'just-so'.  I often find that if I'm reading and a question or confusion springs into my head; my problem is usually answered nicely, in the next few pages.  These are student orientated texts; they are easy to follow and they put some mainstream textbooks, to shame.

I believe that the voices of all those editors (most of whom are, or have been, O.U tutors), seep through the pages and speak to the reader, as the pages are slowly digested and enjoyed.

I am very happy with my O.U texts, and I suspect that Robert Feynman would probably have agreed with me, in this respect.