lecture recording on 24 January 2025 at 08.16.36 AM

Random Number Generation and Student Engagement

• Random numbers are generated to engage students (numbers 12, 14, and 7 mentioned).

• Continuous interaction with students to keep them involved.

Class Structure and Upcoming Readings

• Plans for reading checks on modules 29-33.

• Reading checks aim to assess comprehension, identify knowledge gaps, and provide practice for the exam.

• Confirmation of dates for reading checks: Monday for modules 29 and 30, and Wednesday for 31-33.

Changes in AP Testing Format

• New experimental skills are integrated into the AP test structure.

• Students should prepare for questions that ask for extraction of information rather than direct identification of terms.

• Practice tests will reflect these changes, emphasizing comprehension skills.

• Discussion of the limited access to practice tests and materials for the new AP format (only 75 practice questions currently available).

The Power of Language

• Discussion on owning language and its implications, particularly in marginalized groups.

• Example of the LGBTQ community reclaiming the word "queer".

• Importance of ownership of language to diminish its power as an insult.

• Discussion includes the complexities and multiple meanings of words in the English language.

Language Complexity and Examples

• Words can have multiple meanings:

  • "Park": could refer to an outdoor area or the action of parking a vehicle.

  • Discussion on language evolution and slang.

Problem-Solving Activity: Hobbits and Orcs Puzzle

• The classic problem involving crossing a river with 3 hobbits and 3 orcs without leaving more orcs than hobbits on either bank.

• Students engage in problem-solving through trial and error, emphasizing group discussion and collaboration.

• Major focus on identifying the logic and correct sequence of movements to avoid conflict (two orcs eating a hobbit).

Cognitive Biases in Problem Solving

• The challenges faced during problem-solving are reflective of cognitive biases:

  • Confirmation bias: Tendency to focus on evidence that supports pre-existing beliefs.

  • Belief perseverance: Difficulty changing beliefs even in light of contradictory evidence.

  • Fixation: Sticking to previous problem-solving strategies that may not work in new contexts.

  • Functional fixedness: Tendency to see objects as only serving their traditional functions, limiting creative solutions.

Examples of Mental Set and Creative Problem Solving

• Use of simple puzzles to show how assumptions hinder finding solutions (e.g., the thumbtack and candle problem).

• Encouraging thinking outside the box fosters creativity and problem-solving skills among students.

Conclusions and Further Practice

• Emphasis on using the remaining class time for individual work on definitions and understanding concepts.

• Importance of persistence in learning and tackling challenges head-on.