STOP #1: I really enjoyed how Nick Sayers spoke about how creating spheres out of recycled materials can be a representation of the end of waste (around the 20 minute mark). Since spheres have an endless surface, than the end of waste can be had. Nick Sayerscreated a type of shelter with these spheres when created at a large scale (like with the signs), but I wonder what other purpose (besides a really neat piece of art with a story) a smaller sphere could have.
Stop #2: Nick Sayers mentioned (around the 29 minute mark) how numbers have meanings and related many numbers to OCD and superstitions. I had to laugh when I heard him say this. I don’t let volumes (radio, TV) be on odd numbers. My partner and parents laugh at me for this, but there is something about odd numbers that feels off, whereas even numbers are just superior in my head. Perhaps because they can be paired? Unsure.
I was curious if this was just a “me” thing, so I did a quick google search. AI’s response was:
People tend to prefer even numbers due to cognitive ease, perceiving them as more stable, balanced, and orderly than odd numbers. This preference is rooted in the ease of dividing, pairing, and processing even numbers—particularly multiples of 2, 5, or 10—which reduces mental effort and feels more "complete" or symmetric.
And that makes sense to me. Even numbers and multiples of 5 really do reduce mental effort when any kind of math is needed. There is also a beautiful degree of symmetry, perhaps relating to my idea of pairing.
Stop #3: The entire idea of pinhole cameras, which was a great section at the end of the video. I loved how there was an extensive discussion around how the image ends up upside down when it comes through the pin hole. I immediately thought about how our eyes work. The science teacher in me found this fascinating and how this would be a great visual, hands-on activity to describe the biology and functionality of our eyes. So cool.
On the topic of the pin holes photos, I really enjoyed this visual (around 1 hour 10). The explanation of the description of seasons shown throughout the photo, with this morse code look representing the sunny and cloudy days, and the description of the differences of light coming through the tree depending on the season, I was so in awe the entire time Nick Sayers was talking about this photo.
Nick Sayers really highlighted how there are so many different forms of art, and that there are millions of entry points into math. I believe that watching this interview reminded me that math does not always need to be formulas and complex tasks, it can include beauty and adapt to different forms.
Video Link: https://vimeo.com/1166172275/3a7a243bce?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
This blog may be shared with Nick Sayers.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, I also appreciated the broadness of math (and art) represented and the accessibility of Nick’s work. I looked into if pinhole solargraph would be realistic to make with students. I found this set of directions posted by McGill and it looks doable. I had a colleague that I collaborated with often that refused to have any assessment task out of an odd number. She would come up with one more question or adjust the count - something to make it come out even every time. I always thought this was funny, but your search results about ease of cognitive load with mental math and pairing strategies makes sense!
ReplyDeletehttps://wowlab-blueprints.mcgill.ca/en/pdfs/solargraphy/AI_solargraphy.pdf