Note : Some emails of the set up phase are not included
1) How many of the following terms you know and have used ?
basic matrix operations
gaussian elimination of matrices
linear independent vectors
orthogonal vectors
diagonalisation of a matrix
eigenvalue
determinant of a matrix
2) Have you worked in the last 12 months with matrices ?
3) Have you ever had problems with a task including matrices and found out
that you stumbled over a stupid obstacle?
4) Do you know a way to display matrices and their operations on a computer
?
5) Do you often work in group projects ?
6) Have you ever been taught how to successfully perform in group work ?
7) Have you ever co-operated with people via computers over a distance ?
8) If you answered 7 with yes, did you encounter problems ? list one or two
9) What do you expect from this project ? (1-3 sentences)
1) Did you send any email for this task?
2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did you
not like?
3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you haven't
send an email.
4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet?
5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the others?
6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question about
a
matrix in an email?
7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this task?
8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)?
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 2:18 PM
Subject: Email of Remembrance
Hello everybody,
here is a reminder that the project I've asked for your participation is
going to start next tuesday. To prevent the start from being overly hampered
with technical problems I'm sending you the link to the applet I have
programmed so that you can maybe try if you can use it and if not try to
describe your problem to me.
The project will be to solve a mathematical task via co-operative working
together. The details of the problem will be sent to you next Tuesday. The
deadline for the project is at the moment set at Tuesday, 18.5.04. The
expected amount of work for you is between one and two hours over these two
weeks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't have time to do this, please tell me soon, as I have to
find an ersatz for you in this case.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some requests :
1. please send all emails in english
2. please send all emails at everybody, that are the 4 participants listed
below and me, mraab@tcd.ie
The participants of the project :
/removed/
The task of zzz is only to help and explain if there are problems, which
should be possible for her with her mathematic background. As said already,
more details about the task and the process next Tuesday.
Now the link to the applet and a short questionaire I would like you to
answer to get a little bit information about your background and the
expactations you have about this project.
Link to the applet :
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/META/index.htm
Questionnaire :
1) How many of the following terms you know and have used ?
basic matrix operations
gaussian elimination of matrices
linear independent vectors
orthogonal vectors
diagonalisation of a matrix
eigenvalue
determinant of a matrix
2) Have you worked in the last 12 months with matrices?
3) Have you ever had problems with a task including matrices and found out
that you stumbled over a silly/little/stupid obstacle?
4) Do you know a way to display matrices and their operations on a
computer?
5) Do you often work in group projects?
6) Have you ever been taught how to successfully perform in group work?
7) Have you ever co-operated with people via computers over a distance?
8) If you answered yes to question 7, did you encounter problems? Which?
9) What do you expect from this project? (1-3 sentences)
Vielen Dank and till next Tuesday
Martin
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: Email of Remembrance
Hello,
> 1) How many of the following terms you know and have used ?
> basic matrix operations
yes
> gaussian elimination of matrices
yes
> linear independent vectors
yes
> orthogonal vectors
yes
> diagonalisation of a matrix
yes
> eigenvalue
yes
> determinant of a matrix
yes
>
> 2) Have you worked in the last 12 months with matrices?
yes
> 3) Have you ever had problems with a task including matrices and found
out
> that you stumbled over a silly/little/stupid obstacle?
yes
> 4) Do you know a way to display matrices and their operations on a
> computer?
yes (maple).
> 5) Do you often work in group projects?
no
> 6) Have you ever been taught how to successfully perform in group work?
no
> 7) Have you ever co-operated with people via computers over a distance?
no
> 8) If you answered yes to question 7, did you encounter problems? Which?
-
> 9) What do you expect from this project? (1-3 sentences)
Gain my co-operation skills and abillity in working with matrices.
Help Martin with his project.
xxx
PS: The expected amount of work is 2 hours at all and not a day ?!?
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Start WebMatrix
Hello again,
it seems as the applet worked for most of you, that's nice. So the project
can now start without problems.
And yyy, please try the second solution for the installation here,
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/META/index.htm, it should work.
Ok, now for all, what is it that I want from you. All I want from you is
that you use the WebMatrix applet to discuss about matrices via email. This
works in the following steps :
1. work with the matrix in the applet, note that you can write comments in
the green field
2. save as a txt file, open it with wordpad or word
3. copy the content into an email and add additional comments if you want
This is really all I want from you, but obviously you don't have anything to
discuss about, as you are all coming from complete different backgrounds.
Therefore I'm posing you another task, described in a WebQuest, the link is
at the end of the email. I deliberately chose a difficult task, as it would
make no sense to ask others for help if each of you could immidiately solve
the problem on its own. So if you don't understand something, THAT'S
PERFECT. Because in this case you can ask the other members of the group to
explain it to you, what is the purpose of this whole project. So don't make
the mistake to look up explanations at your own, just ask if you don't
understand a certain step.
I hope I made myself clear, it is really not important if you can present a
proper solution to the WebQuest in two weeks. However, here are the
"requirements", I'm really asking you to fullfill. First, please give
answers to the pre-and post questionnaire. This is important, so if you
haven't answered the pre-questionnaire already, please answer it now, you
can find it at the end of this email. Second, please send at least two
mails, and one of them should include output from the WebMatrix applet. I
hope this is not too much, deadline for my project is the 18.4.04.
Please note that I have removed the solution from the WebQuest, don't get
angry about the deadlinks :) You don't have to read the whole WebQuest,
below are direct links to the for you important parts.
The Task : WEMI - Task, description here :
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/WebQuest/Task.htm, only the WEMI
Task, not the first one
Help: http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/WebQuest/Process.htm, at the
bottom of the page, "after the broad introduction"
Ok, that's all from me. I know that for each of you it is very hard to send
the first email, as you don't know the other participants. Please be brave
and don't hesitate to much, I can approve you that all participants are very
nice. So if you don't understand what the transformation matrix is, ask.
Otherwise if you do know, why don't you start and say, hey look, I think the
transformation matrix is the following.
Thanks in advance,
Martin
Link to the applet :
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/META/index.htm
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: Email of Remembrance
Servas guys,
after a virus attacking the college tis morning I can't access my mails
which I downloaded on my laptop. Please send me the Introduction mail again
so that I can keep the deadlines, thanx.
In the mean time, my answers...
1)How many of the following terms you know and have used ?
none
2)Have you worked in the last 12 months with matrices?
no, but I have been working with them over 4 years ago - so I hope that the
stuff I was once tought will come back rather fast:-)
3)Have you ever had problems with a task including matrices and found
out that you stumbled over a silly/little/stupid obstacle?
I guess I did, but don't remember anymore...
4) Do you know a way to display matrices and their operations on a
computer?
no
5) Do you often work in group projects?
yes, constantly
6) Have you ever been taught how to successfully perform in group work?
workshops as well as learning by doing!
7)Have you ever co-operated with people via computers over a distance?
yes, over a period of 3 years
8)If you answered yes to question 7, did you encounter problems?
Which?
Language and Cultural differences can cause misunderstandings, time
difference can be an issue when it comes to keep dead-lines
9)What do you expect from this project? (1-3 sentences)
To re-learn how to deal with matrices and to be of help for this research
project.
LG yyy
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: Start WebMatrix
falls in der ersten mail was war was nicht hier drinnen is dann bitte schick
sie mir noch mal, sonst nicht. ich werde erst heute abend dazukommen, da ich
erst mal schaun muss wie ich den dummen patch auf meinen rechner bekomme-
sonst hab ich den bloeden college -virus auch auf meiner maschine.
bist du mit deinem laptop online? is deiner ok, oder hast du den patch schon
vorher gehabt?kannst du mir den patch brennen falls dein rechner ok is? Bin
heute bis ca. 6 auf der uni.
yyy
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 1:38 PM
Subject: Re: Email of Remembrance
> Please send me the Introduction mail again so that I can keep the
deadlines, thanx.
Mail sent.
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: Email of Remembrance
Sorry didn't check mail emails, but I will check them more regularly the
next few weeks.
Questionnaire :
1) How many of the following terms you know and have used ? All of them
basic matrix operations
gaussian elimination of matrices
linear independent vectors
orthogonal vectors
diagonalisation of a matrix
eigenvalue
determinant of a matrix
2) Have you worked in the last 12 months with matrices?yes
3) Have you ever had problems with a task including matrices and found out
that you stumbled over a silly/little/stupid obstacle? yes
4) Do you know a way to display matrices and their operations on a
computer?yes
5) Do you often work in group projects?once a month
6) Have you ever been taught how to successfully perform in group work? no
7) Have you ever co-operated with people via computers over a distance? yes
8) If you answered yes to question 7, did you encounter problems? Which?
yes, not having the same programs installed, e.g. maple
9) What do you expect from this project? (1-3 sentences) Didn't think
about it before, Martin ask me. Perhaps I can use it for my tutorial.
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 3:29 PM
Subject: 1. proposal
Hi,
Task 1:
I tried to solve the problem with gaussian elimination of matrices (see
attachment). Unfortunately it did not work.
The funtion, which models the shoveling, does not increase linear (?).
Any ideas?
xxx
JavaWebMatrix Output
( 2 25/3 )
( 5 6 )
( 11 a )
Hi,
Task 2:
I think I got the Matrix T (see attachment) we need to solve the problem.
When you multiply the vector containing students going to "(lecture, pub,
other lecture, bed) transformed" from the left side of the matrix, you
get
the vector of students for the next time.
I think, we need to multipy the matrix with the startvector 30 times, then
we will get the solution.
Maybe it would be easier to find the invariants of the matrix, then we would
not need that much multipliing.
What do you think?
xxx
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: Email of Remembrance
Sorry must be multipliing from the right side.
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 3:25 PM
Subject: First mails
Hi All,
thank you very much xxx for taking the first step. I really appreciate that.
I think it got a little bit lost, but you shouldn't solve the first task on
the website, only the second one, the WEMI Task. If you are interested, a link
to the solution of the first task is at the end of this email, obviously all
links to the rest of the solution are deadlinks.
I really not want to say something about the correctness of xxx suggestions at the moment. But it seems to be going in the right direction. And believe me, the task is not to multiply the matrix 30 times with a vector, to prevent misunderstandings. This would definitely work, though.
Here is the current suggestion for the matrix A, the transformation matrix :
( 7/10 2/10 1/10 1/10 )
( 2/10 4/10 4/10 1/10 )
( 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/10 )
( 0 3/10 4/10 7/10 )
The above is how the tool was intended to be used. You use it and then paste it directly into emails. Unfortunaltely, this doesn't look very good without manual fixings, so probably you have to send the txt files as attachements.
So can somebody tell what to do next ?
All important links again at the end of this email.
I have 2 of 4 questionnaires filled out till now, could the other two please fill out their questionnaires. I know you are only doing me a favour, but you agreed to do so ......
Martin
The help for Task 2 :
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/WebQuest/FRSWebQ.htm
The WebMatrix applet:
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/META/index.htm
First Task solution :
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/tmp/WebQuestSolution/node1.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xxx's Mail :
Task 2:
I think I got the Matrix T (see attachment) we need to solve the problem.
When you multiply the vector containing students going to "(lecture, pub,
other lecture, bed) transformed" from the left side of the matrix, you
get
the vector of students for the next time.
I think, we need to multipy the matrix with the startvector 30 times, then
we will get the solution.
Maybe it would be easier to find the invariants of the matrix, then we would
not need that much multipliing.
What do you think?
xxx
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 1:13 PM
Subject: Viva business students...even if they have no idea about matrix A,
B or C
Servas guys!
Okido, here comes the 'business input' on our little mathematical issue...
Anyway, I had to read the process section first before I even got to the point
of understanding the task. I knew what was meant by "linear system of equations",
I remember that from school:-) but the matrices confused me a little bit...
I agree though with the proposal of xxx. Basically, I got the part with choosing
variables for each group of people and also putting them into relation to each
other but the part with 'phi' and Eigenvectors... nooooo way! And what the hell
are matrix A or matrix T?
Greetings from Dublin,
Lisi
P.S.: Can we invite Keanu Reeves to our little discussion group?!
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 1:46 PM
Subject: me again...
please keep on sending mails to my "lugere@tcd.ie" account as this
is my work account and I can only access it 2 days a week.
cheers,
yyy
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 3:02 PM
Subject: ok?
hoffe das mail war ok so.. hab echt versucht das ganze zu verstehen. mal schaum
was zurueck kommt...
yyy
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 3:31 PM
Subject: I love math
Hi,
I think the matix is ugly. Getting the eigenvalues is nasty work. Unfortunatelly I uninstalled maple. So here is my theoretical solution:
Take Matrix A:
( 7/10 2/10 1/10 1/10 )
( 2/10 4/10 4/10 1/10 )
( 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/10 )
( 0 3/10 4/10 7/10 )
diagonayyye it ( determinant of A-x) = diag(A) .
Get Matrices T and T^-1 from:
A = T^-1 * diag(A) * T
So we easy get:
A^30 = T^-1 * diag(A)^30 * T
And the solution is:
T^-1 * diag(A)^30 * T * s s is startvector
What do you think?
Anybody installed maple/mathematica or something like that?
xxx
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: I love math
Hello all,
first of all, thank you very much, xxx. You have done more than enough work
for the task. Unfortunately it seems as if not all have been as reliable as
you ...
The deadline for this task is tomorrow, 18.5. . And despite that there hasn't
been a lot of co-operation yet, I decided to keep this deadline. This is partly
because I believe that there won't be any more emails, even if I would extend
it.
The last thing I would ask you is to fill out my post questionnaire at the
end
of this email. If you are going to answer all questions with "I had no
time"
you shouldn't answer it. However, if there have been other problems (I couldn't
access my emails, the Applet didn't work ...) these would be very good points
to mention.
As said, this is the last thing I'm asking for, I would really appreciate it.
And in the case that you didn't participate till now you could really help me
to justify that there has been some value in this test.
Thank you again xxx, and you too, yyy. I know that you have been very
busy, but you still kept your promise. Thank you very much.
Cheers, Martin
Post-Questionnaire:
1) Did you send any email for this task?
2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did you
not like?
3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you haven't
send an email.
4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet?
5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the others?
6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question about
a
matrix in an email?
7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this task?
8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)?
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 3:19 PM
Subject: I love business!
...voila, my fragebogen!
Post-Questionnaire:
1) Did you send any email for this task?
yep, but only one
2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did
you not like?
3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you
haven't send an email.
yep
4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet? no
5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the
others? not at all
6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question
about a matrix in an email? yes, certainly it fastens the process of
actually writing the mail.
7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this
task? no, not expert enough.
8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)?
2h
(including my extra research on matrices which resulted into
confusion;-)
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: I love math
Hi,
> Post-Questionnaire:
>
> 1) Did you send any email for this task?
yes
> 2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did
> you
> not like?
-
> 3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you
> haven't
> send an email.
yes
> 4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet?
no. Just installing the new jvm
> 5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the
> others?
no
> 6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question
> about a
> matrix in an email?
maybe
> 7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this
> task?
the matrix to diagonalize could have been easier
> 8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)?
ca. 2 hours
xxx
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: I love math
>Post-Questionnaire:
>
>1) Did you send any email for this task?
No
>2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did
you
>not like?
>3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you haven't
>send an email.
Yes/no ... it doesn't work and with my slow modem connection I couldn't
download the stuff I needed.
>4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet?
-> answer 3
>5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the others?
No, thats no problem
>6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question
>about a
>matrix in an email?
Perhaps (if my computer would start the applet)
>7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this
task?
>8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)?
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 10:02 AM
Subject: Solution
Hi,
xxx's suggestion seems absolutely correct to me. If you want a little more
detailed, however, not comprehensive solution, this is now available.
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~martin/Portofol/WebQuest/FRSWebQ.htm
Enjoy your time.
Martin
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 2:29 AM
Subject: Re: I love math
At 16:41 17.05.2004, you wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>first of all, thank you very much, xxx. You have done more than enough work
>for the task. Unfortunately it seems as if not all have been as reliable
as
>you ...
>
>The deadline for this task is tomorrow, 18.5. . And despite that there hasn't
>been a lot of co-operation yet, I decided to keep this deadline. This is
>partly
>because I believe that there won't be any more emails, even if I would extend
>it.
>
>The last thing I would ask you is to fill out my post questionnaire at the
>end
>of this email. If you are going to answer all questions with "I had
no time"
>you shouldn't answer it. However, if there have been other problems (I
>couldn't
>access my emails, the Applet didn't work ...) these would be very good points
>to mention.
>
>As said, this is the last thing I'm asking for, I would really appreciate
it.
>And in the case that you didn't participate till now you could really help
me
>to justify that there has been some value in this test.
>
>Thank you again xxx, and you too, yyy. I know that you have been very
>busy, but you still kept your promise. Thank you very much.
>
>Cheers, Martin
>
>Post-Questionnaire:
>
>1) Did you send any email for this task?no
>2) If you answered question 1 with no, why not? Which problems? What did
you
>not like?Couldn't install it, because download for the java, would have
>taken 4 hours. I wasn't really sure about my task in this test.
>3) Did you try the WebMatrix Applet? You can answer yes, even if you haven't
>send an email.See above.
>4) Did you encounter problems by using the Applet?
>5) Have you been daunted to participate because you didn't know the
>others? Yes.
>6) Do you think that my Java Applet helps if you want to ask a question
>about a
>matrix in an email? I think so, if I knew how it works.
>7) Do you have any suggestions what should have been different in this
>task? No.
>8) How much time did you spend for this task (including everything)? 2-3
>hours.
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I think the matix is ugly. Getting the eigenvalues is nasty work.
> > Unfortunatelly I uninstalled maple. So here is my theoretical solution:
> >
> > Take Matrix A:
> >
> > ( 7/10 2/10 1/10 1/10 )
> > ( 2/10 4/10 4/10 1/10 )
> > ( 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/10 )
> > ( 0 3/10 4/10 7/10 )
> >
> > diagonalize it ( determinant of A-x) = diag(A) .
> >
> > Get Matrices T and T^-1 from:
> >
> > A = T^-1 * diag(A) * T
> >
> > So we easy get:
> >
> > A^30 = T^-1 * diag(A)^30 * T
> >
> > And the solution is:
> >
> > T^-1 * diag(A)^30 * T * s s is startvector
> >
> >
> > What do you think?
> > Anybody installed maple/mathematica or something like that?
> >
> > xxx
> >
> >