"I tell myself that I will learn how to differentiate the space station from all of them soon."
At a winter Sunday Assembly event before the pandemic, an attendee told us the ISS was coming by that night, and that we could see it if we went outside during our potluck. As an evidence-based, science-loving crew, we did, and it was a surprisingly unifying, moving experience for us. I recommend watching the dot fly across the sky some time. There are sites and apps to help know when.
"You must not be a science prodigy"
Fuck that guy.
---
I'm really remembering the joyful feeling of learning from how you write about your time in school.
"It was the kind of place where students bragged about being exhausted and overworked."
Georgia Tech is the same way. It's a frustrating culture with hints of endorsement from the institution, which is extra reprehensible.
"For years afterwards, I beat myself up about this, about my lack of focus and my naivete about the academic job market."
I had a friend at GT who had a hard time finding work as a post-grad that fit his passions. I remember his photo in Antarctica at that giant ice cube particle experiment area. I really feel for him and folks in the post-grad position trying to find their way. Last I recall he's doing observatory work in Madison.
"I tried to make it a habit to spend the first week of each class on discussions of what physics even is or why we think science works as a way of knowing the world with young students who were often apprehensive about it."
I love forming a solid foundation that answers questions often taken for granted in a class. Forming shared understanding and buy-in to the topic probably has a big impact. I'm glad some students seemed to appreciate it.
"catch a glimpse of a train of thought falling in place"
This made me smile because you're a good writer and this is such a real, joyful phenomenon.
I also applaud you clearly learning and evolving your pedagogy in response to what worked and didn't work for your students. Plenty of folks do not reflect nor attempt to improve at all.
"I tell myself that I will learn how to differentiate the space station from all of them soon."
At a winter Sunday Assembly event before the pandemic, an attendee told us the ISS was coming by that night, and that we could see it if we went outside during our potluck. As an evidence-based, science-loving crew, we did, and it was a surprisingly unifying, moving experience for us. I recommend watching the dot fly across the sky some time. There are sites and apps to help know when.
"You must not be a science prodigy"
Fuck that guy.
---
I'm really remembering the joyful feeling of learning from how you write about your time in school.
"It was the kind of place where students bragged about being exhausted and overworked."
Georgia Tech is the same way. It's a frustrating culture with hints of endorsement from the institution, which is extra reprehensible.
"For years afterwards, I beat myself up about this, about my lack of focus and my naivete about the academic job market."
I had a friend at GT who had a hard time finding work as a post-grad that fit his passions. I remember his photo in Antarctica at that giant ice cube particle experiment area. I really feel for him and folks in the post-grad position trying to find their way. Last I recall he's doing observatory work in Madison.
"I tried to make it a habit to spend the first week of each class on discussions of what physics even is or why we think science works as a way of knowing the world with young students who were often apprehensive about it."
I love forming a solid foundation that answers questions often taken for granted in a class. Forming shared understanding and buy-in to the topic probably has a big impact. I'm glad some students seemed to appreciate it.
"catch a glimpse of a train of thought falling in place"
This made me smile because you're a good writer and this is such a real, joyful phenomenon.
I also applaud you clearly learning and evolving your pedagogy in response to what worked and didn't work for your students. Plenty of folks do not reflect nor attempt to improve at all.