Weeks 4 – 6: Making observations

Our Tuesday class information can be found here. Items below in bold are due by midnight that day but can/should? be done earlier.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
31 post photo post question	1 Make 2 due review Perusall	2 class .	3 . .	4 Perusall due office hours	5 . .	6 . .
7 post photo post question	8 share progress (see item 4 below) review Perusall	9 class .	10 . .	11 Perusall office hours	12 post Observ‘ns to Currents	13 . .
14 post photo post question	15 review Observation (see Task in Bboard)	16 class .	17 . .	18 Perusall office hours	19 . .	20 . .
21 post photo post question	22 . .	23 class .	24 . .	25 Perusall .	26 . .	27 . .

Our last two weeks we were reading about, thinking about and developing problems. At the end of the two weeks, I think we have topics, and those topics are more clear – but not yet truly clear, puzzling, itchy problems. But I do see the seeds of problems and am excited for possible directions that will emerge in the coming weeks. This week we’re going to make those problems/topics more specific by focusing on making (puzzling) observations.

In particular, I want us to think about Melissa’s observations on what happens to the rainbow spot from a prism when viewed through a filter, because I see strong overlaps here with everyone else’s questions. More details on what to do are below:

1. As always, be working to make sense of color – this time using the guidelines here. Dedicate about 5 hours each week to this; look at and post to Currents under Week 5.
2. Also: share (1) your workspace photos and (2) your list of questions. Due by Sunday night, every Sunday, on Currents.
3. And, as always, be keeping track in your notebook; including notes, thoughts, etc. from class on Tuesday. (Still a few weeks until it gets graded.)
4. For this make cycle, you’ll be reading (or re-reading) Umbrellaology; just the letter. This is inspired by Joshua’s question on our last reading, noting that he can take data to match inks to prism rainbows but he isn’t sure whether or not that’s science. Umbrellaology poses a similar problem to us. Taking data, finding information… but science? research? As always, highlight and comment on passages you find challenging or interesting. Reply to my comments/questions where you feel inspired. Do this early; the 7th is the deadline for a first-pass.
5. Your “make” for this cycle is to make observations. For now, I want us all to focus on trying to make sense of data Melissa collected and posted in Currents. It shows what colors we see from the prism and how those are affected by putting color filters in between the prism and wall. We’ll work on this in class on Tuesday.
6. After discussing Umbrellaology on Tuesday the 9th, we will read a paper about Stupidity as scientific activity.
7. Finally, you’ll have a make cycle of making observations; this is extended a week more than anticipated.
8. As always, Steve and Leslie are here to help and love to talk! come by on Thursday office hours in our Zoom Room.