• 2007-04-24: make a list of things that I have gathered from this course
• --: write a blog post about what I've learned this week.
• 2007-04-25: Investigate an area I'm interested in.

Presentation outline

• slide 1
  • The semester is ending, and therefore this summer really is the beginning of a new “research year.” How can I begin this research year correctly?
  • I've decided (right?) to do this presentation in the format of New Year’s resolutions. We’ve analyzed what we heard, what we’ve seen, what we’ve been doing wrong, and what we’ve going to change, or have already changed.
• slide 2
  • So here are the lessons we’ve learned. We’ve cut them down into the least number of entries possible. Format is
    • What we’ve learned
    • Where we learned it
    • Corroboratiing observations
    • What we did before
    • Our resolutions
    • Steps we’ve taken to improve.
    • IMPORTANT: overlapping content is no problem, we got different messages from the same presentations!
• Lessons about learning
  • where learned
    • YY- the best way to get into a field is to pick up a paper you like and duplicate the results.
    • Shaw- Active learning is superior
      • get statistics
    • Klara- same statistics, stated over again
  • Resolution:
    • I will do optional homework
    • I will make and complete homework to learn something that I don't understand.
    • I will reproduce graphs I don't understand, if possible.
    • For every presentation I sit through, I will think of and ask one intelligent question.
  • Before: Read books for classes. Read paper. Only did graded homework.
  • Observations- One of our jobs is to learn quickly and effectively. Active learning is clearly superior
    • observed in the discussion groups after each presentation
    • observed when asking questions in class.
  • Steps to improve-
    • Implemented a paper for algebraic multi grid in order to better understand it.
    • Being that guy and answering questions in class.
• Writing takes practice and help.
  • where learned
    • Jim Frost - lots of practice learning the CORE method
    • Ralph Johnson - value of peers in writing
  • Resolution:
    • I will spend at least 5 hours every week writng.
    • I will become part of the community of people that help others write. I'll talk others into joining the community.
  • Before: wrote in isolation, if I wrote at all. very rarely was involved in other people's writing.
  • Observation:
    • I've learned the most about how to write papers so far by watching other people write papers.
  • Steps I've taken to improve--
    • Sought out writing workshops (thanks Tanya!)
    • Joined Wikipedia, started editing mathematical entries in my field. More useful than blogging.
    • Started blogging once a week with what I've learned in my research. If I can't explain it to a lay person, then what good is it?
• Writing should occur during the research process
  • where learned
    • Jim Frost - Core method
    • YY's method of research - produces a paper incrementally.
  • Resolution:
    • Before I can work on a project, I will answer the appropriate questions on my research checklist.
    • My next paper will be written as I do the research.
  • Before: dreaded writing, always put it off until the last minute, agonized over writing
  • Observation:
    • If I space things out, writing shouldn't be so bad.
    • Writing does crystalize my thoughts (used to livejournal), so I should be doing it as soon as possible.
  • Steps taken to improve process
    • Combined Core and YY's methods
    • went through all my research ideas, answered mary shaw questions
    • have to write 1 page core document before proceeding with a task.
      • Avoids a dead end.
      • forces me to look for other research in the area
      • forces me to find a paper where I could publish the research
      • forces me to examine the impact.
• Structure of research
  • where learned
    • Indy's lifetime graph
    • last speaker - different types of researchers
    • Shaw's guide of applied vs. theoretical
    • Shaw- successful research breaks assumptions, opens new doors.
    • Theory guy- 90% is finding the right problem
      • therefore- successful papers give you problem ideas
    • Indy, last guy - fads happen, so don't settle down.
  • Resolution
    • Before I start my next project, I will explicitly write out where it falls within the above guidelines.
  • Before
    • I thought that as long as I worked on something that I found interesting I would be fine.
    • This class has made me realize the importance of defining where my research falls in the bigger scheme of things.
  • Observation
    • I've watched resesarch through my parents, I know fads happen.
    • I can see the effects of Indy's graph in various fields.
    • I've seen first hand that I like papers that give me new ideas the best.
  • Steps taken to improve
    • I've written an essay on why people should care about numerical analysis.
    • I've written on why I'm going into NA, even though it's definitely a mature field and hard to do
    • I've started thinking of research ideas that combine number theory, applied numerical research, and distributed systems.

1. No comments on active learning

2. On writing:
   a) way to practice writing: blogging; spend 5 hours every week; spend some time in writing every day (Before, I never did this because of laziness or required to do)
   b) some styles of writing (like how to structure a good introduction)

3. On doing research:
   a) identify a problem: Lui's method: your area+society's needs+your strength (evaluate in a table format); a good place to find research opportunities (through granting agencies), magazines (IEEE spectrum, high-level ideas/concepts) broadening horizons (in CS related area), problem matching (utilize techs in other domains); YY's method (system research): pick up a good paper from top conference and do the implementation (6 months): know the field and know drawbacks and know where to improve
   
   b) conducting research: writing at the same time targeting answering questions proposed by Mary Shaw (related with the paper's content, not on paper's structure and style). Use them as a guide line (feedback) to direct my conducting of research. Paper is done incrementally.

4. On presentation: (From Klara's)
   a) what's you say is more important than what's you write in slides
   b) communication is more important in US (particularly for foreign students)

5. Misc: (from various lectures):

Older notes

Things I've done:

• Joined Wikipedia as an attempt to increase my writing abiltiy
• started attending writing seminars by johnson, tanya
• formalized all of the things YY and Frost told us about writing
  • ran the formalization on all of my project ideas
• outlined the potential impact/cost of all my project ideas.

Things I've learned from this course, in no particular order

• table of basic/applied research (Bohr/Edison/Pasteur)
• Active learing is better.
  • saying something -- 70% remember
  • making- 90%
  • also echoed by YY, best way to learn a new field is to read and implement a paper.
• Lui Shaw recommends the matchmaking approach to research: put old technology in a new situation and show that established theories don't hold any longer. Take things out of their domain, look for new ways to combine things.
• Know your gifts, interests, and societal needs.
• use examples to illustrate open research problems
• get theoretical background first
• read classic papers
• finding the problem is often the hardest part (90% of the problem)
• conferences/classes tell you what is unknown.
• If you don't immediately demonstrate that you know the state of the art, then no one will pay attention to you. Talk about a wild success, then address it's limitations.
• Make a clear (bold) substantiable claim.

Defining the solution

• make the problem concrete
  • start with particulars, then generalize.
  • start with assumptions, then remove them.
• know what makes the problem hard
  • "why couldn't we just..."
  • saying why is the most important factor.
• identiy th stardard of success
  • how will you know when you are done?
  • how to distinguish a good solution from a less good solution?

• most papers get ignored. 25% only have 2 citations
• practice
  • make a schedule that ensures you will constantly practice writin
    • work 2 hours per day on writing your thesis
    • have a blog, spend 5 hours a week on it
    • have a journal, spend an hour a day with it.
  • always have a current writing project
  • every so often, ecaluate yor schedule

• How to Learn how to write
  • make a schedule that ensures you will constantly practice writing
  • make sure you get feedback
  • study good examples of withing
  • read what other have to say about writing.

• what kind of research style?
  • salesman
    • I have an idea to see. What's the martek segment where if can make the most impact?
  • consultant
    • Focus on problem P from company X. How do I solve P?
  • matchmaker
    • idea A in field X is relly good math to problem B in field Y. Apply A to B.
  • journalist
    • what is hot today? Let's do it!
    • BAD

Ideas for reflections

• how to pick a topic
• indy's life-cycle curve
• YY's talk about analogies,
• mary shaw for research planning

ultimate goals for paper writing

• simple
• consie
• precise
• logical flow
• fluid
• 17 word sentence rule.
• use small words
• use small verbs
• verbs should be actions, nouns should be objects.