Algorithmic Behavior
Evaluation for professor of MAT3304 (Dr. Tamara Knight):
Did the professor effectively communicate with the class?
Well, she gave a lot of lectures in English, so I guess, yeah.
Were the course materials covered in a clear and logical manner?
Well, she used a lot of big words and would not tell us what they meant but said we could look them up, but other than that, yeah.
Did the Professor stimulate critical thinking and analysis?
Sometimes, if we weren’t thinking smart enough, she stopped talking to us until we could prove that we were “worthy.”
Did the professor respond adequately to student questions?
Too adequately.
Did the Professor tolerate expression by students of different viewpoints?
It’s math.
Was the Professor accessible outside of class?
I never tried to access her.
Notes for Lecture Two:
In the beginning, mathematicians created algorithms―strict, repetitive procedures that worked every time―but either they did not know why the steps worked, or they had not felt the need to tell anyone. Euclid was the first to give the algorithms reason. He put principles behind them.
Conversation from a department meeting:
Dr. Tom Carroway: How is your research going, Tam?
Dr. Tam Knight: My research is going well.
Dr. Myrtle Lewin: How is yours going, Tom?
Tom: Quite well, quite well. Moving right along. I heard you published a new paper in Nonlinear Dynamics Quarterly, Myrtle. Did you hear that, Tam?
Tam: I did. It was in the bulletin. Congratulations. A lot of people read NDQ.
Tom: Quite good, quite good.
Myrtle: Have you published anything lately, Tam?
Tam: Not since my piece about Godeaux for the Belgian government. But I’m doing some intriguing archival research.
Tom: Oh, archives.
Myrtle: Hm. Archives.
Tam: Yes, archives.
QED, Tam was no misfit.
