Subject: Systems Language

Posted by Sharon Villines on 2/3/2010
In Reply To:Systems Language Posted by Niall Palfreyman on 2/3/2010

Message:

On Feb 3, 2010, at 3:41 AM, Prof. Dr. Niall Palfreyman wrote:

> Tim Joy schrieb:
>> What is in the mind of my students when I say "stock" or "level" or
>> "accumulation"? The stock market, a tool with water bubbles, or
>> something about GPA's?

> Would the word 'quantity' work, I wonder? While 'quality' can jump
> erratically from one value to another, a 'quantity' needs to be
> depleted or incremented over time.

Understanding "stock" as a stockpile worked for me. Until I made that connection, I memorized "stock" as an abstraction.

"Stock" -- livestock. While the number of cows in a herd can change, that is a weaker image than that of big cows moving imperceptibly in a field chewing their cud. Or going back to the barn to milked. Put that together with a bathtub?

My granddaughter's school starts teaching the concept of writing with "kid writing" in which the kindergartners are encouraged to write with no regard to correct spelling -- just learn the concept of what letters do and how you put them together to say what you want to say.
They understand each other's kid writing. It isn't a free for all.

Once they have learned how much fun it is to tell a story or write a note, they are both willing and interested in learning the accepted spellings at least so they can become first graders, an inspiring status.

> One additional point here: While I personally like the bathtub
> metaphor, I don't particularly find that it strikes any wonderful
> chords with my (science-based, undergraduate) students.

They probably take showers.

Sharon