Comments on: It Begins http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:02:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brad http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-300002 Brad Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:26:53 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-300002 Ah geez! I've been reading this blog for months, and never realized that you were here in Syracuse! What a small world! Ohm Lounge. Also one of my favorite haunts. I'm there every Tuesday night from 9:00-11:00. Nice to hear that the level of discourse is taking an upturn! Ah geez! I’ve been reading this blog for months, and never realized that you were here in Syracuse! What a small world!

Ohm Lounge. Also one of my favorite haunts. I’m there every Tuesday night from 9:00-11:00. Nice to hear that the level of discourse is taking an upturn!

]]> By: Mark http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299755 Mark Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:42:32 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299755 It really is to do with the level of rigor and the amount of mathematics. There are ways to teach GR without getting into differential geometry at all. But at the graduate level, I think the students are ready for more details, even in an introductor course. Also, just technically, in our taxonomy of courses, it is a graduate course. It really is to do with the level of rigor and the amount of mathematics. There are ways to teach GR without getting into differential geometry at all. But at the graduate level, I think the students are ready for more details, even in an introductor course.

Also, just technically, in our taxonomy of courses, it is a graduate course.

]]> By: Scott http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299754 Scott Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:31:47 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299754 Mark, why would you differentiate between an intro GR class for grads and undergrads. They are both intro courses( I could understand if the undergrad class was a survey class maybe). Do you expect most students to take a differential geometry class in their senior year? Mark, why would you differentiate between an intro GR class for grads and undergrads. They are both intro courses( I could understand if the undergrad class was a survey class maybe). Do you expect most students to take a differential geometry class in their senior year?

]]> By: Michael D http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299625 Michael D Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:31:21 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299625 Mark - I've got my GR honours exam on Monday. My lecturer has stuck to Kenyon as a text, but i've complemented it with Sean's book. When your students are coming up to their exams/finals - what one piece of advice would you offer them? I'm not looking for a magic answer, by the way, just perhaps a certain way of approaching, thinking about the material as a whole. (Other's who teach or have taken a class in GR feel free to chime in...) m Mark - I’ve got my GR honours exam on Monday. My lecturer has stuck to Kenyon as a text, but i’ve complemented it with Sean’s book.

When your students are coming up to their exams/finals - what one piece of advice would you offer them?

I’m not looking for a magic answer, by the way, just perhaps a certain way of approaching, thinking about the material as a whole.

(Other’s who teach or have taken a class in GR feel free to chime in…)

m

]]> By: Mark http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299622 Mark Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:30:23 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299622 Hartle's book is great, but the level is too low for a graduate class. If I was teaching an upper level undergraduate class in G.R. then I would definitely use it, and it is a good secondary reference, with other books, for a graduate class. At a typical research university, physics faculty to teach one class per semester. So that's two courses per year. Hartle’s book is great, but the level is too low for a graduate class. If I was teaching an upper level undergraduate class in G.R. then I would definitely use it, and it is a good secondary reference, with other books, for a graduate class.

At a typical research university, physics faculty to teach one class per semester. So that’s two courses per year.

]]> By: gfl http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299616 gfl Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:04:12 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/28/it-begins/#comment-299616 I love Sean's book - but last year switched to Hartle's Gravity for my class. Although, the current seven lectures a week (in GR, High Energy and MatLab) is crippling. Role on next week (and thank goodness we get next friday off, George Bush is in town). Typically, how many lecutres/courses do peole give over the year? I love Sean’s book - but last year switched to Hartle’s Gravity for my class. Although, the current seven lectures a week (in GR, High Energy and MatLab) is crippling. Role on next week (and thank goodness we get next friday off, George Bush is in town).

Typically, how many lecutres/courses do peole give over the year?

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