This morning we all woke up super excited to collect our last bit of data. We left for Hollywood Studios at 8:00 a.m. to get in line for Tower of Terror. When we collected data on this attraction earlier in the trip, we focused on figuring out the possible drop sequences a rider may get. This time, we focused on how our random drop sequence affected our level of enjoyment and whether some drop sequences are more enjoyable than others. After we collected all of our data, we headed to Star Tours to fight the Empire and deliver a spy to the Rebel Fleet.
Once we finished up on Star Tours, we were all done with attractions for the morning. However, before we left Hollywood Studios, we completed one more activity that the professors had just introduced to us. This was called the agent model activity. The purpose of the activity was to visualize how introducing new rules or guidelines to a model changes how it operates. We did this by each receiving a random list of two names from other students in our group. In the first simulation, we had to place one of our assigned names between ourselves and the other name on our list. We noticed that this caused us to stay very far apart and constantly move around. In the second simulation, we had to place ourselves between the two names on our list.
Once we got back to the hotel, groups got right to work on their projects. Every group was at a different stage at this point. Some were putting together their slide decks, others were working on data analysis, and some had already started practicing for our presentations tomorrow.
Once groups started to feel comfortable with where they were in their projects, we had visitors from Dickinson College. Dickinson runs a program similar to Math and the Mouse, but they spend all of their time at Universal Studios rather than Walt Disney World (this is also Dickinson's inaugural year running the program). We had the opportunity to hear from their cohort about the projects they have worked on so far. Interestingly, many of our projects have overlapping components, and we have done a lot of similar work. Notably, some students in our Math and the Mouse cohort have worked on a Knapsack problem, and the Dickinson students presented on that very topic. This collaboration between out two groups was particularly impactful to Dr. Bouzarth, a Dickinson alum. Acting much like a crossover episode, it was quite special for Dr. Bouzarth to see her two math worlds colliding and to see how Math and the Mouse as her brainchild got to influence Dickinson's creation of a similar program.
After listening to their presentations, we headed straight back into Hollywood Studios for the last time on this trip. We were able to use several Lightning Lanes throughout the evening at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania!, and Smugglers Run. Some groups also chose to spend their time at Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, or the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.
To end the night, some students headed back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep, while others stayed to watch Fantasmic! and cap off the evening with one final show.
Stay tuned for the final blog of the trip tomorrow before we head back to Furman University!
This blog was written by Luke Brownlee and Cassie Larsen.
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