Dr. Sarah's Freshman Seminar Highlights
The following is NOT HOMEWORK unless you miss part or all of the class. See the Main Class Web Page for ALL homework and due dates.

  • Thur Dec 6 Final project poster presentations. Balloons - sometimes it is easier to work alone, but more fun to work together. Class slide show. Evaluations.
  • Mon Dec 3 Tori does activities of the week and tip of the week. Hand out picture permission form. Finish up ethics. What kind of research should scientists support? Friend or Foe Experiment. The NSA. How should we personally and as a society respond (locally, globally) to scientific studies such as those that are environmental, like tuna fishing, etc.
    Who Am I for Tori and Dr. Sarah.
    Frenzy:
    Each team is trying to collect all of the items into their hoop to win.
    There is no throwing or tossing of the balls.
    No defending the hoops.
    Take a group picture. Hand out posters. Work on t-shirts. Futurama.
  • Mon Nov 26 Tori does activities of the week and tip of the week. Review class from last Monday. Continue the purpose of a liberal arts education. Read New Connections p. 7-8 and p. 52-57.
  • Write down one portion that surprised you, that you found interesting, or that you disagreed with.
  • Write down one item that relates to something in your own life.
    Class discussion. Mention p. 49-50. Discuss mathematics and science as part of a liberal arts education.
    Update on Pizza buffet, puppy trip, t-shirts, and donations. Favorite Image Discussion. NY times discussion. If time remains, continue ethics.

  • Wed Nov 28 Collect assignment. Problem solving versus research - methodology. Group Problems and presentations.
    Election ptables, tables
    Knight's Tour
    19 nice ones
    Reservoir
    Tower of Hanoi
    What the Hex?
    Continue ethics: What kind of research should our government support?.
  • Mon Nov 19 Tori does activities of the week and tip of the week. Continue ethics of science in the classroom: Case studies. Class discussion led to standardized testing and the purpose of education. Tori leads the question ball icebreaker.
  • Mon Nov 12 Tori does activities of the week, tip of the week, and quote of the day, and discusses our money. December, 1969 Vietnam Draft, data. Break up into 4 groups. Experiment. Look at university policies in New Connections. Write down one policy that surprised you, that you found interesting, or that you disagreed with. Write down one item that relates to something in your own life.

  • Wed Nov 14 Tori leads quote of the day. Update on Pizza buffet, puppy trip, t-shirts, and donations. Digital Presentations.
    Matt and Nathan: Leon Lederman (BS in chemistry in 1943, PhD in physics in 1952)
    Alex: Oliver Smithies (BA physiology and BS in chemistry in 1946, PhD in biochemistry in 1951)
    Katy and Leah: Sylvia Earle (BS in marine botany in 1955, PhD in oceanography in 1966)
    Becca, Kwiatek, and Noah: Stephen Hawking (BA in physics in 1962, PhD in cosmology in 1966)
    Liesel and Miranda: Sharon Downes (BS in zoology in 1994, PhD in biology in 2000)
    Andy and Roarke: Larry Page (BS in engineering with a concentration on computer engineering in 1995, ABD in computer science)
    Ashley: Trina Palmer (BS in mathematics in 1995, PhD 2004)
    List all of the characteristics and behaviors which you would attribute to a professional scientist. Discuss ethical considerations.
  • Mon Nov 5 Tori takes attendance. Tori does activities of the week, tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Trina Palmer and research in medical imaging. Tori discusses registration, what you should do if you are failing a class [4 W's after drop date, grade replacement...], as well as the pros and cons of ratemyprofessors.com. If time remains, question ball or another icebreaker.

  • Wed Nov 7 Tori does quote of the day. Read class reflections. Group Juggle without nametags. Break up into 5 groups. Case Studies on college success. Skits and discussions.
  • Mon Oct 29 Tori does activities of the week, her tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Dan Friedman and Myers-Briggs. If time remains, stack up.

  • Wed Oct 31 Form seminar tables. Discuss controversial aspects of Myers-Briggs. Do the Interview Activity with one of the people you know the least about. Class reflection - write down (anonymously)
  • a few aspects of class that you have enjoyed.
  • a few suggestions or aspects that you would like to see improved.
  • a Freshman Seminar goal that you have (personally) satisfied successfully in the context of class activities.
  • an aspect of your personal performance (related to this class) that you could improve upon.
    Use Comic Strip Chaos to break up into groups. Work on Class Discussion etiquette. Discuss The Chemical Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - the Case of the Screaming Stepfather.
  • Mon Oct 22 Discuss hiking date. Discuss reimbursements for mileage. Do Tori's activities of the week, tip of the week, and quote of the day. Discuss Fermat intro. Discuss the switch from pros/cons to psychology/sociology/anthropology and design of experiments, as well as "to do's". Review uncertainty in the scientific method and statistical thinking. Discuss mathematical proof via Andrew Wiles and Fermat's Last Theorem. Fill out sheet.

  • Wed Oct 24 Move tables in a round table style. Finish video. Introduction to MathSciNet Research in the Library Catalog via the links at the bottom of the media research project presentation. Search for Author: Wiles, A* Look at MR1333036 and MR1333035. Also do "Search for Full Text" and pull up the actual articles. Look for the references (notice there is an appendix on the first article). Look at google search for Andrew Wiles and Andrew Wiles site:www.math.princeton.edu search. Introduction to arXiv.org search. Collect homework. Class discussion on what kind of mathematician/scientist are you, including a response from Dr. Sarah and Tori to one of the questions. Worksheet on Andrew Wiles and Proof. Discuss p. 171 and p. 175 of New Connections. Relate to calculus test 2 on October 30th.
  • Mon Oct 15 Meet in CAP 307. Tori does activities of the week, her tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Libby Puckett and research in forensic and analytical chemistry. Dr. Sarah hands out directions to her place.

  • Wed Oct 17 Tori does the quote of the day, tip of the week, and activities of the week. Myers-Briggs. Dr. Sarah leads a Science Times discussion. Reflect on yarn/True That/Double True activity. Share the pros and cons of each article with respect to the scientific method, statistical ways of thinking, and/or mathematical thinking. Discuss rides for Sunday. If time remains, then Tori discusses alcohol. If time remains, discuss The Chemical Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - the Case of the Screaming Stepfather.
  • Mon Oct 8 Meet in CAP 273 at 2 [Dr. Adrian Daw's lab]. Adrian Daw and research in experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics. During the talk, each student writes down one question [they do not need to ask it]. It is fine if the question is answered later in the talk. Dr. Sarah will collect these questions. Discuss the fact that we have switched gears from individual or small group activities to whole class activities, for the meantime. Tori does activities of the week, her tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Dr. Sarah and class choose a Sunday for a party at her place. Tori leads discussion and suggestion box for activities and spending money.

  • Wed Oct 10 Research time for the Living Scientist or Mathematician Research Project Digital Presentation. Post a WebCT message to Dr. Sarah as per the instructions on the main web page.
  • Mon Oct 1 Tori does activities of the week, her tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Kate Scharer and research in geology and how the crust accommodates and sheds tectonic stresses. If time remains, then walk to the library. Research time for the Media Research Project Presentation. Post a WebCT message to Dr. Sarah which includes:
    What did you get done related to your project?
    How do you feel your research time went? Explain.

  • Wed Oct 3 Tori does the quote of the day. Class presentations on Media Research Project Presentation. Reflect on challenges of this project, including the difficulty in understanding technical language, the difficulty in finding current journal articles [peer review process delays], and the lack of references at the end of some journal articles. Play twister.
  • Mon Sep 24 Collect homework. Tori does activities of the week, tip of the week, and the quote of the day. Rahman Tashakkori and research in computer science. Discuss the databases, arXiv.org, and his web page. Mention the Media Research Project Presentation. Do the Group Juggle.

  • Wed Sep 26 Library tour with Louise Ochoa. Meet in the library atrium at 2pm. The tour will include math and science resources on the 3rd floor, including info about QA, etc, the math and science educational resource materials [what floor are these on now?], the encyclopedias related to math and science on the first floor, and information on journals in the basement, with us walking to each of these areas. Also, the location of Science and the New York Times [Tuesday is the Science Times].
    If time remains, work on the media assignment and meet in 114 at 2:30. Tori leads a quote of the day.
    True that double true icebreaker using yarn. Hold one end of the ball of yarn. Throw to someone, saying their name, and ask two questions, holding onto the yarn, one related to science or mathematics and the other related to something else. When the person answers the questions, if there are others in the class who agree with them, say "true that". If you strongly agree, say "true that/double true". Everyone continues to hold onto the yarn as it is thrown to other people who have not had it yet - the questions can change.
    Dr. Sarah begins with How does your scientific or mathematical mind work? and What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? Highlight the theme of connections - to each other [calculus, true that] and to the goals of freshman seminar and to mathematics and science. We have created a unique web that has connected all the players together in one way.
    Science Times discussion - divide up into the articles chosen. Share pros and cons of each article with respect to the scientific method, statistical ways of thinking, and/or mathematical thinking. Tori and Dr. Sarah share any additional pros and cons. Turn in notes/bullet points.
    If time remains, interview activity.
  • Mon Sep 17 Collect the response paper. Mention apology from international programs. Continue discussing the scientific method and statistical thinking via randomness and pi via Apu. In the process introduce Maple and discuss quotes from Hideaki Tomoyori and a quote from Jeff Westbrook. Introduction to computer science databases via a subject search and an arXiv.org search. Review original numbers. Use the random sequence generator to generate groups of two. Name History with a partner and partners introduce each other and share the other person's name history. Tori leads activities of the week, tip of the week, and quote of the day. Tori gives her perspective on her freshman seminar class and this thematic one. Tori presents information on study suggestions.

  • Wed Sep 19 Move the tables to the center of the room in a seminar style. Class discussion on studying.
    Reflection on the university goals of freshman seminar.
    Tori leads the quote of the day.
    In groups of three, do the lego activity. Continue time management with study suggestions. Each person writes down two test questions - if a question similar to yours appears on the test, you will win a small prize [Name______ does not count]. Class discusses which questions they think will or will not be on the test as we also answer the questions or discuss ways to answer them.
  • Mon Sep 10 Sit in GIC groups. Name game - on a piece of paper, write down everyone's name on the opposite side of the room, in the order they are sitting. Reflect on GIC experiences.
    1) The weight of the average adult human head is approximately 12 pounds. For the tress fall, would the head of Dr. Sarah or Alex make the most forceful impact? Why? Whose head would hit fastest? Why?
    2) Three people were required to stand on a mountain peek plank for safety reasons. Where should Alex stand? Why?
    Discuss with a GIC group partner. Then class discussion on these questions and reflect on ways to approach this related to the scientific method, statistical thinking, and mathematical thinking, and physics. Write down three things you liked about the GIC and three you didn't. Place into the suggestion box. Tori shares weekly activities and does the quote of the day, and her tip of the week. Dr. Sarah reads from the suggestion box. Discuss connections from the book or convocation speech to science and mathematics, including Dr. Sarah's regalia, Dr. Hirst, and less directly, Corey Lynch. FoxNews article on H1-B visas and technology firms. If time remains, discuss free tuition proposal and stereotype vulnerability.

  • Wed Sep 12 Finish stereotype vulnerability.
    Sit in GIC groups. Look across the room - working with that person who was not in your GIC group, discuss situations where text anxiety or performance anxiety have hindered you.
    Discuss whether you or someone you know have ever experienced something similar to stereotype vulnerability as part of some kind of group (for example, gender, race, math phobic, "good" or "bad" student...) where external expectations from someone else (teacher, society, parents, friends... ) affected your performance in one way or another.
    Groups share their experiences with the class. In groups of three, try to transform this first picture to this second picture. Take some pictures. Reflect why this icebreaker is in a book called Heart of Mathematics. Tori leads the quote of the day and then a Science Times discussion. Randomness and pi via Apu. Go on the tour after class.
  • Mon Sep 3 Labor Day

  • Wed Sep 5 GIC from 2-5:30. Meeting Place inside the main rotunda of the Student Recreation Center on Bodenheimer Drive at 2pm (2-5:30). Tori shares weekly activities. Take some pictures.

  • Thur Sep 6 Meet for convocation at the classroom at 9:30. Tori reminds the class about the assignment. Tori takes some pictures at convocation [of the class and of convocation].
  • Mon Aug 27 Meet in Old Belk 1116. Tori chooses a person to share their Science or Mathematics Quote of the Day via assigning a number to each student and using the random integer generator. She emails the quote, the students name, and the quoter's name to Dr. Sarah for web posting. Then she uses the random sequence generator to generate a sequence of the class. The first half of the numbers kneel in the front row, and the other half stand in back for a class picture. Tori shares activities of the week, including mathematics and science activities, and her tip of the week. Next, sitting in a circle, Dr. Sarah takes attendance as each student shares something they found about the scientific method or something from the syllabus. NY Times reminder and discuss final exam time (project instead of an exam) since we overlap two possible times. Tori discusses GIC and Dr. Sarah hands out paperwork. Walk over to Rankin Science South Room 225. Shea Tuberty and research in biology and the scientific method, with more pictures taken.

  • Wed Aug 29 Tori leads share time - general venting or concerns about life at ASU. Next she leads High/Low of the first week. Mention situation box. Students can write down ideas that they would like to discuss but do not want to bring up. They can write them down, put them in a box and Tori or Dr. Sarah will bring up the question to the class at some point. Dr. Sarah discusses survey responses. During this, she uses the random sequence generator to rearrange seating for a while. Dr. Sarah discusses random numbers and scientific thinking, statistical thinking, and mathematical thinking. Pick a random number from 1 to 10 experiment and Excel analyses of chi test and p value. Then move to a circle in the center of the room. Tori leads the student quote of the day. Dr. Sarah reflects on her Science or Mathematics Quote of the Day and begins a discussion about where mathematics comes from and relates that to calculus. Dr. Sarah leads a Science Times discussion via index cards.
  • Wed Aug 22 Fill out survey. Names in motion icebreaker. In a circle have each person do a motion corresponding to the first letter of the first name. The next person repeats the previous person plus theirs. Ask for volunteers at the end to try them all. Reflect. Fill out information sheet. Introductions. Tori's tip of the week. Take questions about classes, college, the university, etc. Imagine that a friend deposits $1,440 into your bank account each morning. You have 24 hours in which to spend the money, with no balance carried over from day to day. Any money that you fail to use will be canceled at the end of that day. What would you do? Would you carefully plan how to spend the money or spend it impulsively? No doubt, you would want to use all of it. Connect to significance of numbers and the significance of 1440. Discuss time management. Watch frustrated student video. Have Tori discuss her methods for time management. Discuss syllabi.