Weeknotes 2024 week 10

Made / Published

I recorded a short explainer video for the course WB3135 Integrated Mechanical Systems this week. This was my second video recording with a script and prompter. It went much better already. I feel I’m relatively natural and well-paced in most of it. And making a video like this can be fast! Recording was over in – I think – half an hour, and editing is also less work when the flow of the text was considered and edited beforehand (no shit). Less than half a day spent on this.

Yesterday was the second round of progress presentations for the same course (WB3135). We ask students to analyse a technological breakthrough or invention by comparing the alternative technologies, the various mechanisms or systems that were the ‘candidates’ for that disruption (e.g. VHS vs. Betamax vs. Video 2000). For these 3rd year BSc students, it’s incredibly challenging to set up a comparison like that. Every technological development is different, so they really have to frame and shape their analysis themselves. And we have far too little time to really coach them on it, with only roughly 15 minutes per group presentation. It’s a super fun course, and some groups come up with really interesting results. But it’s frustrating to see them struggle and nog being able to provide the right kind and amount of support…