Thursday, January 20, 2005

Changing times and pedagogy.

Frames of reference (theoretical or otherwise) allow us to communicate. As a concept "time" has been used as a frame of reference more than a relational reference. What do I mean with this statement? It seems to me that the presumption that the passing of time is constant within a spatial reference frame allows the calendaring of events, where their relative position is scaled to a particular unit of time. In this way we can say that some dinosaurs lived, for example: 100 years; and that they lived sixty million years ago. It seems to make sense. But, is it so?
Within the framework of education we have assumed that one hour of class is one hour of teaching equivalent to one hour of learning. The hour of class makes the hour of teaching synchronous with the hour of learning.
Here is where I have some uneasiness. My feelings are that teaching and learning aren't happening at the same "time"

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

A matter of fact is a matter of time

Time is factual as it is changing, as the only permanent concept is the concept of change. How can permanence and change be related? It is a paradox that can be illustrated by “rhythm” where the regularity of the beat is framed with/within the flow/movement of the music. Of course there are some who say that time doesn't exist.

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Synchronous v Asynchronous

One issue that has been in the minds of people is the connection of past, present and future with the concept of eternity. Is eternity the sum of past-present-future? or is it the extencion of the present? Since the development of relativity we know that there is no "absolute" time so how can we relate different times? Is this relationship synchronous or not? I'll be thinking more about this.

Friday, January 14, 2005

Presenting myself

Welcome to my blog! This is my first, so please be patient with me. The purpose of this diary is to share some of the thoughts that I'm having (or have had) related to the nature of time and to try to compile links to other sites interested in the discussion of time. As it applies to issues of pedagogy, natural sciences, or religion. My email address is davidjterrell@msn.com please don't hesitate to write to me. Also I invite you to visit my web site at classpages.warnerpacific.edu/DTerrell where you can read about other aspects of my life. (Portland, OR/January, 2005)