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Unread 19-10-2010, 13:53
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Re: Motivating Students

Great article. Thanks for posting.

DTF:

Math is a fundamental of physics (and a ton of other things too) and physics is a fundamental of engineering.

As a foot-ball analogy, math is the importance of a good weight lifting and physical fitness program. These build strength and endurance which are necessary to complete drills. Drills are then applications of strength, speed and endurance with technique much like physics is the application of math to natural phenomenon. Engineering School is then like scrimmaging/practice and running plays. You use the strength, speed, technique and drilling skills to practice playing the game. The game is then the job you get. Just like in football, you may frequently need to practice (training) in order to get better at the job. One of the great things about the sports model is that you don't have to lift weights for 3 years, and then do drills for 4 years, and then scrimmage for 4 years before you get to play the game. (Hence the genius of FRC and other STEM programs)

To extend my analogy back to the education process. Sometimes people really enjoy running or weight lifting. Asking a weight lifter or a runner (that may have no clue about football) how curls will affect your ability to play the game, and they may not have an answer. This doesn't mean they are a bad lifter or runner. It just means they don't have that experience. The "why" and your motivation are important to the football coach. The lifting/running technique and realistic goals and follow through are important to the physical trainer. Make sense? This point is the magic of FRC. FRC has mentors working with the students much like good coaches work with their players.

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Specifically to the graphing of polynomials and Pre-Calc:
You may use this subject even more than calculus. Learn it and get good at it. I frequently work with data acquisition. A lot of time based data for vehicle performance follows polynomials. Being able to graph the data, fit polynomials, and then check the coefficients and behaviour relative to physics is very important to sizing of components. (Look up distance and/or velocity versus time profile for the acceleration of a vehicle).
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