Learning is Continuous and Arbitrary

In statistics you learn about the how to analyze and interpret different types of data. One type of method to create is randomization. By the process randomization, the outcome is unpredictable. For example, when you roll a dice you have no idea what number the dice will land on. Dice are an example of a discrete random method. Discrete means that the outcome has a finite value; the numbers on the dice are integers one, two, three, four, five, and six. Another randomization process is the continuous random method. In this method, the outcome is a range or an approximation of an infinite value. Time is a good example of a continuous variable. We can calculate how much time it takes to complete a goal but that time is really just an estimation of the actual time whose precision is never ending. More information about random variables can be found on my Final Exam Guide for my Statistics for Engineers (STAT-509) class at the bottom of the page.

Learning is a continuous random variable. You never stop learning. Research itself, is a type of learning that draws connections between knowledge and application. During the research processes, you are constantly learning. Whether you’re correcting an error or discovering a more efficient way to complete an objective, learning is constantly transpiring. Furthermore, you will gain wisdom in more than just the research itself. You will learn about how to listen and speak to others, how to play to your strengths and how to strengthen your weaknesses, and how to fail and how to succeed. Though it is always occurring, the insight of your scholarship can be completely random. You might not even realize the benefit of an event or encounter until a later time. However, it is always important to take the time to analyze your experiences and knowledge in order to maximize the comprehension of the material. Professors call this studying, but look at it more as investigating because deepening your understanding of your knowledge increases the number of ways you can apply it.

One of my favorite faux pas during my research experience happened while assisting my mentee, Wesley Alexander, on his research project (which was underway simultaneously with my research), getting the NAO Robot to play Jotto. It occurred while recording this video of Wesley and me playing a game of Jotto with Astro (the NAO Robot). To our surprise, there were some unexpected words in Astro’s dictionary which decided to rear their head during our shoot. It took us all by surprise and sent a wave of laughter throughout our group. At that time, I had a point of spontaneous enlightenment. Yes, research is serious hard work, but it’s also important to have some fun. If you can’t learn to laugh with people you have spent every day for two months with, whom can you laugh with? Though this moment of insight might seem superficial, you never know when you're going to learn something extremely valuable!