Value Added UWI: Free Math Education
Posted by: bartandlife on: January 28, 2010
pic courtesy of scubasteveo on flickr.
I was pleased to come across an email from the university recently announcing an initiative out of the mathematics department to provide a series of workshops on fundamental concepts in mathematics. The programme is not for credit and will be offered to the wider university.
From my angle, the value of such a programme to the average university student is immeasurable. I imagine my math teachers from my past would be at least, mildly surprised to witness my volte face. My change in attitude has come with experiences and observations which have lead me to truly appreciate the scope for general intellectual development that comes with a sound understanding of mathematical concepts.
So whereas in high school, my mindset was to endure mathematics. Now, I try to embrace more of the opportunities that present themselves for me to get better at it. This isn’t to suggest that I’ve become some sort of number-junkie – because i have not. My change in attitude is best seen in the small background factors which help to shape my decisions. For example, one of my reasons for opting to do an elective in project management last summer was because it had a math component. A few years before and I would have elected to avoid the course for that same reason.
Unfortunately, I suspect that most students at university level who aren’t in the faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences or select departments of the Social Sciences, still maintain my old attitudinal approach. Rather regrettable since they we are the ones that such programmes would hold the most value for.
Having laid down due platitudes, I must confess that I will probably not be able to attend! My schedule for this semester and the added pursuit of a web consultancy have made opportunities like this, something of a schedule-based casualty in waiting.
None the less, the parties behind this initiative must be commended for the attempt. I wish it success!
link: Faculty Friday Maths for more details.
In Jamaica: Hustling
Posted by: bartandlife on: September 7, 2009
I’ve been home for a fresh minute.
Yes, I’ve been doing all the poetic minutiae like observing the changes that have occurred over a year and appreciating all that makes home ‘home.’
*yawn* right?
Exactly!
What my spirit takes greater pride in reporting is my taking responsibility for my life in tough economic times and digging myself out a financial hole!
Since coming home, I secured a month long contract to lead the redevelopment of one of the more significant online properties of a regional organisation. Apart from that mouthful (took me a good two minutes to word it so ‘ug it up!) I also manged to secure my first bit of legal work… Gully-lawyer style!
It’s not a lot of cheddar and I’ll certainly still be in the red when I’m paid for both projects but its a start. More importantly, it was me working for my own bread. Effing manly if you ask me. LOL
I get back to Bim on the 11th. That’s almost a full week after school starts. I’ll be losing time in the classroom but I feel like the weight has been balanced. When I slink down in the middle of LT1 for Contract II on Monday next, I wont be the starry eyed mid-20’s former yuppy who was only half-sure about how to convert his goals into reality a year ago. Not that i’m quite ‘there’ yet but I’ll certainly have a few more tools at my disposal. I’ll be armed with a first-hand appreciation of the concept of ACTIVE responsibility for all aspects of ones life; belief in one’s self and; the meaning of hard-work.
Unless things change… I’ll also be returning with what looks like the flu. Laaawd.
East Point Light House because wi a Buil'
Found Ting and Ginger beer
Posted by: bartandlife on: July 26, 2009
They were in a supermarket off the main highway last night.
Not to sound like a yuptertron but I did feel something like euphoria when I turned the corner at the end of the aisle and saw rows and rows of them just sitting on that chest height shelf.
Bought six of the babies and brought them home to share with my housemates – a Tortolan (BVI) and a Grenadian.
I think being away from Jamaica as long as I have (last night marked 11 months!) makes all finding sources of connection to home that much more meaningful. Hearing Jamaican music on the ZR, hanging with people from yard and now finding my beloved Ting and Ginger Beer. *sigh*
Life can be good sometimes.
Funny Aside: My housemate from the BVI is of Jamaican parentage and has been to the homeland before so he’s somewhat familar with the little niceties that make Jamiaca special. After showing them my lastes find, the Grendadian asked ‘whats Ting?’ He replies unwittingly: “it’s a Jamaican ting!”
Muahahahahah. Pepsi Jamaica could not pay for punchline that hilarious!
Links:
Drinks Jamaica: Website with information and online ordering for both Ting and Ginger Beer.
Law School Musical – I can REALLY relate to this
Posted by: bartandlife on: July 26, 2009
I suspect at least 75% of us who’ve chosen law can as well.
resting on my laurels
Posted by: bartandlife on: July 9, 2009
I haven’t ‘gotten’ a job this summer.
Unfortunately I’ve been so caught up in being locked into a limited mindset of ‘I need a job or i’m doomed’ that I’ve forgotten to stop and effectively assess the situation I’m in.
Having woken up to the reality that theres more that I could have done in my limited circumstances, I now feel almost foolish for having waited so long to attempt to rectify my situation.
Why didn’t it hit me before now that in order to generate some form of meaningful income I could have been playing to my strengths and attempted some form of entrepreneurship?
What makes it even worse is that over the past few months I’ve steadily been accepting the mindset that entrepeneurship is the way forward yet when faced with an ‘opportunity’ to translate belief into action…
Nothing.
Perhaps this is a matter of no good thing before its time.
Regardless of its route to me, I give thanks for the enlightenment I’ve been blessed with.
I wonder how many more persons around me trap themselves so easily with their minds?
By Monday, I should have a sign up advertising my graphic and web-design skills on the corner.
Thank you boundless universe
You know you’re at cavehill when
Posted by: bartandlife on: July 8, 2009
the topic for someone’s Ph.D. thesis reads “Advanced Shared Leadership… in Cricket in the West Indies”
Exam Timetable up
Posted by: bartandlife on: June 29, 2009
My exams are towards the end of the schedule on the 24th and 28th.
Thankfully, it means more time to consolidate and practise materials for both courses.
Yesterday was awesome because…
Posted by: bartandlife on: February 26, 2009
- Hung out with some interesting people that provided a lot of inspiration. I’m now 25 years old and for better or worse I’ve found myself spending the past few years creating a framework that defines the ‘man’ I wish to become; both in terms of character and material objectives. These guys – my roomies dad and his friends – were all terribly successful in their different fields. I liked being surrounded by that. I genuinely felt like I wanted to become that myself.
- I got some really good feedback from two of my lecturers about my less than stellar exam and coursework performances last semester. I’ve realised some things about me that I need to correct like:
- I NEED to start splashing out waaay more cases on my examination responses. In retrospect, I did something like 1 or 2 cases per exam question, on average. The lecturer informed me that ‘A’ papers have closer to 13 a pop. The cause for this was pinpointed as me not knowing/desiring how to ’swat.’
- In terms of my writing style, I have great conclusions but the build-up doesn’t seem to fit. I guess you could call it something of a non-sequitur.
- Somewhat linked to point 2 but with more general implications is that: I’m lazy. I kinda always knew this but having someone else tell you and also seeing the results of this lazyness impact your work does a helluva lot to inspire you to want to change
- A totally unexpected act of kindness occured. Being broke as I am, I had spent much of the earlier part of the semester trying to borrow copies of the texts that I needed. This was to no avail and I made no progress there. Having given up on that course of action, I handed it off to fate and stopped thinking about it. At some point mid-morning yesterday, a colleauge informed me that he had found someone who had a copy. Yaaay for blessings!
The book in question
- Chelsea won. While this isn’t deathly significant to my life in the bigger scheme of things, they are my favourite club and coming off the back of slump in form, they managed to win a tough match up against one of the biggest names in Europe. Needless to say, it added something of a boon to my spirits.
- I met sir Garfield sobers. Even took a pic with the dude. Never mind that we got the shot while he had looked off for a second and that the camera quality was shit (boo BB bold). The point is I got it! Anyways, see’t deh yeh heh heh!
This pic is emarassingly groupie-esque. from l - r. Me grinning like i'm starring in "Revenge of the Gladdis", Sir Sobers with a "I cannot be bothered look." LOL
random walk… beach… smile
Posted by: bartandlife on: February 22, 2009
just back from the beach.
It was beautiful.
Got pangs of nostalgia.
Seeing the early morning sun blanket everything and the people walking along the beach brought me back to my childhood.
I was brought back to a vague memory that was accompanied by a feeling of genuine happiness and contentment with myself and the world around me.
It also inspired me to work through the entire Constitutional Law worksheet number 2.
Yaay for Sunshine on beaches
My original intention was to run a circular route. Even planned it out and everything (see here). On that plan, the beach was supposed to be a short stop. Having gotten there though, I completely forgot about everything running.
I guess beauty does that to you… cause you to lose focus and refocus. Zone in completely on the beautiful thing that has transfixed you.
I am glad to be alive
