Coding artwork: Engineering faculty member creates visual designs using math modeling software | RIT University News Services

Follow on Twitter as @MichelleCometa

"P. Venkataraman develops unique and colorful illustrations of math problems solved" notes Michelle Cometa, Part of RIT's University News team. 

Photo: P. Venkataraman

MATLAB—a math modeling software—is used to design sophisticated structures. Engineering professor Panchapakesan Venkataram found an equally creative use for the popular software: designing intricate and elaborate artwork. He’ll showcase this work for the first time at the Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival.

Participants to his interactive exhibit “Wow your curve: Spin it into visual design,” in the Gordon Field House, can create their own colorful illustrations using Bezier curves.

MATLAB is a software platform used to solve engineering and scientific problems through computational mathematics. It is capable of 2D and 3D graphical plotting functions. Originally developed by Pierre Bezier in 1968, his curve is one means of illustrating aerodynamic systems such as airplane wings, vehicles and wind turbines, for example, before they are manufactured.

A gallery of images by P. Venkataraman can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/bezierpatches/

Source: RIT University News Services

Rafael Araujo Draws Perfect Illustrations by Hand Using Math's Golden Ratio | Inverse

Follow on Twitter as @laurenjyoung617

"Artist Uses Math Equation to Hand-Draw Perfect Illustrations. No computer programs necessary." reports Lauren J. Young, science and technology journalist based in New York City. 

Rafael Araujo prints are available in the Colossal Shop

When artist and architect Rafael Araujo needs inspiration to create a new illustration, all he has to do is look out the window of his studio in Caracas, Venezuela. He can instantly spot what he describes as intelligent patterns — spirals and gentle curves in rocks, flower petals, leaves, shells, insect formations, and other objects in nature.

“In a similar way a geologist sees patterns in rocks, I see them in nature as a whole,” Araujo tells Inverse.

His fascination with these patterns has led to a 40 year career of drawing super precise 3D illustrations that he creates by hand, without any assistance from computers. And the illustrations in his “Calculation” series are incredibly detailed and gorgeous — they’ve even been compared to Da Vinci’s sketches. To get such accurate, photo-perfect renderings of nature, he uses the mathematical proportion known as the golden ratio — a proportion that comes up in many natural objects and is responsible for the “intelligent patterns” Araujo comes across. “We tend to call it ‘intelligent,’ but perhaps this is just the way life is, with no need of any adjective at all,” says Araujo, who studied architecture at the Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela.

The golden ratio — a pi-like irrational number around 1.6180 — was first given its “golden” title by German mathematician Martin Ohm in 1835. Many believe that the golden ratio exists everywhere. The ratio played a crucial role in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code, with the fiction finding it in the human body, the pyramids of Giza, and the Parthenon in Athens.

Dodecahedron

But to Araujo, the real-life, natural objects that follow the golden ratio are beautiful: “The way a living organism is built, for instance, its symmetry, elegance, beauty,” seems to follow the pattern, he says. He first noticed patterns in his small garden he had when he was 15 years old. He was following the growth sequences of a plant’s leaf and saw that they formed spirals.

“This secret of nature’s beautiful designs unfolded before my very eyes,” Araujo said in a video about his work...

The illustrations in the “Calculation” series have a very distinct style. Araujo chooses to leave in the construction lines to show his process and the mathematical framework of the object. He also uses ink as his medium to draw the entire illustration “out of daring spirit,” he says, and he loves the character it adds as a result.
Read more...  

Additional resources 

Golden Ratio Coloring Book front cover
The book is finally ready to go to press.

Source: Inverse 

Researcher reconstructs 1,000 year old ‘lost’ music from ancient manuscript | RedOrbit

"After more than 20 years of research, songs from the Middle Ages are now being played for the first time in 1000 years." inform Susanna Pilny, science writer for redOrbit.

Photo: University of Cambridge

All of this is thanks to Cambridge researcher Sam Barrett, who has been working painstakingly for years to reconstruct the music of a Latin text from the Cambridge Songs—an 11^th century manuscript combining classical texts (as in ancient Roman and Greek authors) with a special kind of musical notation known as neumes.

As is occasionally done today (like the song to help you remember the three kinds of rock in a cringey way), music was a popular way to memorize texts—such as the Latin text, The Consolation of Philosophy by Roman philosopher Boethius, from the Cambridge Songs. Neumes—symbols that represented music in the Middle Ages—were a way of recording how the songs sounded.

Carmina qui quondam (excerpt) - Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy I:1 


Recreating old tunes
Reconstructing this music, then, seems simple—all you should have to do is look at the neumes, right? Sadly, it wasn’t this easy; there were two huge catches that kept the songs from being fully realized.

First, unlike something like guitar tab, neumes did not record notes—they were more musical outlines, and medieval musicians relied entirely on memory and traditions to play music. And once this died out in the 12^th century, there was no one left to remember how these songs were supposed to sound.

“Neumes indicate melodic direction and details of vocal delivery without specifying every pitch and this poses a major problem,” said Barrett in a Cambridge statement. “The traces of lost song repertoires survive, but not the aural memory that once supported them. We know the contours of the melodies and many details about how they were sung, but not the precise pitches that made up the tunes.”

The second major problem: The Cambridge Songs manuscript was missing a page.

“This particular leaf – ‘accidentally’ removed from Cambridge University Library by a German scholar in the 1840s – is a crucial piece of the jigsaw as far as recovering the songs is concerned,” said Barrett.
Read more...

Source: RedOrbit and Cambridge University Channel (YouTube)

Why the Renaissance man – and woman – is making a comeback | The Conversation UK

Photo: Lee Scott

"As anyone who has visited the London Science Museum’s current exhibition will know, Leonardo da Vinci is famed as an artist, mathematician, inventor, writer … the list goes on." writes Lee Scott, Bath Spa University.

Not just an artist: Leonardo’s studies of the foetus in the womb.

He was a figure who did not see disciplines as a chequerboard of independent black and white tiles, but a vibrant palette of colour ready to be combined harmoniously and gracefully. Today, the polymath may seem like a relic of the past. But with an emerging drive towards interdisciplinarity in research and across the tech and creative sectors, the Renaissance man – and woman – is making a comeback.
Not just an artist: Leonardo’s studies of the foetus in the womb.

Often cited as the archetypal “Renaissance man”, Leonardo came from an era in which the well-rounded individual, prolific and curious of mind, was highly valued. A comprehensive education was the marker of a gentleman. Universities were seats of broad learning, tasked with preparing future apprentices by encouraging them to interrogate and question many aspects of science, philosophy, theology and the arts.

The typical contemporary university is rather different. Targeted learning dominates today, particularly in the UK. Students are forced to specialise earlier and earlier – to be a doctor before you’re 30, you’ll need to know that you want to practice medicine by the time you’re 16. Undergraduate students are trying desperately to align themselves with what seems like a universal drive towards hyper-specialism. A 2015 report by Universities UK, revealed a boom in higher education entrants pursuing specialised subject areas such as business and administration studies, engineering and the biological sciences. In the same year, combined award degree enrolment saw a sharp decline of 54%.

This is perhaps to be expected. Incoming students are simply responding to a professional world that is extremely competitive, and so see hyperspecialism as a way of distinguishing themselves from the crowd. But monomath ubiquity has its pitfalls.

Within the sciences, experts quickly get out of touch with content beyond their immediate area and become siloed. Within the arts, those who gravitate towards a single practice such as creative writing, acting or photography often sidestep the benefits that multidisciplinarity lends to creativity. Super focused, one-track graduates run the risk of slipping off the career ladder should they wish or need to transition between fields in years to come.

The contemporary polymath 
Individuals who set out to be proficient at many things are rare. Practitioners who cross the arts/sciences chasm seem few and far between. But this is unlikely to be true for much longer when we consider that some of the fastest growing and most influential fields of research – such as global sustainability or bioinformatics – straddle, distort and even disregard traditional discipline boundaries. Take “serious games”, a category of game design that attempts to solve real world problems. With applications in education, psychology, the military, archiving and healthcare, it is easy to appreciate the value of a serious games developer who can operate fluidly across multiple subject areas.

For new economies to emerge, and breakthroughs to be made, we need multi-specialised lateral thinkers who can connect the dots in unexpected ways. We need contemporary Leonardos. We need 21st century polymaths.

Tech companies such as Google understand this, and look for ways to expose their employees to methods of thinking that fall outside their immediate experience. Talks at Google was launched precisely for this reason. The programme invites fantasy writers, top chefs, fringe comedians, and popular musicians into Google HQ to talk about their art.

Last year saw Micheal Moore critiquing US international strategy in “Where to Invade Next”, cast members of the West End’s The Illusionist revealing insights into the world of magic, and Magnus Nilsson sharing the nuances of Nordic food culture. Talks at Google serves as a forum for internal enrichment, with an expectation that encountering the myriad ways in which the minds of its presenters are wired will jolt its employees into thinking outside of the box.
Read more...

Source: The Conversation UK

Why Having a High I.Q. May Soon Be Irrelevant | Featured blog post

What is the relationship between intelligence and wealth? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

Answer by Auren Hoffman, former LiveRamp CEO, Chairman of Siftery, started and sold five companies, on Quora.

The correlation between IQ and wealth has been really high in the last one hundred years. But I suspect it will much less predictive in the next one hundred years.

In the past one hundred years, the best predictor of success has been tests like the S.A.T. (which tests for systems thinkers). Systems thinking has been the way to get ahead for people in the last one hundred years. Even people who were not born into wealth and connection have been able to do extraordinarily well being really good systems thinkers.

But in the next one hundred years, we will see more and more competition from computers on core systems thinking tasks. So while systems thinking will be likely even more important in the next one hundred years, it will be mostly done by machines, not humans. Computers will likely be able to achieve perfect S.A.T. scores in the future.

As computers get better and better at systems thinking, we will likely see I.Q. (which is usually measured in terms of systems thinking) becoming less valuable. Having some level of competency of systems thinking will still be really important for humans, but the prize of any extra ten points on the S.A.T.s will not nearly be as great as they have been in the past.

To get into Harvard today, one likely needs at least a 1500 on the S.A.T. To get into the top school in twenty years (assuming that school still wants to be relevant), you probably will need a 1200.

Other “intelligences” will be increasingly important. Being able to understand a complex topic really deeply will likely always be really important.

Even within college, we will see complex fields be more valuable for the world of the future. Philosophy is like a very under-valued major. I don’t necessarily think that Computer Science is going to be more monetizable than Philosophy in the future just because it was in the past.
Read more...

Source: Huffington Post

8 shocking statistics about kids and online behavior that will make you want to have another tech talk, now. | Cool Mom Tech

"I hate to admit it, but I used to be that parent. You know the one who proclaimed her kids would never watch TV or play on a computer, and instead spend endless hours playing outside in any weather. (Torrential rainstorm? Builds character!) Well as you can imagine, when my son grew old enough to express his own desires, it became pretty clear he was a TV loving, video game obsessed little guy like so many of our kids." continues Cool Mom Tech.

Photo: Cool Mom Tech

Not that I blame them, entirely. Games can be awesome!

In effort not to be a total buzzkill mom, I softened my no screen time stance. He’s allowed a very short amount of video game time on the weekends with some basic rules about not interacting with strangers or revealing personal info.

Now he’s happy. I’m happy (enough). Everybody wins.

Or so I thought.

I recently read the new study from the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, and I realized just talking to our son about the basics of cyber safety isn’t enough.

Here are some of the stats about kids in grades 4-8 from the survey that I found pretty shocking:

*40% of kids surveyed said they connected with or chatted online with a stranger.
*51% are on Snapchat regularly
*21% took the relationship a step further and spoke to a stranger by phone.
*15% tried to meet with a stranger they first encountered online.
*11% actually met a stranger in their home, the stranger’s home, a park, mall or restaurant — often accompanied by a friend.
*30% reported texting a stranger from their phone.
*53% revealed their phone numbers to a stranger.
*6% revealed their home addresses.

I mean, a child under 14 chatting with a stranger on the phone they met online? More than half giving their phone number away to begin with? Wow. I’m sure that surprises lots of us.

Since my son is just shy of being the same age as the kids in this study, I couldn’t ignore some of these statistics or assume that my kid won’t be among those making some questionable choices. It also made me realize I’m probably not doing nearly enough to keep my own son as safe as possible online.

If you’re concerned too, your best defense is a good offense.
Read more... 

Source: Cool Mom Tech

New eBook - Discover why accessible content matters for everyone—and how to create it | Trivantis

Trivantis Releases New Accessibility eBook.Take a closer look at the new e- book below.

Trivantis writes in the preface to the eBook, "A well-known saying proclaims, “Knowledge is power.” An eLearning professional’s job is all about delivering that knowledge. While technology brings the world together in many ways, and enables content delivery on a much broader scale than ever before, challenges to content accessibility can still arise. It’s up to you to ensure that you’re designing your content for as many people as possible, including those with physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations or disabilities. We call this concept accessibility” or “accessible eLearning.”

Download the eBook today

So, accessibility is based on a set of guidelines. When you follow the guidelines correctly, you create...you guessed it—accessible eLearning. And everyone loves accessible eLearning!

In this eBook, we’ll discuss:

• What Is Accessibility? 
• Best Practices for Creating Accessible Content 
• Accessibility Development Checklist 
• Making Accessible Content More Interactive

Download the eBook today

Enjoy your reading!

Source: Trivantis

Walden University introduces Tempo Learning

"Offering nation’s first competency-based MS in Early Childhood Studies program using direct assessment model Walden University is introducing Tempo Learning, a self-paced educational experience for students who want to earn their degree on their terms." inform eCampus News.
 

Tempo Learning™ by Walden

The initial program offered through Tempo Learning is the new competency-based MS in Early Childhood Studies with a specialization in Administration, Management and Leadership.

University representatives say it is the nation’s first online competency-based master’s program in early childhood using a direct assessment model. The program is approved by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Through Tempo Learning at Walden, students can progress at their own pace by applying their existing knowledge and prior experience while focusing on the skills they need to meet the demands of the workforce. Tempo Learning is composed of competencies and rigorous assessments that have been designed by faculty and validated by employers—creating a direct link between education and the workplace.

“For 45 years, Walden has been committed to effecting positive social change and enabling working professionals to continue their employment while they earn their degree,” said Jonathan A. Kaplan, interim president of Walden. “By offering Tempo Learning, we are providing our students with the opportunity to accelerate their application of skills and knowledge to help their organizations and communities thrive.”
Read more... 

Source: eCampus News

Testing and US News high school rankings: The week's most-read education news | Education Dive

This week, Education Dive took a look at the prevalence of testing in K-12 and a growing federal focus on reexamining the use of exams in schools. Also in K-12, US News and "World Report issued its 2016 Best High Schools rankings, topped for the fifth consecutive year by the School for Talented and Gifted in Dallas, TX." continues Education Dive.

Photo: Education Dive

Meanwhile in higher ed, is supply outpacing demand in online programs? We analyzed a recent episode of the "Higher Ed Live" podcast, which raised the question around online MBA programs and challenges in marketing them. As it turns out, competency-based education is reportedly facing similar questions.

Be sure to check out our look at boosting women in STEM majors and more in this week's most-read Education Dive posts!

• Why testing prevails in K-12 education: Educators say mandatory assessments put a strain on learning, but proponents say they are a necessary metric for evaluating progress.
• Supply is up in online ed but demand is down — now what?: Colleges and universities must adapt to a new business model when it comes to marketing their programs to prospective students, recognizing the realities of demand.

Source: Education Dive

Online learning makes its mark | Laura Devaney, Director of News, K-12 and Higher Education.

Follow on Twitter as @eSN_Laura

"In this week’s news, we’re taking a look at online learning, which is fast becoming the norm. Many students say they think online learning is just as good, if not better, than traditional classroom learning–not to mention the financial reprieve it might offer students in a world of burdensome student loans. As technology empowers faculty to do much more, the advantages of online learning are expanding rapidly." according to Laura Devaney.

Catch up on the most compelling higher-ed news stories you may have missed this week.   
 
Each Friday, Laura Devaney will be bringing you a recap of some of the most interesting and thought-provoking news developments that occurred over the week. 
 
I can’t fit all of our news stories here, though, so feel free to visit eCampusNews.com and read up on other news you may have missed.
 

Photo: eCampus News

In this week’s news:

7 online learning trends for 2016
Let’s face it: Online education has always been the unhappy stepchild to traditional classroom teaching. It’s generally been seen as a make-do solution to serve students who—whether for reasons of geography or scheduling—were unable to attend class in person. And, more recently, its great claim to fame has been as a cost saver, a scalable way to enroll large numbers of students with minimal financial outlay. Well, the ugly duckling may be about to turn into a swan. 
Read more... 

University contemplates 3-year, fully online degree programs
The University of Colorado is asking its faculty and staff to get creative and develop new, fully online degree programs to launch in the fall of 2018. The CU system is calling for online degree program proposals until July 15, with grants being awarded by Sept. 30. CU hopes to select three winning grant proposals and award each team $200,000 for course development.
Read more...

Could a liberal arts approach to online learning be more successful?
Bellevue University is using small online learning classes and close oversight by faculty to improve graduation rates and reduce debt defaults.
Read more...
 
Adaptive engineering course opens up engineering fundamentals to all
The University of New South Wales Australia and adaptive learning provider Smart Sparrow have unveiled what they call the world’s first-ever open adaptive engineering course designed to unlock access to high-quality courses for learners of all backgrounds.
Read more...

Additional resources
School leadership under the microscope  | eSchool News

Source: eCampus News