Today was the first section of lab for my Astrophysics class. Exciting, right? Hardly. Today’s “lab” was a review of mathematical functions. We were given a packet, and had to (1) use a calculator to come up with BASIC computations, (2) graph some things, (3) compute some more physics-y things like “how many kilometers are in a parsec?”, and (4) come up with (structured) guesses to questions like “how many drops are in Lake Michigan?”
Great. Piece of cake. In typical U of C fashion, the TA said “so get into groups and start working on these questions,” and most everyone started working alone. The TA roamed around the room a little later, and I asked him, “I don’t have a calculator with me. Can I just do this at home?”
He told me, no, I needed to stay and work on it. ARGH WTF WHY? So, I broke out my laptop and used the Google Calculator (ie typed equations into Google–it lets you use parentheses, which the built in calculators on most computers do not) to do the entire lab while there in the session. I packed up my shit and left before everyone else.
I understand the need to make sure everyone in the class can do basic arithmetic. There are plenty of first years in the class who probably don’t even know math. But come on! I’m a fourth-year economics student and I can manipulate numbers. I could have shown that easily from home, and missed rush hour traffic.
< /rant >
Comments 1
Every science lab I had was terrible at school. Either the TA really, honestly couldn’t speak English, doing the ‘lab’ didn’t require being at the lab, the labs were painfully boring, or had nothing to do with class.
Posted 01 October 2007 at 11:32 pm ¶