Professor Lloyd Webber strikes right note on music education

"In primary schools today it cannot be guaranteed that there will be a member of staff who can play the piano." continues The Independent.

A new concert hall for London costing half a billion pounds? You can see why Julian Lloyd Webber, the cellist and principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire is indignant. In our interview with him about the “crisis” in music education in this country and says that a new concert hall on the site of the Museum of London is the wrong priority. 

Julian Lloyd Webber says sidelining music is ‘misguided’ (Rex)

He is right, although The Independent on Sunday is not opposed in principle to a concert hall for acoustic perfectionists in our well-served capital if City companies want to come up with the money. We simply doubt that it would be the best use of public resources. Indeed, glad as we are that George Osborne, the Chancellor, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, are enthusiastic about classical music, we fear that their involvement suggests that this is a vanity project. 

Professor Lloyd Webber is certainly right about priorities. If City firms want to promote the love of music, there must be ways in which they can work with schools, and if politicians want to bask in shouts of “encore!” they should look to the state of music education in Britain today. 

There can be no doubt that music in too many schools is poorly integrated into the curriculum. Too often, pupils are taken out of mainstream classes for instrument lessons, and have to make up work later. But the problem of music education is more fundamental. Peripatetic music services are often regarded as an easy source for savings. Too few children learn to read music – for the younger adherents of the new adult fashion for choral music, too many have to rely on ear and repetition. In primary schools today it cannot be guaranteed that there will be a member of staff who can play the piano. 

The Department for Education (DfE) rather selectively claims that the numbers taking music at GCSE went up last year, but they are down 20 per cent on the peak in 2007. On the narrow question of whether the new baccalaureate core curriculum has squeezed music out of the GCSE curriculum, the DfE is right, but the question is more fundamental. It is whether music is valued in schools.
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Source: The Independent 

Who is George Boole: the mathematician behind the Google doodle

Celebrating George Boole's Bicentenary.

Photo: Lisa Visentin

Lisa Visentin, reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald writes, "Who is George Boole?" is sure to rack up more than a few Google hits over the next 24 hours after the search engine decided to honour the Englishman's 200th birthday with an algebraic reimaging of its Google doodle.

The George Boole Google doodle. Photo: Screengrab: google.com.au

Happy Birthday George Boole
 

George Boole was a mathematician, logician and philosopher whose legacy of Boolean logic is credited with laying the foundations for the information age.

According to GeorgeBoole.com, a University College Cork website dedicated to him, "his legacy surrounds us everywhere, in the computers, information storage and retrieval, electronic circuits and controls that support life, learning and communications in the 21st century.

"His pivotal advances in mathematics, logic and probability provided the essential groundwork for modern mathematics, microelectronic engineering and computer science."

Born 200 years ago on November 2, his algebraic approach to logic, in which all values are reduced to either "true" or "false", is still used today.

He also devised a type of linguistic algebra, now known as Boolean algebra, the three most basic operations of which are "and", "or" and "not"...

He was just 24 when he published his first paper, Researches on the Theory of Analytical Transformations in the Cambridge Mathematical Journal of November 1839.

Six years later, in 1847, he published his first book The Mathematical Analysis of Logic, (PDF) where he introduced the concept of "symbolic logic" where mathematical symbols are used to represent classes or sets of objects, and the symbols are manipulated through mathematics.

In 1849, he was appointed the first professor of mathematics at Queen's College, Cork (now University College Cork (UCC)) in Ireland.
Read more... 

Additional resources  
Computer games can help develop logical thinking
UCC George Boole 200 - Timeline of George Boole's Life - UCCIreland
George Boole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Source: Sydney Morning Herald and UCCIreland

Promoting Learning: The Instructor’s Main Mission or a Secondary Duty?

"As instructors, promoting learning is, or at least should be, our primary task. As an online instructor, I must enforce deadlines, respond to requests for accommodations, post announcements, provide guidance and clarity, assess student performance, provide feedback, and post grades." reports Ronald C. Jones, dissertation chair, University of Phoenix; associate faculty, Ashford University.
 

Photo: Faculty Focus

Instructors have a variety of duties inside and outside the classroom to meet the standards required by the university, yet our primary mission should remain ensuring that students are gaining new knowledge.

In the online classroom environment, the instructor has the opportunity to remain faceless, detached, and a distant enforcer of classroom etiquette, academic integrity, and grading standards. Such a teaching model might allow an instructor to remain employed, yet one might consider the negative effect on student engagement and motivation, communication flow, and the overall learning environment. If promoting new learning is a secondary function of being an instructor, I submit that the instructor has a misguided view of what teaching entails.

Below are a few strategies that help promote learning as our primary mission:
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Source: Faculty Focus

Embracing high-tech for higher learning

"As Stanford University students watched Professor John Taylor present his “Principles of Economics 1V” study course during the 2014 summer session, they weren’t just learning the basics of global economics." according to Carey Sweet, Freelance Writer.

Virtual Human Interaction Lab manager Cody Karruth, left, fits the virtual reality helmet to test subject Lucas Sanchez. Stanford is exploring new ways to use virtual reality to teach students.
Photo: Linda A. Cicero / Stanford News

They were making history. While perhaps wearing their pajamas.

Debuted as Stanford’s first completely online credited course for undergraduates, the experience offered students the opportunity to participate from the comfort of their own homes. As students watched at their computers, Taylor expounded on the nuances of the supply and demand model versus the competitive equilibrium model.

It’s a brave new world in higher learning. Today, Stanford students can get a preview of the course on YouTube, as Taylor explains how he used to teach the popular course to hundreds of students packed into a large lecture hall. But now, the massive open online courses, as the sessions are called, are here to stay.

While some may wonder how a student can gain a powerful education without human interaction, institutions of higher learning are exploring that very scenario.

“Stanford is thinking broadly about how we will best educate students in the 21st century,” said John Mitchell, Stanford’s vice provost for teaching and learning.

This year, the campus has started an initiative called the “Year of Learning” to investigate new ways for tech saavy students to learn.

“We’re asking fundamental questions, such as how should we as a research university make sure that the teaching we offer and the learning we hope to inspire can both develop and improve?” Mitchell said. “How might we rethink our teaching in the face of new technology, new demographic trends, and the new political, social and economic realities?”

And that has led to high-tech online learning platforms, said Judith Romero, Stanford’s director of communications and marketing. Instead of capturing students on campus for 50-minute lectures, Econ 1V participants view short 12- to 15-minute online videos. 
Read more... 

Related link
To preview the “Principles of Economics 1V class with Professor John Taylor, go to http://bit.ly/1jPpvmm

Source: SFGate 

5 majors for math lovers who don't want to major in math

Here is another post by erica cirino | USA TODAY College below.

So you love math, but don’t plan on becoming a mathematician any time soon. Naturally, you may be wondering what kind of degree you should pursue (other than a B.S. in mathematics) that would put your passion for and knowledge of math to good use.

Photo: GraphicStock.com

It turns out there are many majors that may lack “math” in name, but that are still based on mathematical concepts and principles sure to excite any math enthusiast. Such majors can prepare students for a wide variety of exciting careers across several disciplines.

If you’re a math aficionado who doesn’t want to pursue a traditional mathematics degree, check out these five majors for math lovers (that aren’t math):
Read more...

Source: USA TODAY College

Disappointing study abroad experience? How to quickly turn it around

"The good news is that a less-than-perfect study abroad experience can almost always be remedied." summarizes Erica Cirino, contributing writer for Varsity Tutors.
 

Photo: USA TODAY College

Whether it’s for a few weeks or an entire semester, studying abroad has become an increasingly popular academic option for college students. And expectations are high: after all, who can look at a fun snapshot of a smiling friend in a foreign country (hashtagged #studyabroad, of course) without feeling just a teeny bit jealous?

Though studying abroad can seem like a great idea, once overseas, there is no guarantee things will go precisely the way you planned. For example, you may have set out thinking you’d be staying in a comfortable apartment for the duration of your program, but then you’re shown your living space and find it’s nowhere near as spacious as you thought it’d be. Or, you may travel to your host country to find that you absolutely cannot stomach their food, so you’re left hungry (and miserable) for your entire stay.

Yet, study abroad programs offer many benefits to those who can overcome the challenges of living and learning overseas. From picking up a foreign language, to making new friends, to experiencing a culture entirely different from your own, you’re likely to come out of a study abroad program at the very least a little more worldly than you were before. 

When you arrive at your host country and find that things aren’t what you imagined, it can be hard to reap the benefits of your experience. But the good news is that a less-than-perfect study abroad experience can almost always be remedied.

Use the following tips to help yourself quickly turn a disappointing study abroad experience into a gratifying one:
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Source: USA TODAY College

Become an actuary and responsible for designing programs that help organizations mitigate risk.

Your math skills can be used in the field of actuarial science?
 

Photo: GraphicStock.com

Introduction to the field:
It is not easy to become an actuary, but if you do become one, you are on your way to a very rewarding career that uses math all the time.

An actuary is someone who is employed in the insurance industry. Others work in actuarial consulting firms.

A very low number of actuaries work for government agencies, and computer software developers. People in this profession manage risk.

Every person and organization faces risk. As experts in measuring and managing risk, actuaries fill and play a significant need in our society.

Their contribution to society's psychological, physical and economic well-being is immense.

If actuaries didn't exist, our economy would not be able to grow as it does. Actuaries work in all sectors of the economy, though they are more heavily represented in the financial services sector, including insurance companies, commercial banks, investment banks, and retirement funds.

They are employed by corporations as well as the state and federal government. Many work for consulting firms.

Some are self-employed, enjoying financially rewarding careers that also come with the great flexibility of being one's own boss

People in this field are expert in mathematical calculation.They have a solid understand of financial mathematics, probability, and statistics. Ever saw probability with triple integrals? I saw it and I am a survivor

Their knowledge of probability and statistics is very deep. The work that they do in probability and statistics in based on calculus 1,2, and 3. A deep understanding of calculus is a must to do well.   

The challenge to become an actuary:
To become certified, one needs to take a series of top-notch examinations.The first one is probability and the second is financial mathematics. See actuary exams for more information.

It is not required to pass all examinations at once to get a job. However, it is important to pass at least one or two to get a job.

Some places take people who passed at least once. However, competition is tough yet don't give up on your dream to become an actuary. If this what you really want to do, try to pass at least two exams to increase your chance of getting a job.

It may take anywhere between 5 to 10 years to pass all examinations. For others it may take even longer depending on situations. 
Read more...

Additional resources  
How to Become an Actuary: 9 Steps - wikiHow
How to Become an Actuary - Department of Mathematical Sciences, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences.
Actuarial Mathematics - Study in Denmark  - Studyindenmark.dk is a Danish government website about higher education in Denmark for international students.

Source: Basic-mathematics.com

Become a statistician and help to design surveys and then they interpret the results

They work on interesting problems in just every field of science and engineering. 

Photo: GraphicStock.com

Introduction to the field:
Statistician use their math background to a great extent to collect, study, and analyze data.

They decide where and how to gather the data. They must determine the type and size of a sample to be studied.

They will then, develop a reporting form. Finally, they will implement a plan and conduct surveys and research.  

The challenge:
Keep in mind that it is not enough just to be good to succeed in this field.

It is important also to have good communication skills, good understanding of business and the economy, and the ability to explain everything to those who do not know much in that field.

These skills will make you very attractive to any industry. If you have only a bachelor's degree, and you find job in engineering, economy, biology, you may not be called with the title.

To have the title, you will need a strong background in mathematics, engineering, or computer science. Furthermore, if you are that qualified, you will have a great chance to work for the government. 
Read more...

Additional resources  
So You Want to be a Statistician?  PowerPoint -  Alex Trindade, Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Texas Tech University.

Source: Basic-mathematics.com

Become a mathematician and help invent the world

There are so many great careers in mathematics that you can find with a math major.

Photo: GraphicStock.com

Introduction to the field:
One you become a mathematician, you will work either in applied mathematics, or theoretical mathematic. Sometimes, theoretical mathematics is referred as pure mathematics.

Gauss, Einstein, and Cauchy were great mathematicians. Gauss is probably the greatest ever.

There is something common with them. They all conduct research extensively.

Those who work in applied mathematics try to learn more about what math has to tell us or how math can be applied in almost any areas of life, such as economics, social science, engineering, biology and many others.

This means that they must find mathematical models that can be used to solve real-world problems.

Those in pure mathematics just want to know more. They are the one who are going to come up with new axioms, definitions, and theorems.

Then, they will devote their lives in proving those theorems. Throughout history they have given us many great achievements that have had profound effects in engineering, science and many other discipline.

The challenge:
Needless to say that one needs to be very good at math to become a mathematician.

Above all, a passion and a love for math are a must. I know some folks who are good at mathematics, yet they certainly do not want to do it everyday.

Mathematicians do math everyday and they are expected to come up with solid proofs for theorems and good mathematical models of real-world problems, and it can be rewarding when one has discovered something.
Read more... 

Additional resources  
How to Be a Good Mathematician: 6 Steps - wikiHow

Source: Basic-mathematics.com

What Math Skills Are Needed to Become an Engineer?

Photo: Will Charpentier

Will Charpentier, writer and holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering writes, "Engineers are often math enthusiasts who got bored with the abstract. Even though number crunching is significant to engineers’ work, math is no more than a convenient means to arrive at a physical end. The type of math an engineer uses will depend on the type of engineer he is and the type of project in which he's involved."

Engineering and math are inexorably linked.

Basic Arithmetic
All math is based on the idea that 1 plus 1 equals 2, and 1 minus 1 equals 0. Multiplication and division --2 times 2 and 4 divided by 2 -- are variations used to avoid multiple iterations of either subtraction or addition. One example of an engineer's use of basic arithmetic is the civil engineer's calculations for describing water flow across an open basin. The flow is reckoned in cubic feet per second, or Q, where Q equals the runoff coefficient times the intensity of the rain for a specified period, times the area of the basin. If the runoff coefficient is 2, the intensity, in inches of rain, is 4 and the basin -- a specified area of land -- is 1/2 acre, the engineer's formula resembles this: (2x4)/(.5x43,560), or 8/21,780. The result, 0.0003673, is the volume of water, in cubic feet per second, flowing across the land.

Algebra and Geometry
When several of the factors of a problem are known and one or more are unknown, engineers use algebra, including differential equations in cases when there are several unknowns. Because engineers work to arrive at a solution to a physical problem, geometry -- with its planes, circles and angles -- determines such diverse things as the torque used to turn a wheel, and reduces the design of a roadway's curve to an accurate engineering or construction drawing.

Related Reading: What Soft Skills Are Required for an Agricultural Engineer?

Trigonometry
Trigonometry is the science of measuring triangles. Engineers may use plane trigonometry to determine the size of an irregularly shaped parcel of land. It may also be used or to determine the height of an object based solely on the distance to the object and the angle, up or down, from the observer. Spherical trigonometry is used by naval engineers in ship design and by mechanical engineers working on such arcane projects as the design of mechanical hand for an underwater robot.

Statistics
We all love statistics. They tell us where we stand in the world, among our peers and even in our family. They tell us who's winning. The engineer uses them for the same reasons -- by statistical analysis of the design, the engineer can tell what percentage of a design will need armor or reinforcement or where any likely failures will occur. For the civil engineer, statistics appear as the concentration of rainfall, wind loads and bridge design. In many locations, engineers designing drainage systems must design for a 50- or 100-year storm in their calculations, a significant change from the normal rain concentration.

Calculus

Calculus is used by engineers to determine rates of change or rates by which factors, such as acceleration or weight, change. It might tell NASA scientists at what point the change in a satellite's orbit will cause the satellite to strike an object in space. A more mundane task for calculus might be determining how large a box must be to accommodate a specific number of things. An engineer who designs packaging, for example, might know that a product of a certain weight must be packaged in groups of no more than 10 because of their weight. Using calculus, he can calculate both the optimum number of objects per box, plus the optimum size of the box.

Additional resources
What Maths Do You Need to Be an Engineer? 

Source: Chron