Best sites for free books

Make Use Of has posted its list of "10 Websites for Free Audio Books." These sites are not only great for those of us who spend a lot of time driving or walking, they're also terrific for families with children. Here's the link: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/easy-listening-pleasures-10-websites-free-audio-book-downloads/

Up close and personal...

Check out the UK Telegraph's slide show of electron microscope scans (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/picture-galleries/7924099/Creepy-crawlies-Amazing-Scanning-Electron-Microscope-pictures-of-insects-and-spiders.html). Gave me a whole new view on those with whom we share space. :)

"The Pain Chronicles": The science of pain

This one is going on my 'to read' bookshelf. Most of my life has been molded by the ever-present pain of fibromyalgia. Years before doctors decided the syndrome needed a name, I was seeking help for it and being brushed off by doctor after doctor. That was an era when it took a lot of chutzpa to argue with a doctor, so I went through a lot of them! "The Pain Chronicles": The science of pain

Week 1 - COS E1

Wow! The first week went so much better than it did last term. There were a couple of big snafus -- Bb dumped almost all student users and Banner wasn't accepting add codes -- but even so it was pretty good. I'm chalking it up to better preparation on my part this term. Unlike previously when I had waited until classes started to set up email groups, etc., this time I did it a week early. So, when the technoworld crashed, I still had all the info needed to keep in touch with students.

The second best thing was the way the students came in this time. There are still questions, but it appears students read the files (for the most part) and because of their efforts, things went pretty smoothly -- even though I asked them to create personal blogs for their reflective writing.

I think this is going to be an excellent group to work with. :)

Assessment

Here's another article about the way we learn and how that needs to figure into our methods of assessment. http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/08/testing-kids-testing-teachers I wonder if we will ever come up with a truly useful way of assessing student -- and teacher -- progress.

One thing seems self-evident, though. Our children are NOT learning what they need to learn in order to do well in a competitive world. Even worse, they are not learning what they need to learn to become thoughtful citizens. These two problems bode poorly for the future of our nation.

This is demonstrated in the slipping of the US in world education rankings. We now rank 33rd in reading, 27th in maths, and 22nd in science. http://www.geographic.org/country_ranks/educational_score_performance_country_ranks_2009_oecd.html

E1 Update

Well, after a really shaky start -- what with add codes not working and Blackboard having a major malfunction -- we seem to finally be on track. It's good to see so many getting 1a done. It's the orientation quiz and critical to staying in the class. Every class has a "first session", and the orientation quiz is mine, so to speak.

I'm a little surprised, though, that the scores are relatively low so far. After all, the assignment listed exactly which files were used to create the test, and students were told they could have any of those files available to look up answers. I would have expected everyone to earn very near 100%. Lesson learned.

Testing a hypothesis

A hypothesis doesn't have to be huge. Here's a light-hearted theory that may have interesting implications for political mavens. It's from Mother Jones, one of my favorite online reads. http://motherjones.com/riff/2010/07/elections-garden-good-and-evil

Pay close attention to the description of development of the hypothesis and the test that was created to test it. Finally, there's a cogent description of the findings and their potential use.

Are you well prepared?

Was just checking out a friend's blog. Not only did I discover it's been quite awhile since she's posted, but there was also a terrific list of what might be termed technical literacy needs among students at COS. What do you think? Do you know enough technology to compete in today's market? Read the list here: http://taratommy.blogspot.com/2009/11/digital-literacy.html

Especially for nursing students

If you're in the nursing program, check out Harvard's list of "100 Useful Twitter Feeds for Nursing Students." http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2010/08/100-useful-twitter-feeds-for-nursing-students/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=080910_tw

Educational Assessment

High School valedictorian Erica Goldson's speech caused me to reflect, once again, on how learning does or should happen and how we can know that it has taken place.

The question of assessment and how it enhances or impedes learning is one most teachers have been engaged in for years. Would that it were as easy as just chucking the grading systems that have evolved and go for a more enlightened approach to self-learning. However, experience has shown that few of us are willing or able to take on the responsibility for personal education; there must be some means of confirming a level of learning in any field. I wouldn't want a doctor to do surgery on ME if that person had not demonstrated proficiency.

There is increasing emphasis on defined learning outcomes for each course at every level of schooling, and that may bode well for change. I can envision evolution toward demonstrating competence with the defined learning outcomes in order to receive credit for a course. That would allow the very bright or very ambitious to move ahead as quickly as possible within the bounds of their own intellect and energy. It would also enable those who are not as self-directed to achieve similar goals by engaging in a structured and teacher guided learning program.

Civil Rights Argument

US District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6735XI20100804)

The arguments about this issue will continue, and it's likely the US Supreme Court will eventually hear a case to decide which side will "win". This is an excellent case for tracking different types of arguments, and especially for noting when an individual or group argument is internally contradictory. For instance, BBJJ commented on the Reuter's article: "Anyone can marry anyone they wish who is of the opposite sex. It is the same for everyone. Absolutely no one is being discriminated against." However, the claim that "anyone can marry anyone they wish" is contradicted by the very next phrase: "who is of the opposite sex."

Inherent in that contradiction is the assumption that no same sex couple would desire to be married, which is obviously not the case. In addition, singling out one segment of society to live under special rules is antithetical to the Constitution's "equal protection under the law" position.

This is an issue embroiled in debate about civil liberty versus majority rule. When, if ever, does the majority have the right to impose its will on the minority in social situations? Very muddy waters, indeed.