Watch the demolition (unbuilding) of the Grace and Pearman Bridges (old Cooper River Bridges)


The Bridge Blog
A dialog about our new bridge and these web pages

Overview. Schools and universities are all about learning - and learning is mostlly brain training. Learning is expedited by repetition and forgetting is expedited by infrequent use of learned skills or information. Tracking the building of the Ravenel Bridge and now tracking the demolition of the Grace and Pearman Bridges bring many questions to me and help me better understand the role Google and the Internet play in just-in-time learning. I enjoy chasing my curiosity and want to identify ways to encourage younger learners to also enjoy curiosity chasing and learning.

Many young learners do not understand the importance of repetition. More important, while experienced learners understand the learning process they often do not realize the destructive effects of the forgetting process. Over the course of the bridge project, I have access to only a few experts. Rather than a liability, this has become an asset and pushed me to improve my search skills with Google. Soon, I realized that answers to questions encountered during my photo adventures were often only a Google-search away. Gene Stead, my first boss and I put these ideas together in a small essay: (see Restoring the Joy in Learning).

Google + Internet have become dependable extensions of my memory. Insights I gain from you and this project will find their way into the learning centers in our schools and universities.

Fri, 25 Nov 2005

November 25, 2005: The day after Thanksgiving and a time reflection.

It is Thanksgiving and most of the Cashman / Testa team has made its way back to Boston while local members have returned to their nearby homes. It is quiet here. Josh (our youngest) and his girlfriend came for Thanksgiving. Ellen departed from tradition, and deboned a huge chicken (10 lbs) for dinner yesterday. Our small family enjoyed a quiet afternoon, wonderful dinner topped by one of Ellen's impossible blackberry pies (the secret is the crust which was passed down from her mother). Last night we visited the top of the new MUSC parking garage and found the new Ravenel Bridge quietly inviting us over. To the right was the shadow of the remaining Pearman cantilever section. Just visible, but somehow it fit my mood. Today I took Josh and Bibi for a survey of the bridge work. Bibi is an Art History expert and the interplay of the bridge structures and early morning or late afternoon sun makes for very interesting images. Earlier Bibi looked (probably after being forced by me) to look at a few of the videos I made of our mostly Boston surgeons - and her immediate impression was the care and slow and deliberate way the operators move material from A to B. It was my impression from many months ago. For her to catch it immediately gave me a bit of satisfaction that the photos and videos are, indeed, capturing some of the skillful approach the unbuilding team takes with their work.

posted at: 14:53 | path: | permanent link to this entry

Write me:
frank.starmer at gmail.com

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