Teepee on campus...

This morning on the way to teach algebra, I saw people constructing what I could guess was a teepee. It appeared like 4 sticks leaned together to make the shape of a teepee.  But I was in a hurry so I didn't have time to investigate.

Two hours later during my probability class, I could hear quite a commotion coming from the center of campus, so after class I went to investigate.  Turns out it WAS a teepee, and there were people here in full Native American dress to share their culture.   There were many many school kids here, and I heard them announce they have a pow wow here in April.

The unusual thing about it was that the people in full Native American dress were rapping, and as I walked up, the lines I heard were:

"Can't find a proctologist, Just like you can't find a double D bra in Alaska, ..."

Not entirely certain how that relates to Native American culture, but I stayed a bit longer.  You can play the video to hear a little bit of the next rap they were doing:

I got a picture of a kid playing by the teepee for my mommy, who works with little kids

Morning

Math Graduate Computer Lab

This is where I was last night working on my homework.  Since everyone else had gone home, I spread out everywhere.  The school runs on a Linux system, and I had my MacBook too.  This lab is pretty small, but the math grad students can use it any time day or night.  Classes are NOT scheduled in this room, so it is pretty nice to have a quiet-ish place to study and I haven't had to fight anyone for a computer since only math grad students can work in there.

The next two pictures are my walk in from the parking lot this morning.  Wish y'all could have been here, as these pictures do NOT do it justice (iPad doesn't take the best of pictures...).  The sky was amazingly beautiful.  Both of these pictures overlook the field where the football team practices their drills.

One of the classes I am taking is Numerical Linear Algebra and Optimization.  One thing we are working on is doing image compression (using a computer) and writing our own code.  So we take an image and 'read' the information in it into a computer file, and then we look at ways of making the file much smaller, without distorting the image too badly!  This is similar to the process that happens if you have a digital camera that takes many megapixel images and then you store them as much smaller files....
On the picture below, you can see the original image and each of the adjusted images.  The smaller the 'rank', the smaller the file, although the image can end up distorted.  The trick is to have a small file AND a decent image.

Bunnies LOVE cereal!

Pi and Jack getting some Cheerios!  (This was a gift from their Aunt Helen!)  

They LOVE Cheerios!  (And yes, Jack squeezed into the bag and got some Cheerios too!)

This is Pi.  He is attempting to get some chocolate cereal.  

My sister Joanna got him addicted to this cereal over the summer...
Pi is blind, but he is DETERMINED to get cereal!

My Students take their first TEST!

OK - I know it has been quite a bit since I posted....SORRY!  My RSD has been a bit out of control and it has been all I could do to manage teaching with the classes I am taking, not to mention they had two different exams in a week (plus quizzes and homework) in the College Algebra class I am teaching.

TEACHING COLLEGE ALGEBRA
The COLLEGE ALGBRA MASTERY EXAM - They had two tests in the last week and a half.  The first is called a 'Mastery Exam'.  It had two questions which pretty much summed up the material from the first few weeks.  Not only do they have to solve the problem, but they must write about their problem solving process, so they get graded on correct answer, communication, and strategy.  They MUST get 100% on this exam.  If they don't, there are two additional versions of the exam they can take until they do get 100%.  (Or if they don't pass on the last one, they just get whatever grade they get).  The professors here have found that it does two things - more students do better in the class (and pass) because they are forced to learn certain concepts, and it boosts their confidence in doing math.  HOWEVER, each time they don't pass, they have to meet with me and go over the problem.  Nearly all of my 40 students had to meet with me and go over the problem, which was like 8 hours of my time at least, before they could take the second version.  So far they have all passed, with about 5 students left!
MY STUDENT'S FIRST MIDTERM - Then Wednesday night they all had to come for a 'common hour' exam.  All 15 classes of college algebra come on the same night at the same time, and take this test.  They find the biggest rooms on campus and schedule us into them.  And not only that, but we also check IDs to make sure students aren't sending their roommates to take the exam for them!  It was crazy having so many students in one room with us teachers walking around.  That was the SLOWEST hour.  I know when I take tests, it seems like the time goes way too fast.  Turns out when you are giving them (and you have to walk around - no computer, no nothing), time moves horrifically slow!  So the last two days I have been grading these tests.  We do group grading, which means each teacher gets a problem (like I got problem #6A), and I have to grade just that problem for EVERY STUDENT in college algebra - so like 600 students.  They have this whole system worked out for switching the tests and getting them to each instructor for grading, but YIKES!  I have about 400 done, and have another 150 or so to do...  I am getting very fast at grading that problem!

HOMECOMING WEEKEND
Turns out all the big tough math and science classes have common hour exams.  And they were all this week.  Poor students have brains of jelly now.  However, they are free and clear to celebrate football and homecoming this weekend, so that was a smart plan by the school!  Also - people here are REALLY into football.  A large chunk of the people I saw today were dressed in school gear with their faces painted!

RANDOM THOUGHTS
It is really bizarre to walk around on campus and everywhere I go I hear people talking math and science.  A handful of odd casual conversations, but almost everyone talking math and science as they walk to and from places!
And they have Huckleberry soda here :)  It is yummy!

BUBBLEGUM UNDER THE TABLE
Turns out bubblegum under the table is useful...I really needed some tape to put a sign on the door, but couldn't find any anywhere.  So....a guy suggested seeing if we could pull gum off from under the table and 'rehydrate' it with water from the drinking fountain and it would work as an adhesive.  Turns out it worked very well!

JACK & PI
Jack and Pi are doing well - having claimed BOTH the kitchen and under the couch as their home base!  Jack is super talented at running up AND down the stairs to my bedroom!  I am fairly certain that Pi sends him up to wake me up and feed them when they are hungry!

School Days...

So...I guess technology has its problems everywhere....There are 7 different logins and associated passwords I have to know, depending on what part of the MSU system I am trying to access by computer!  I gave up and wrote them down.  If someone steals them....well maybe they will pay my school bill or do my homework for me?!?

To catch you up....I haven't been doing much except school, school, and more school, with a side of unpacking here and there!  Teaching is going really well (I love teaching)!  I teach M/W/F from 10-11. I attend a probability class from 12-1 on M/W/F.  And then I have two classes on T/TH from 1050-130.  I also have assorted office hours, time in the Math Learning Center, and a few meetings.  It keeps me nicely busy, but not insane!  I have a few more stories, but I have to (get to?) head off for a math party!

I did go get the key to my mailbox!  Apparently I am considered living in the boonies!  So I am on a rural post office route.  Which means there is a mailbox cluster every other block or so, and in the cluster, each dwelling is aside a locked box.  So I had to go to the Post Office with my lease, and pay $10 for my key!

So I have much more to write, BUT I have to dash, so I leave you with a few pictures...

Street sign where I live

Down the road, east of me

Friday sunset, with haze from the fires

My apartment building - I live on the end!

Belgrade Water Tower, I can see from my front door!