Yeah, really sorry I won't be able to make it....

[ms.peachy]

Here's the text to a lunchtime 'professional development opportunity' a colleague and I were just invited to:
Subject: LKL Talk: Ian Jones, The Design of Equality Statements.
Tuesday 2 May 2006, 12:30pm - 2:00pm


Ian Jones, Warwick University of Education
Location: Large seminar room

It is widely reported in the literature that children attend more readily to
an operator notion than a relational notion of the equals sign. Drawing on
data from trials of a software-based "Relational Calculator", I will propose
that there are reasons to be doubtful about this generally accepted
operator-relation dichotomy. Instead, it may be that = is a partially
redundant symbol that can lack Piagetian "reversibility" in the minds of
children. I will report on the next iteration of the software in which
conceptions of mathematical equivalence are emphasised through purposeful
manipulation of equality statements.

What a shame, I'm expected to be giving birth that day, and so I have to decline this exciting offer. What a damn shame indeed.

[sab0tage]

LOL, really wish I was going

[abcdefz]

Subject: LKL Talk: Ian Jones, The Design of Equality Statements.
Tuesday 2 May 2006, 12:30pm - 2:00pm


Ian Jones, Warwick University of Education
Location: Large seminar room

It is widely reported in the literature that children attend more readily to
an operator notion than a relational notion of the equals sign. Drawing on
data from trials of a software-based "Relational Calculator", I will propose
that there are reasons to be doubtful about this generally accepted
operator-relation dichotomy. Instead, it may be that = is a partially
redundant symbol that can lack Piagetian "reversibility" in the minds of
children. I will report on the next iteration of the software in which
conceptions of mathematical equivalence are emphasised through purposeful
manipulation of equality statements.


Jeez -- is that even English? I have NO IDEA what the heck that's talking about.

[robertson8]

im confussed

[ms.peachy]

Our theory is that actually this guy doesn't want to give this talk, so he's sent out an invite that is so arcane that no one will want to turn up.

[robertson8]

im still confused

[abcdefz]

Our theory is that actually this guy doesn't want to give this talk, so he's sent out an invite that is so arcane that no one will want to turn up.


I dunno. That sounds very much like a man who's in love with his own voice.

[Sarky Devotchka]

so the equal sign is evil? what?

PIAGET! oh, education.

[robertson8]

nope still confused

[Qdrop]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312204078/103-7337657-8411808?n=283155

"In 1996, an article entitled "Transgressing the Boundaries: Toward a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity" was published in the cultural studies journal Social Text. Packed with recherché quotations from "postmodern" literary theorists and sociologists of science, and bristling with imposing theorems of mathematical physics, the article addressed the cultural and political implications of the theory of quantum gravity. Later, to the embarrassment of the editors, the author revealed that the essay was a hoax, interweaving absurd pronouncements from eminent intellectuals about mathematics and physics with laudatory--but fatuous--prose.

In Fashionable Nonsense, Alan Sokal, the author of the hoax, and Jean Bricmont contend that abuse of science is rampant in postmodernist circles, both in the form of inaccurate and pretentious invocation of scientific and mathematical terminology and in the more insidious form of epistemic relativism. When Sokal and Bricmont expose Jacques Lacan's ignorant misuse of topology, or Julia Kristeva's of set theory, or Luce Irigaray's of fluid mechanics, or Jean Baudrillard's of non-Euclidean geometry, they are on safe ground; it is all too clear that these virtuosi are babbling. "

[ms.peachy]

Oh god, I soooo want to c&p that and send it back to the IOE (who sent the invitation). But those people could wreck my career. Bastards.

[robertson8]

this shit is just going over my head i need a hug

[Qdrop]

Oh god, I soooo want to c&p that and send it back to the IOE (who sent the invitation). But those people could wreck my career. Bastards.

send it anonomoulsy...
through another email account you never use....that can't be traced back to your name...

[YoungRemy]

all the kids are talking about purposeful manipulation of equality statements, that and operator-relation dichotomy... im really glad someone is tackling the issue finally...

[ASsman]

send it anonomoulsy...
through another email account you never use....that can't be traced back to your name...
The guy sounds like a Wizard of old. I wouldnt mess with him, might have a glass ball(s).

[Ace42X]

Private Eye has a column for things like this.

[ms.peachy]

Private Eye has a column for things like this.
Ha yeah, that's exactly what my coworker said!