BNFO 491 |
Course at a Glance: Problem Sets |
Fall 2012
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What are problem sets? This course is built around solving
problems (see Objectives for the rationale
behind this choice). Research projects are one way to get you into
problem-solving mode, but another way is to supply you with a stream
of bite-sized problems: Problem Sets. You will find in them a range
of questions, from straight-forward to Huh? As best I can, I'll
include problems that put the concepts we are talking about within a
context where they actually arise in real life.
In many cases you will find that the biggest difficulty isn't
finding a solution to a problem but rather figuring out what the
problem is all about. Once you grasp that, the solution sometimes
takes care of itself. Questions that do not readily connect with
what we are talking about can certainly be more frustrating than
drill-type questions, but hey -- that's science! The greater part
of science is not finding the answer to a question but finding the
right question to ask. And not only science -- no matter what you're
doing in 10 years, it will probably involve problem solving. It's not
likely to involve taking multiple choice or drill-type exams.
But never mind generalities, here's
a link to a problem set that might give you the idea.
What do I do when I have no
idea how to answer a problem?
You might find this to be a common
occurence (just as it is in real life). First of all, don't panic! This
is normal. This is life. Learn to welcome confusion as an old friend. When
you remain unsure of your moorings, that is when anything is possible.
Like complaining muscles during exercise, a complaining brain -- I'm confused!
-- is good! (and
others have said the same thing).
Revel in that brief freedom! Relax and let the problem tell its story.
The true enemy is not confusion but
despair. If you find despair beginning to eat at you, avail yourself of one
of the many sources of help: from your
colleagues, from the TA, or from me.
Second, reflect on what you need
to know in order to answer the problem. Seek a connection like, "the problem
would be easy if I only knew how many bilirumps there are in a frazzle."
Then your task reduces to the usually simple matter of finding the requisite
fact. If you determine that the
difficulty lies in a specific hole in your bioinformatics or molecular education (e.g. "What
in the world is a [fill in: {Viterbi algorithm; southwestern blot;...}]???),
visit your friend, Google, or seek
help -- perhaps someone
in the class has already gone down this road. But the first step is to
pin down exactly what you need to know so that you can go to the web or
possibly helpful colleagues or me with a question that might be recognizable.
Don't throw yourself prostrate in front of the proposed
helper and whimper "Help me! Please, help!" Learning is most
effective when you direct the learning process. Figure out
what questions you need to ask before you ask for help.
Perhaps you feel that there is not
enough information available to answer the question. That's a start! In
that case, try writing out an unassailable proof that the question cannot
be answered. Cast it in the form of a letter to whomever wrote the question
("Dear Idiot,..."). Often in doing so, you find a hole in your argument, a hole
through which you can escape and answer the question (I have hundreds of
Dear Idiot letters, never sent). And, like a worm
on a hook, keep wiggling. The more you try new twists, the greater the
chance that you find a way to work yourself loose. But if you reach the
end of the letter and the proof is still sound,... send it.
Finally, we will devote considerable
time in class to problems. This requires, however, that you bring with
you the issues to be discussed. We can't jump over any hurdles until you
have encountered them.
Feel free,... no, invited,... no, URGED to attack the problem sets
with your colleagues. However, so that feedback is meaningful, hand in
the product of your own mind, in your own words.
Will problem sets be graded?
No. But you may turn them in to receive feedback. This
service is offered up to one week after the end of a unit. This
policy is intended to encourage you to do problem sets as they are dispensed
(to avoid unsightly buildup at certain times during the semester) and also
to protect us on the receiving end from gluts of more work than we can handle.
Then why should I... I mean they're not going to be
graded, right? So...
Who am I to tell you the best way to master your craft?
In MY experience, however, concepts aren't really learned unless I can
USE them in their actual contexts, i.e. by solving problems. With that
in mind, all exams will be based on problems.
And, since I am not infinitely creative, I will generally take the questions on the
exams from the problem sets we've already handed out, with minimal modification.
In fact, I'll come out right now with a fairly bold claim: Just about everything
on every exam will be a visibly apparent variation on some question from a
problem set (or investigation or study question).
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