5 minute summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
__________
14 May 2021
2hr 27mins
Owltail Summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
_________
#183 – Po-Shen Loh: Mathematics, Math Olympiad, Combinatorics & Contact Tracing
14 May 2021
2hr 27mins
Quote
"Make sure that whatever it is that you're working on, that if you do succeed, matters. There's no point achieving failure."
Ideas
1
Often, when we're working on a problem, our number 1 priority is just being able to solve that problem.
But when it comes to learning, the most important factor is the fact that you help yourself figure out how to find the solution, instead of somebody else spoon feeding you the answer.
Whenever you're teaching or learning, you ideally don't want to say or hear 'here's how you do something', but instead, ask or be asked to think of any ideas you currently have and work from there.
Whenever you're teaching or learning, you ideally don't want to say or hear 'here's how you do something', but instead, ask or be asked to think of any ideas you currently have and work from there.
1
Often, when we're working on a problem, our number 1 priority is just being able to solve that problem.
But when it comes to learning, the most important factor is the fact that you help yourself figure out how to find the solution, instead of somebody else spoon feeding you the answer.
Whenever you're teaching or learning, you ideally don't want to say or hear 'here's how you do something', but instead, ask or be asked to think of any ideas you currently have and work from there.
Whenever you're teaching or learning, you ideally don't want to say or hear 'here's how you do something', but instead, ask or be asked to think of any ideas you currently have and work from there.
2
The best incentives are ones where you're helping yourself.
Everything that everyone does, is in some shape or form selfish.
But just because it's selfish, doesn't mean it's also not selfless at the same time.
Build a system of incentives so that everybody trying to maximize their own situation, also contributes to the whole.
But just because it's selfish, doesn't mean it's also not selfless at the same time.
Build a system of incentives so that everybody trying to maximize their own situation, also contributes to the whole.
2
The best incentives are ones where you're helping yourself.
Everything that everyone does, is in some shape or form selfish.
But just because it's selfish, doesn't mean it's also not selfless at the same time.
Build a system of incentives so that everybody trying to maximize their own situation, also contributes to the whole.
But just because it's selfish, doesn't mean it's also not selfless at the same time.
Build a system of incentives so that everybody trying to maximize their own situation, also contributes to the whole.
3
It's the hard things that are often the most important to work on.
Rather than worry about whether you achieve something, worry about the regret of not trying it.
Failing something hard is not something to be ashamed of, but not trying something is impossible to be proud of.
Failing something hard is not something to be ashamed of, but not trying something is impossible to be proud of.
3
It's the hard things that are often the most important to work on.
Rather than worry about whether you achieve something, worry about the regret of not trying it.
Failing something hard is not something to be ashamed of, but not trying something is impossible to be proud of.
Failing something hard is not something to be ashamed of, but not trying something is impossible to be proud of.
Questions
1
Can you think of something that you do that is both selfish and selfless at the same time?
1
Can you think of something that you do that is both selfish and selfless at the same time?
What else is in the episode
1
The beauty and power in maths as well as programming.
1
The beauty and power in maths as well as programming.
2
COVID contact tracing that preserves privacy & incentivizes the right behavior
2
COVID contact tracing that preserves privacy & incentivizes the right behavior
3
The roots of maths, teaching and learning maths
3
The roots of maths, teaching and learning maths
Who is Po-Shen Loh?
1
A professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University and the national coach of the United States' International Math Olympiad team. He's also the founder of NOVID, an anonymous COVID tracking system to notify you of COVID in your proximity, as well as Expii, a social enterprise helping maths and science learning for students.
1
A professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University and the national coach of the United States' International Math Olympiad team. He's also the founder of NOVID, an anonymous COVID tracking system to notify you of COVID in your proximity, as well as Expii, a social enterprise helping maths and science learning for students.
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