Comments on: Redesigned: John Scammell

By: The best fun is hard fun. « /Re:thinking/

The best fun is hard fun. « /Re:thinking/ — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:19:19 +0000

[…] to good math instruction.”I’d argue this is true for most any subject. Here’s an excellent little series on sharpening pencils.While I worry about the increasingly standardized nature of instruction in this country,I’m […]

By: Sue VanHattum

Sue VanHattum — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:19:10 +0000

Is that graphic accurate? It’s fabulous, except for the meanness at the end. I’d love to get a modified copy of that…

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:00:57 +0000

This graphic makes me tingle with it’s potential. Just had to share in case you had not seen:

http://mlkshk.com/r/554G

By: gasstationwithoutpumps

gasstationwithoutpumps — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:52:49 +0000

Actually, as the person who has 4 times had to disassemble the library pencil sharpener from my wife’s school, because the bad design causes the sharpener to jam if the hopper overflows, I also care how long it takes the hopper to fill.

I also wonder about the designers or engineers who design these objects, and why they make such bone-headed design decisions.

Actually, after seeing what qualifies for barely passing work at an engineering school, maybe I don’t wonder so much.

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Thu, 26 May 2011 22:08:28 +0000

Bowen: Or is that what you meant by the thumb-twiddling…

Right. What you describe (act one video + timer, cut down a little) is what I did for awhile. It started to feel silly. So here we are.

By: Marcia Weinhold

Marcia Weinhold — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:49:22 +0000

My other burning question is, “How many pencils does it take to fill up the hopper with pencil shavings?” I guess only the person who has to clean up has that question…

By: Bowen Kerins

Bowen Kerins — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:49:42 +0000

How about a second version of the Act One video? The first video you play is without the timer. Then when kids ask about time and get interested, you play a second version with a timer (perhaps skipping parts of the first video that aren’t as relevant anymore)? Or is that what you meant by the thumb-twiddling…

Part of me also thinks that if your video included the full pencil-killing in real time, kids will just want to cheat and see how long the video lasts by fast-forwarding.

It’s a tough call, you know enough about it to have probably made the right one!!

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Thu, 26 May 2011 09:00:23 +0000

@Bowen, there probably isn't a design decision I've wobbled back and forth on more than including a timer in act one. I'm fairly certain students would want to know how long? without the timer. It isn't about that. It's that I've always sensed a whole lot of thumb-twiddling from the students when I replay the entire video just to get an accurate count on time.

By: Jan van Hulzen

Jan van Hulzen — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:51:54 +0000

Now lets see if the 500th pencil goes through at the same speed as the first or if it matters how hard you push and under what angle you apply that force :-)

By: Mathematical Analysis and Its Discontents, or: WTFCYDWT?!? « Sarcasymptote

Mathematical Analysis and Its Discontents, or: WTFCYDWT?!? « Sarcasymptote — Thu, 26 May 2011 01:37:57 +0000

[…] all seen the magic that Dan Meyer pulls. We’ve also got the heir apparent, Dan Anderson, who keeps finding some really great ideas […]