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1. Embed this notice
   Colin the Mathmo (colinthemathmo@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 24-Dec-2024 07:06:31 JST Colin the Mathmo

   • rakhichawla

   I've been thinking about this for ages, but never had the time to craft the words around it.

   People keep saying that "Maths should be fun" ... and I push back with "It should be engaging ... 'fun' is a different thing.

   So @rakhichawla has posted pretty much exactly this, but better than I ever could.

   I'm copying it here with permission.

   Please read this, then as it says at the end ... let's have a deeper conversation about this ...

   1/n

   (PS: I'd love this to get boosted to get outside my bubble ... you're all amazing, but there will be other opinions, and other thoughts that could be helpful or valuable)

   Hashtags: #MathEd #MathsEd #MathEdChat #MathsEdChat #MathChat #MathsChat #MTBoS #TMWYK

   • Embed this notice
     mekka okereke :verified: (mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 02:41:50 JST mekka okereke :verified:

     in reply to

     • rakhichawla

     @ColinTheMathmo @rakhichawla

     If you define "fun" pejoratively as trivial, fleeting, party trick, saccharin nonsense, and define "engaging" as good, honest, long term, interest, then yes, what you say is tautological true.🤷🏿♂️

     But that's not what "fun" is.

     I could describe "engaging" pejoratively as overly gamified, engagement focused, psychologicls tricks that play on human psychology to create long term patterns that aren't beneficial to the user, and "fun" as genuine long term motivation.

   • Embed this notice
     mekka okereke :verified: (mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 02:48:37 JST mekka okereke :verified:

     in reply to

     • rakhichawla

     @ColinTheMathmo @rakhichawla

     I'm stronger than most human beings that have ever lived. This is because I have genetic advantages for being strong (thanks mom!) and because I've spent more days in the past 30 years lifting heavy weights, than most other people.

     I don't have *more willpower* to lift weights then average folk.

     I *enjoy* working out. It's fun for me.

     When I help friends get in shape, I don't try to increase their willpower. I *increase their enjoyment*. Works better.

   • Embed this notice
     Demian (dgodon@mastodon.online)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 04:00:18 JST Demian

     in reply to

     • mekka okereke :verified:
     • rakhichawla

     @mekkaokereke @ColinTheMathmo @rakhichawla can you say more? Like how do you increase someone else’s enjoyment in a way that they want to keep coming back? (This seems like what the original post is calling engagement tho it’s somewhat vague on the how)

   • Embed this notice
     mekka okereke :verified: (mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 04:00:18 JST mekka okereke :verified:

     in reply to

     • Demian
     • rakhichawla

     @dgodon @ColinTheMathmo @rakhichawla

     Different for each person!

     But many of the people I hang out with are engineers/techie folk. Understanding "why" something works, is a big motivator. Measuring, seeing it work, experimenting, all fun! And aligning it to activities that the person already likes, really helps.

     If you like being outdoors, I'm not going to suggest that you start doing sprints. I'm going to tell you that most pro bodybuilders use walking as their primary form of cardio!

     1/N

   • Embed this notice
     mekka okereke :verified: (mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 25-Dec-2024 04:05:55 JST mekka okereke :verified:

     in reply to

     • Demian
     • rakhichawla

     @dgodon @ColinTheMathmo @rakhichawla

     There's a mutual admiration society between powerlifters/strength athletes, and climbers. Climbers don't know how strong they are! They think "Yeah we do! We know we're pretty strong!" No. No, you don't. The best climbers are silly strong. "Accidentally set a world record" strong.

     If someone loves competitive rock climbing, I don't start saying "You should deadlift!"

     I talk about grip, and show them powerlifters are kind.♥️👍🏿

     https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LnIkgDrgGoo