Thursday, January 29, 2009

What's Impossible in Your Classroom?

So, the Did You Know? factoid of the day from this story:
No one is galaxy-hopping, or even beaming people around, but for the first time, information has been teleported between two separate atoms across a distance of a meter — about a yard.

. . . "Our system has the potential to form the basis for a large-scale 'quantum repeater' that can network quantum memories over vast distances," Monroe said. "Moreover, our methods can be used in conjunction with quantum bit operations to create a key component needed for quantum computation."

. . . What distinguishes this outcome as teleportation, rather than any other form of communication, is that no information pertaining to the original memory actually passes between ion A and ion B. Instead, the information disappears when ion A is measured and reappears when the microwave pulse is applied to ion B.
A major step forward toward quantum computing, which powers some of the "living in exponential times" theme. And real, live teleportation of information from one object to another over a distance of about a meter. What's next, a biracial President of the United States?

So, if all these "impossible" things are happening in our world today, not to mention the impossible things that can happen if we perfect quantum computing and teleportation, what's impossible in your classroom?

Maybe, just maybe, you can find a way to do the impossible. Shouldn't you start trying?

4 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, accessing the internet is pretty impossible at times.

    I really must stop trying to access sites with no educational value like flickr and YouTube and technorati and ning.com...

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  2. "So, if all these "impossible" things are happening in our world today, not to mention the impossible things that can happen if we perfect quantum computing and teleportation, what's impossible in your classroom?"

    What a great conversation-starter! I can't imagine anyone, despite how disenchanted, wanting to list impossibilities when faced with stories that show that anything is possible. Personally, I love taking leaps of faith and encouraging students to come along. Maybe the only thing that is impossible in my classroom is the idea that I won't learn something new everyday.

    Great post - can't wait to share the question.

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  3. Karl,
    Came to your blog off the article in Dec issue of Reading Today. (saved it to refer to later.) Very impressive work you're doing here. I'm going to use your blog as example to some NC teachers I'll be teaching in a week or so. thanks- so much to absorb! Carol Baldwin

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  4. @Carol - thanks. I guess I don't know about the article in Reading Today - have to go look and see if I can find it online!

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