{"id":3281,"date":"2021-05-17T15:47:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T13:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robertschuwer.nl\/?p=3281"},"modified":"2021-12-11T16:02:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T15:02:24","slug":"accessibility-of-learning-materials-and-schrodingers-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robertschuwer.nl\/?p=3281","title":{"rendered":"Accessibility of learning materials and Schr\u00f6dinger’s Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Sahand Babali<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Quantum theory says that until a particle is measured and observed, it exist in all states it could possibly be in, simultaneously. This phenomenon is, among many other, the basis for quantum computers. To explain this weird behaviour on subatomic scale, in 1935 the Austrian physicist Erwin Schr\u00f6dinger developed a thought experiment, known as Schr\u00f6dinger’s Cat<\/strong>. In this thought experiment, a cat is locked up in a sealed box, together with a device filled with poison. Within an hour that device will break with a 50% chance, thereby killing the cat. So, after an hour, just before opening the box, the cat can be both alive and dead at the same time. Only when opening the box the actual state of the cat can be observed.<\/p>\n

In a previous blog<\/a>, we defined closed learning materials as<\/p>\n

Closed learning materials are teaching, learning, and research resources that are unavailable for a person or a group of persons. This definition is dependent on the perspective of the stakeholder. E.g. semi-open learning resources, available for a group, appear to be closed for persons outside of that group.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Similar to Schr\u00f6dinger’s Cat, before trying to access a specific learning material, it can be both closed and non-closed at the same time. Only by accessing it, the actual state can be determined.<\/p>\n

This is just for fun. Maybe it will help explaining the different types of learning materials to others, maybe it will only add more confusion (“open, semi-open, closed \u00e1nd two states simultaneously, that is too much to comprehend”). But I liked it and therefore I share this.<\/p>\n

In a TED-talk, Schr\u00f6dinger’s Cat is explained by Josh Samani.<\/p>\n