tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49096384337620230.post592535414948705319..comments2024-02-22T23:01:00.277-08:00Comments on Combinatorial Game Theory: Combinatorial Games: a first-year classKylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02448231492905040705noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49096384337620230.post-48042270180576663272011-04-22T12:34:52.919-07:002011-04-22T12:34:52.919-07:00Blake,
in many different ways, you are speaking m...Blake,<br /><br />in many different ways, you are speaking my language. :)<br /><br />I really like the use of games as teaching aides. For example, I might have a hard time understanding (or believing) Sperner's Lemma, except that I've played a lot of Atropos.Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02448231492905040705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49096384337620230.post-85609177538721255612011-04-22T12:00:57.525-07:002011-04-22T12:00:57.525-07:00I plan on picking up Winning Ways pretty soon. Rig...I plan on picking up Winning Ways pretty soon. Right now, I'm reading up on CGT as an area of possible future research, and as a tool for teaching. <br /><br />Like I said, I think CGT can be a powerful tool in teaching math. I've always been attracted to the competitive nature of games, and I think that the concept of "winning" can create a level of enjoyment in math that isn't present in the simple memorization of formulas that many lower level math classes present. <br /><br />If the students can also be learning something like Gaussian elimination, geometry, or even calculus concepts then it becomes an added bonus. But, as of yet, I don't know of any games that have this bonus. I've been playing around with a few, but I don't have a proof that they are well formed in the sense that they always result in a winner.Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116043731993061151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49096384337620230.post-4330273485557620542011-04-22T10:32:03.737-07:002011-04-22T10:32:03.737-07:00Blake,
this class is part of the WittSem program ...Blake,<br /><br />this class is part of the WittSem program here, which means all students will be first-year college students. Each Wittenberg student takes one WittSem class their first year, so part of the focus of the class will be on how to handle college and turning in assignments on time, etc.<br /><br />For the math side, I plan to teach students the basics of evaluating game positions. I'll take it slowly, but I think it'll be possible without a ton of prerequirements. I may prove a few things in class, but I will almost certainly stay away from proofs.<br /><br />This will certainly not be a graduate-level course, so I doubt it's the sort of thing you'd be looking to take. Sorry if that was confusing. I do recommend Winning Ways and Lessons in Play as texts for learning the material if you can't find an adequate course to take.Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02448231492905040705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49096384337620230.post-20342231603114759912011-04-22T10:06:27.872-07:002011-04-22T10:06:27.872-07:00I'm curious, what will be the purpose of the c...I'm curious, what will be the purpose of the class? I'm somewhat new to CGT, although I've studied NIM and a few other games as work for my masters. I think CGT could be very useful as an approach towards higher level mathematics and CS, especially as an introductory level course.Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116043731993061151noreply@blogger.com