Comments on: Poke your world http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2007/05/11/poke-your-world/ explorations and inspirations... in how we learn science Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:52:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sciencegeekgirl http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2007/05/11/poke-your-world/comment-page-1/#comment-13 sciencegeekgirl Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:26:45 +0000 http://sciencegeekgirl.com/2007/05/11/poke-your-world/#comment-13 I also enjoy solving math problems... I enjoy solving problems of many types. I've recently gotten into rock climbing -- it appeals to me in part because it's one big problem, combining the contraints of gravity, friction, and counterforces. There are many people like Lorenzo and I, with restless and curious minds. I have daily contact with them at the Exploratorium, and they abound in the SF Bay Area. I often wonder how spoiled I am, to be here, and how much my view of the average American is skewed by this. Lorenzo's comment about motivation is very astute. Some people have a more practical orientation towards life (like his wife and paid employment). For her, perhaps, it's important to do things that earn money, since money is a means to do other enjoyable things. For him, however, the curious mathematical play is an end in itself, since it is enjoyment in itself. Not everyone enjoys mathematical or scientific play. How do we reach folks like Lorenzo's wife, who would benefit from understanding science, but it is not an end in itself? I also enjoy solving math problems… I enjoy solving problems of many types. I’ve recently gotten into rock climbing — it appeals to me in part because it’s one big problem, combining the contraints of gravity, friction, and counterforces. There are many people like Lorenzo and I, with restless and curious minds. I have daily contact with them at the Exploratorium, and they abound in the SF Bay Area. I often wonder how spoiled I am, to be here, and how much my view of the average American is skewed by this.

Lorenzo’s comment about motivation is very astute. Some people have a more practical orientation towards life (like his wife and paid employment). For her, perhaps, it’s important to do things that earn money, since money is a means to do other enjoyable things. For him, however, the curious mathematical play is an end in itself, since it is enjoyment in itself.
Not everyone enjoys mathematical or scientific play. How do we reach folks like Lorenzo’s wife, who would benefit from understanding science, but it is not an end in itself?

]]> By: Lorenzo E. Danielsson http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com/2007/05/11/poke-your-world/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Lorenzo E. Danielsson Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:10:29 +0000 http://sciencegeekgirl.com/2007/05/11/poke-your-world/#comment-12 One think I've noticed is how we have different motivations for things that we do. For instance I enjoy solving math problems. Don't ask me why, I just do. My wife thinks I'm weird because of this since, after all, it's not something that I'm earning money from. In her mind it would be better for me to use that time to program, which I do earn an income from. She has a business mind, wants everything to be profitable. I, on the other hand, see thing completely different. I really enjoy the work I do, otherwise I don't think I could do it. I don't really see myself going to work everyday simply because of the money I earn. I need something that challenges me, makes me think. Unfortunately I don't have any people like me in my immediate surroundings. So I spend most of my time alone. But I do see that questioning, curious stance towards the world in my children, so there's hope for the future. One think I’ve noticed is how we have different motivations for things that we do. For instance I enjoy solving math problems. Don’t ask me why, I just do. My wife thinks I’m weird because of this since, after all, it’s not something that I’m earning money from. In her mind it would be better for me to use that time to program, which I do earn an income from.

She has a business mind, wants everything to be profitable. I, on the other hand, see thing completely different. I really enjoy the work I do, otherwise I don’t think I could do it. I don’t really see myself going to work everyday simply because of the money I earn. I need something that challenges me, makes me think.

Unfortunately I don’t have any people like me in my immediate surroundings. So I spend most of my time alone. But I do see that questioning, curious stance towards the world in my children, so there’s hope for the future.

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