IS 101 Reflection

I have heard it so often over the course of the year. Moans and groans are apparent when it comes to going to IS class and doing the work that is involved. Yes, maybe all of the reading and writing that was involved seemed tedious and stressful just because it was work, but I enjoyed our class for several reasons.

Surprisingly, I found the IS reader to be an interesting combination of essays. There was personal connection and meaning for me, and I felt that by reading them I was able to better understand the college experience, as well as who I am as a person.

Secondly, I loved the fact that we were able to read, analyze, and discuss the works of Michael Crichton. I have never read anything by him before, but now that I have I want to read all of his books. The science have always been an interest to me, and to combine them with an action-packed story was very intriguing.

Also, a special thanks to you Professor Wright. I am sure we turn in an evaluation, but thank you for the positive experience.

The First Snow!!!!

Finally! We got our first snow. It was very interesting that the temperatures remained in the 50's for all of November. Global Warming? Who knows. All I know is that the snow is here. Yay!

The snow on the campus mall makes Wartburg look stunning. Tracks now "speckle" (Hanson-Pollock) the sheets of snow as a result of students going to class. Old Main looks beautiful as ever as it still stands, overlooking the campus. The sidewalks have been cleared, but a thin sheet of snow remained, leaving them a little bit icy today. Regardless, I love the snow and it is here.

Lastly, tomorrow is the big freshman vs. upperclassmen cross country football game. Things are gonna get crazy. It is going to get intense, just like camping. The word on the street is that freshman blood will be spilled upon the football field. That there has never been a freshman team in the history of the game who have beat the upperclassmen. What do I think? I think that we stand a chance. I think that by believing in ourselves, we can achieve anything.

Ping Pong Tournament

It was brought to my attention by my roommate, Erik Jolivette, that he was blogging about the Clinton 3 ping pong tournament being held tomorrow, December 3, 2009. I wanted to clarify and state my opinion on some aspects of this very special event.

To begin, I believe that Erik feels he has the title in the bag, and the thought of being champion is out of reach for any other participants. I would like to go out on a limb and say the Erik is underestimating his competition. I'd like put my name in the running for an upset. Erik may be the Achilles of his time within the ping pong realm, but even Achilles fell...

Regardless, Erik, Joshua Trueblood, and myself have agreed to spit the winnings. The reward is a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart. We have agreed to treat ourselves to a friendly shopping spree, which I hope Erik mentioned. Although I hope I can obtain bragging rights as the Clinton 3 ping pong champion, my true allegiance lies within the idea that one of us win.

"The Andromeda Strain" Response

You can definitely tell that this movie was made back in the 1970's. If I am off with my date estimate, it is safe to say that this movie is dated at the very least. The film started off very good, The death of the town caught my attention and made me excited to keep watching, just like a Crichton book makes the reader want to continue. However, when the team got to the testing base to experiment with the survivors and what caused all the deaths, things got very dull and unexciting. The creation of the film really shined through in the part of the movie. I felt that I was almost "too smart" for the technologies being expressed and explained. I didn't really want to come to class today in fear of more boredom...

However, as I sit here and continue watching the film, I have been pleasantly surprised. Things have gotten quite exciting and the plot is really starting to form. Problems and mysteries continue to arise and the "Crichton" is shining through just like it always does. The man is a pure genius and never ceases to to amaze me with his thought, imagination, and intellect.

"Congo" Reaction

Amazing!

Crichton continues to amaze me. Yes, I know that being so interested in science play a major role in my interest in his writing, but this novel was great. Animal intelligence was an interesting route to go with his plot, but by creating a new gorilla-like species to relate with current ALS speaking gorillas, things were very exciting. I felt that Crichton did a better job of tying up loose ends in "Congo" as compared to "State of Fear". There were less stories going on within one plot, making it easier to understand what was going on. Yes, "State of Fear" made sense in the end, but it was harder to stay interested when I was confused. Congo kept my interest most of the time, and the suspense was always building, "State of Fear" lost some of that spark throughout the novel.

A couple of years ago I read a novel call "Amazonia", written by James Rollins. Mutant species were behind many of the issues, just like the gray gorillas of the Congo. The creation of new species that authors incorporate into science fiction often make plots very interesting, especially when the new species are in such a close relation to animals that we as humans are familiar with. I love these kinds of books, and can't wait until I have the opportunity to read another.

Education Reading Relation

Learning in school and than experiencing a situation that can be applied to learned material is always very rewarding. Although rewarding might not always be the greatest word, the fact that school can be applied to life makes paying for an education seem all the more worthwhile.

When talking about how too many students perform for grades I could definitely agree from prior situations, but I hadn't experienced anything in college yet. After being here for a term I have finally seen it. Being a biochemistry major I get a good look at the science majors that I study and have class with. We all seem very uptight about class and tests and seem to miss that spark in life at times that is supposed to make learning fun.

In high school it was always annoying to me when I was asked about my scores on tests and then compared to others and their results. I know what your thinking, and your right. I have just today encountered the same thing and it bugged me. My grades are my business, period. Its not that I was mad, more entertained by the fact that we had discussed this type of occurrence in IS.

Congratulations Professor Wright...Your doing your job well. :)

Lutheranism/ Lutheran College Reading Reflection

Being a member at an ELCA affiliated church, I found the Lutheranism readings very repetitive, however, a review on Martin Luther and his teachings was nice to read about. By reading Lutheranism 101 and 102 I was able to reestablish what it is I believe as a Lutheran, and why it is I believe it. When it comes to faith this is, after all, the most important part.

I really enjoyed Christenson's conclusions and afterthoughts in his essay. I feel that he is seeing the big picture as to why Lutheran colleges are changing, and how they are still doing many things that make them religiously affiliated colleges. Change is a part of life, and in reality, the church has changed what it is too. As culture changes, church's change to fit the culture, which in result causes changes in other aspects of life. For instance, women could never have held a position in the church years ago, but are just as able as men are in ELCA affiliated churches. Traditions change, and to say that a college is becoming secular because it changes is an exaggeration. Christenson does a great job of making this point evident.

The Christian Roommates Reflection

Reading a narrative is so much more entertaining and exciting than reading an analytical essay. I found this piece very interesting and easy to follow. At the same time, there are many aspects open for interpretation...

This narrative is an example about how different people can be even though they are both Christian. Everybody takes their faith to a different level, and this is definitely evident the differences between Orson and Hub. Although Hub practices in a such a way that seems strange to many people, it is the way that he prays and praises. This story illustrates that fact that there is no one right way to worship, and by getting hung up on how others praise the living God around, you can go crazy, as Orson did.

Lastly, there is an realization that ends the narrative. Orson marries who he says he was going to, he becomes a doctor, and his life is as he pictured it...On the outside. The last statement says that "He never prays." Hub on the other hand goes to many different places and lives his life day by day. I feel that this final illustration can be interpreted as saying that as Christians we should go where we are called. We should go where God leads us, and if that is away from our original plan, than so be it. Hub did this and was happy with his life. Orson is living his life, but is he really living?

Debate Reflection

Wow!

The debate was quite an event today. For the most part, it was taken seriously. Haha. At the same time, the bits of humor that were added made the class enjoyable and entertaining.

I feel that everything went very smoothly from a logistics standpoint, with exception of the questions. I feel that things got a little out of hand, and people were asking questions that held very little relevance to the topic of the debate. At the same time, interruption of someone who is talking is unacceptable and extremely out of line. We are in college, and to act in such a way is completely unneccesary.

I enjoyed researching for the debate and finding out points that were against global warming. I furthered my knowledge in order to formulate more opinions as to what I think is happening. The debate was a great way to further explore the idea of global warming in a format that is more exciting than a simple discussion.

11/16/09 Class Reflection

An interesting point was brought up in class today that my very insightful roommate Erik Jolivette decided to begin elaborating on. I would like to first agree with his assessment, and possibly provide a further explanation to what the following states might mean...

"If you are conservative in your faith then you have a lower IQ."

First of all, this statement is a generalization that I do not necessarily agree with, however I can see some sense in this statement.

If a person is conservative in their faith they have found what they are searching for, as Erik said. At the same time, they are saved and know they are living for their Savior and that he will help them to persevere. Their faith is a crutch for them to lean on, so their is the chance that they do not seem to worry about their intellect as much because they don't have as much worry. A person with more liberal views and less of a faith influence may be more worrisome and not know where they are going in life. They lack the support that a faith can provide and choose to work, work, study, study in order to succeed in life. Because of this the chances of an increased IQ is much higher, naturally, then someone who does not study as much.

I want to again stress that these are generalizations. There are many exceptions on both sides of the spectrum, and their is not right answer as to what this statement means. All I am saying is that I can understand where someone could logically see this statement making sense.

Happy Monday...

Townsley/Bouzard Response

Well, I was expecting some disagreement from Bouzard on the article entry by Townsley, however, there was more than simple disagreement. Bouzard ripped Townsley's case apart like Kenner demolishes any opposing viewpoints on global warming. He questioned the validity of the case and backed it up with reasonable evidence.

In my opinion, Townsley went about this in the wrong way. As Bouzard describes, there was no discussion with professors and pastors about the subject to maybe gain some supported explanation. His accusations were, at times, out of line and had very little support. He may have researched ELCA doctrines, but he didn't look into them deep enough.

I enjoy the comic relief that Bouzard throws in at the end of his response about upping the religion requirements here at Wartburg. This tone, however, did not overshadow Dr. Bouzards deep disagreement with Townsley.

Latest Thoughts on Global Warming

Reading "State of Fear" has really changed my perspective on global warming. I always just assumed that it was a problem because initially we think that since ice caps are melting there a problem.

I have come to find that even though it may seem like global warming is a problem, it is simply occurring in places. Even then, there are many places that have not heated up. Global warming is simply a cycle the earth is going through, and to say that it is a large scale problem is a little bit of an exaggeration. At the same time though, we should not ignore ideas to conserve energy and find alternative sources to preserve the environment.

Global warming extremists often present data that supports their data, and "tampering" with the data by presenting it to be something it is not is very common. I have come to realize that developing an opinion and then evaluating that data is the only way to find your stance. By seeing both sides of the issue from "An Inconvenient Truth" and "State of Fear" I have been able to develop my opinion.

Post State of Fear

What a great book! I really enjoyed it. Not only was it action packed and full of excitement, but it was full of information about global warming that i was unaware of.

The one thing i did not like about the book were the pages between Flagstaff and Gareda. I felt that this part of the book was very anticlimactic and not exciting. The conversation that Evans has with Hoffman is an interesting chapter, however as a whole the plot looses a lot. I realize that global warming and particular situations were being explained and expanded on. It was just a disappointment after so much action at Mt. Terror and in Flagstaff.

Needless to say, Crichton does a great job of wrapping up the novel with the scenes in Pavutu. I found the gruesome details both intense and appalling. I thought that ending the book with action and the surprise of Morton being alive was a great way to bring the plot round circle.

A+ Crichton..................

State of Fear Response #1

The first part of this book was great. Things were a little hectic and hard to follow at first, but as soon as the plot was developed and established, Crichton provided a story that lives up to his reputation. It is hard to predict what will happen next when I have already read the second section. However, there was an aspect in the first half of the book that bugged me, and I would like to discuss it.

First, I feel that Peter is, for lack of a better word, a sissy. I know that there must be a better word to describe him, but its the first thing popping into my head. Yes, I do understand that he has been put in some very scary situations. The fact that he was wedged between two glaciers, and then surrounded by lightening can not be ignored. Still, Sarah was keeping her head and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt that Peter was acting like a toddler whining for kool-aid instead of milk at supper time. Peter acts bold and wants respect from Kenner, however, he is completely out of control and a head case in moments of adversity.

Although this aspect may have little to do with the plot of the book, I thought it was interesting to discuss the fact that the main character who is notably a hero or influence in the book is actually the one stepping back from the "moments of truth" in the book.

Pick up your game Peter...

Michael Crichton Movie/State of Fear

This past week has been a time of enlightenment for me. I have always been huge on the environment, and the idea of global warming has always been something that needs to be stopped. However, I have never truly known a lot about the topic, and after reading and listening to different sources, I have began to wonder if global warming is as big of an issue as I thought. There seems to be a lot of gaps in the theory, and as an idea, it is truly misunderstood. We do not know as much as seems to be discussed by Presidential candidates and environmentalists.

All the material that has been pressed upon me has been a little bit overwhelming. However, I have found it to be a very interesting week of thought. Is global warming an issue? Is it something that we need to push to prevent? Can it really be stopped?

I'm still thinking...

"An Inconvenient Truth"

Al Gore!!!

"An Inconvenient Truth" was a very interesting movie. Having a strong belief that the environment is important and that we should preserve what we have, I found his points very valid. At the same time, he was very one sided like any politician can be, and lacked the sense in several parts of the documentary to understand the big picture. Regardless of Al Gore and his views, global warming is the issue that we all have to evaluate...

A constant temperature increase is already causing problems, but is bound to cause many more. The fact that we continue to pollute and destroy the ozone layer amazes me. I realize that it would be a huge process to shut things down and revamp our world industries, but where does our future lie. The world is indefinitely doomed if we continue to pollute.

What happens once the polar ice caps have completely melted away? This will be a very long time, but after that the oceans will raise in temperature and the same problem that happened back in the Permian Period of this earth will reoccur. The ocean's temperature had little differential between the poles and their was a mass extinction of aquatic life. 96% to be exact! This would cause chaos and throw off hundreds of life cycles, in addition to industries. We have to keep our eyes open today to make a future possible for tomorrow.

Friday's Presentation, Or Lack there of...

Well...

I've finally experience my first college experience of getting to start my weekend early because of no class on a friday afternoon. I'll be honest, the minute I heard that the speaker for the presentation didn't show up last year, I was hoping for a repeat. There would be nothing better then turning in for the weekend early. Outside of the fact that I had a hard cross country practice later that afternoon, things were good...

But as I sat here this weekend, I was thinking...Is it really a good thing that this presentation keeps getting skipped? The presenter shows up 15 minutes late to a class that is heading out the door to ask if we have signed our honor code sheets. Of course we signed them, and that was it. Is that the kind of presentation that should truly being given about the honor code? It is a very important aspect of a liberal education and to just brush over it with little importance seems wrong. Granted, no one like sitting through presentations like that, myself included. However, the fact that the presentation was aligned, to just be cancelled doesn't seem right.

It was great to have an extended weekend by two hours where I could play ping-pong instead of have class, but it really got me thinking about how things are...

What Kind of Citizen? Discussion

Least favorite piece from the IS Reader. Period. It started very slow and I just didn't find it the most interesting. There was not a lot of spark at all in the first half of the book. When the examples of Madison County Youth and Bayside Students were incorporated in, however, the basis of the book became a little bit more evident. The fact that the authors decided to extensively discuss the three types of citizens did not help hold my interest as a reader. I felt as if I were reading a very research oriented paper that was bland.

As much as I didn't enjoy the reading itself, the ideas behind the essay and its studies were quite interesting when applied to real-life situations. I think that by simply re-aligning how the book is written, it would become a little bit more reader friendly.

Seminar Reflection

I attended the following seminars today:

1. Grad & Prof PLUS Post-Grad Scholarships
2. Internship Opportunities

I found them both interesting, but especially the graduate and professional schooling discussion. For starters, Dr. Brian Birgen is the advisor for National Level Scholarships. I have him for calculus and he is one of the most entertaining me I have ever had for a teacher. I found that for going to dental school there are not a lot of national level scholarships to offer. However, because I know what I want to go on to after Wartburg, I can check out the scholarships on the academics page. I was especially excited to hear about a scholarship that applies to ELCA members. Beings that I am a member of an ELCA affiliated church, there may be a change that I am fit for such a scholarship.

When it comes to applying for graduate schools, preparation and punctuality is very important. Just like deadlines were important for certain Wartburg forms, the process will begin again in two years. Should probably enjoy the time I have. :) Another thing I really need to look into and realize is the entry dental aptitude test I will have to take. I have starting looking into prices at the University of Iowa, as well as other requirements and suggestions. Now for the testing...

Lastly, the internship field is a little tricky for students looking into a medical field like dentistry. I have job shadowed a dentist several times, but I wonder if a further level of study and experience is possible to partake in? Its time to let my fingers to the walking again...

Random Act of Kindness

College is a time of business. Everyone knows it. For my random act of kindness I decided t0 email both sets of grandparents out of the blue. I have tried very hard to stay in contact with my family since I arrived in Waverly, but sometimes it is a lot harder then it would seem. I decided that emailing them to give them an update on the life of their oldest grandson might be nice.

I told them about everything that is keeping me busy, and how my classes are going. I gave them my best and told them all much how much I have appreciated the love and support they have shown. It felt good to email them, and as a result, I had an epiphany. I am going to stay in better contact with them. I do a good job of staying in touch with my parents and siblings, but my grandparents are just as important to me. I can at the very least send them a short email every once in a while. They will appreciate the message, and it makes me feel good in the process. College has shown my how much family really means to me and how much I value them. I may have taken them for granted at times, but it is something that really isn't noticed until you can't always see them. There is truly more to college then schoolwork...

Bowling Alone and a Lack of Socialization

Although this piece took a little longer to get into, it was very interesting to read and analyze. The discussions on how social capital has decreased and worsen over the last several decades is disheartening, but understandable. Putnam's ideas branch off directly from Cheever and his thoughts on gender equality.

The fact that women have progressively been becoming more prominent in the workforce is a definite explanation for lack of social capital. Women are busier now and they are juggling a job and their part of the household duties. This makes it harder to branch out into social groups, and in turn has an impact on the participation of men in social groups. With their wives at work men are forced to do more around the house to help out, and have less energy to get involved in additional social groups. This idea is not so bad considering women are becoming equal on the societal level with men.

On the other hand, technology is having an impact that is not necessary a positive one. Yes, technology is taking us places that we have never seen before. However, televisions, computers, and video games are making it impossible for this country's social capital to remain high. With individuals and families staying in the home and "vegging" there is no capability for social expansion. Unlike the claim for women entering the workforce, technology is not an acceptable excuse the decrease in social capital. In turn, the decrease has brought about health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Social capital is decreasing in this country, and its not a good thing. Lack of trust with the government keeps people secluded in addition to all the other factors. An increase in trust as a society may be the first step in bringing out social capital back to normal here in the United States of America.

Freire's Learning Conception

Good Piece! The discussion of the styles of learning that we adapt to and how each one functions was very interesting to read about. I think that sometimes class becomes a little too much lecture and no enough interaction. This seems to be the case in math and science all the time. I wish that the area of study I was involved in took some of these points to heart.

The banking concept is far too common in the classroom setting. As i read about this, I had the image of Ben Stein talking in his bland, draining voice to a class of zombies in the film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". This example is actually a perfect example of what the banking concept is. There is no dialogue from the students and the students are simply receiving, filing, and storing deposits of information. Unfortunately, students often don't even receive the information because they are so out of it. This makes the affects of the banking concept even worse. Not only are students "Empty-Minded" but they are masses of creation that can't even function.

The problem-posing concept is definitely the way to the promised land, or so to speak. With student engagement and participation, class becomes more of an application session where things being discussed are taken past the filing and storing of information. Dialogue puts ideas into different words that may be more applicable to society, and therefore, are more beneficial.

There are certainly times where lecture needs to be used in the classroom setting because there are vast amounts of information to be covered. However, throwing in student participation and interaction provides a base to expansion of what is being discussed rather then the same voice carrying on for an hour.

Educators take heed! Lecture needs to be made applicable and interactive. It is more beneficial to students.

Cheever Blog

Cheever is bold in his statement. The best thing about it all is I completely agree. There is not a good reason out there that should prevent women from having the same rights as men in the society in which we live. Corporate managers and CEO's have no reason to give women less hours because they "need to get home". If a woman wanted to have more time at home she would look for a part time job and ask specifically for hours that enable her to be home. Women working in business and the sciences realize the time commitment as much as men. Therefore, they know what they are getting themselves in to, in the same way as men.

The second problem with society is therefore the fact that it is stereotyped that the housework is for the wife and woman of the household. Wrong! Maybe it is because i was raised by parents who taught me to assist with supper preparation and clean-up. Maybe it is because I had to help with household cleaning when guests were coming to stay at the house. But work is work. The Gods of the dishwashers and vacuum cleaners do not demand that the woman of the household does all the work. There is no warning label on these machines that say men will become seriously injured by coming in contact with them. There is no reason why men can not help around the household.

If the male leaders of companies and administrations, which are a larger percentage at this time, were helping at home they may understand this concept. If you ask me, any guy that doesn't understand the concept of helping around the house should not be the major leader of a corporation. There is more work to be done outside of the job, and not enough men realize that.

Swartz- Turning Play Into Work

I found this piece by Swartz very intriguing. Everything that he discusses is very relevant, as well as prevalent in the education systems that we see today. Education has transformed into a came to win prizes and recognition. I remember playing games in grade school for candy and for little prizes because there was something to strive for. The idea that I was learning something new didn't even cross my mind. Granted I was only a little boy, but the educators of today are breeding the ideas of learning for recognition young.

Another big point is the fact that students learn for good grades rather then for the sole purpose of learning once they are in middle school through college. I remember specifically in high school when I would study and take classes in order to get a good grade. It was always the classes that didn't interest me that I would do the bare minimum to finish with an A. Swartz talks about the stakes being raised in college and only going to class to come back with the grades to get a degree and then a good job. Interestingly enough, I'm enjoying the choices I have to take classes that interest me. By declaring myself as a science major I can take classes that I truly enjoy attending. I look forward to reading my biology book to learn about new concepts. Maybe that is a nerdy activity, but I have not experienced any large effects of scraping by because I am not enjoying a class. Yes, the workload is massive and not always fun, but even in lab reports I find myself becoming enveloped in what I am talking about. Mastery Education isn't so bad....

Spayde and Rose Response

Both of these pieces held my attention. I read works in high school about education by Thoreau and other Transcendentalists that were equally as interesting. Good choices Professor Wright.

"Learning in the Key of Life" was a work that I compare and feel is very similar to Thoreau's writings on education. At the same time, as I was reading this i sensed a great deal that was very familiar. I felt as if I was talking to someone who was best friends with Martha Nussbaum. Spayde seemed to share ideas of the importance in humanities and what it can do for society. The situation was very ironic because right when i turned the page there it was. Spayde was citing Nussbaum's theories and works. It was awesome!

I found "Entering the Conversation" very easy to become enveloped in. The way the the essay was written in the form of a story that walked us through the schooling of Rose made the writing very relatable. I feel that his story provided a sense of relief when it comes to college nerves. All it takes is applying yourself and working hard in many different areas. There is always a time to change your study habits, and asking for help is the first step. Lastly, "Entering the Conversation" is a very good way to name this essay. The conversation is representing the educated world, and Rose has entered into it at the end of his college education.

Happy Outfly

"The Allegory of the Cave" and "Harrison Bergeron" Response

Both of these writings were quite interesting in their thoughts and ideas. I will have to see that "The Allegory of the Cave" was rather thick and hard to follow. It was definitely written by a philosopher. I have read "Harrison Bergeron" before, and it was very intriguing to read and reflect on again.

"The Allegory of the Cave" had a very interesting take on learning. I will completely honest is saying that I will need to discuss and analyze this to better understand it. However, I deciphered ideas of allowing people to learn what they want. A legislature can only run on people who are interested and in to what they are doing. If a person is running the senate that hates it, there will no progress because there is no drive to get a job done. The interest level has to be present to succeed...I hope for more insight Professor Wright...

As for "Harrison Bergeron", the setup of a story made the idea easier to understand. The fact that everyone was made equal by literally handicapping everyone is a very unique spin. The satire is addressing equality, but maybe he is also stating that everyone is going to learn differently and vary in levels of intelligence. To handicap people is to stop the progress of society. If everyone is forgetting their thoughts every thirty seconds, what is there to gain? There is a role for everyone in society, and suppressing the individual ideas of people in many subject areas is the death of a culture.

Both stories address liberal learning in different ways. "The Allegory of the Cave" has underlying ideas that math those of Dr. Nussbaum and Giamatti. On the flip side, "Harrison Bergeron" is in a way stating that suppressing liberal learning and its effects would be a ridiculous idea.

Learner Inventory and Giamatti

My results to the learner Inventory suggested that I have a multimodal (RK) learning preference. I like to read/write to understand, but I also have a kinesthetic learning preference and like to see how things are supposed to be done through action. The results seem to be accurate and fit my learning preferences. I like to see the information that is to be learned in black and white. Whether that is simply lists and notes of all the information, I like to have what I need to learn in access to me. At the same time, I like to be able see the action of how things are done, so models and the display of processes help me to learn as well.

Ways to help me use these learning strategies include writing the words and notes over and over, as well as continuously reading my notes so that I can put the information into the memory. It is also stated that I can convert charts and principals into words that I understand as to better memorize that information too. As for kinesthetic learning, I simply need to do things with my own two hands in order to better understand certain processes.

As for Giamatti's writing on liberal learning...

...Giamatti defines liberal learning as the attitude of the mind toward knowledge that the mind explores and creates. He goes on to explain that a liberal education occurs as you pursue knowledge because you are motivated. Lastly, liberal learning is the thinking and learning of the traditions in our heritage. This idea embraces all subject areas and that growth in thought increases pleasure, breadth, and value of life.

...Giamatti's idea does seem to fit Wartburg's mission and plan for Essential Education. The purpose in the plan is to supply students with classes that explore many different areas of culture and allow for expansion in thought from many different perspectives. I feel that by getting a liberal education at Wartburg College a student can find their true calling and will be able to better understand society at all its levels .

Ishmael Alternative Ending Log- 9/28/09

Oh the classic alternative ending that never makes the pages...I think that it was a pretty good call to keep this section from being published. It is very interesting to read and makes some excellent points, but this particular ending is very anti-climactic. It does not give a very solid feel to the end of the piece. The whole bumper sticker ending is very intriguing as well, but is way off base as to the themes in the book, as well as the way Quinn wrote the rest of the book from a stylistic standpoint.

The point that Ishmael is no son of God was also and interesting excerpt. I didn't realize until reading this that he truly didn't show us the one right way to live, but rather the only way to survive. Ishmael was very good at making the reader think, but did not have the answer for us.

As for the bumper sticker slogan that Ishmael should have came with, the idea follows the theme of how Ishmael taught. He never GAVE his students the answers, but rather had them come up with the answer themselves. In the same way, a slogan would not have been revealed, but should be discovered by the student, and in this case, the reader.

Ishmael Question's Blog

Question #4- Why does Ishmael send the student away to find his own answers? What does the student mean when he says he wanted to have a teacher for life?

Ishmael sends the student away because the student needs to think for himself. If the student sits and listens to Ishmael talk he is learning to listen well, but not learning to think and discover for himself. By learning through Ishmael's thought process, the student is missing out on the problem-solving aspect. The student wanted to have a teacher for life because he wanted to have the answers. The student was seeking out the answer to the question, What is the correct way to live? Without a teacher how was he supposed to acheive this? Ishmael wished for the student to think on his own so that he could answer his own questions and further elaborate the world around him.

Question #5- Why would we not evolve if we continue to live as the Takers, but evolve if we live as the Leavers? Do you find Ishmael's argument here to be valid-why or why not?

Takers evolve by conquering and expanding their empire, and essentially their lifestyle. There is no cultural evolution because all culture change in a Taker society comes from the ideas of others. Takers work on convincing others to join them and live the "right" way, but then destroy an idea if it does not follow the correct philosophy. At the same time, any good ideas in a conquered culture are carried over and used by the Takers. This is not evolution, but rather stealing. The argument is very valid in that Leavers have constantly been refusing the ways of the Takers, and refuse to give up their personal customs. Therefore, survival requires evolution in which to survive. This survival is on their own, without stealing from others. This idea is TRUE evolution. The Takers are arguably "cheating the system" in their evolution process.

9/23/09 Blog, Blogged on 9/24/09- Response to Presentations

There were some very interesting presentations in class yesterday. I had many thoughts running through my head over the sixty-five minute chunk of time but two overshadow the rest. I will expand a little bit on these thoughts in the following paragraphs.

I'm a little unsure as to what particular group talked about this topic, but it was along the lines of genetically engineering dinosaurs and having them live in this time period. Is it possible or would the idea truly be plausible. The answer is no. Regardless of knowledge and dreams. Introducing a brand new species would completely destroy the equilibrium of an ecosystem. Granted, dinosaurs would never be corralled in a horse pasture, but the idea would be completely insane. At the same time, dinosaurs could not survive in the 21st century. The evolution of vegetation and species would be for more diverse and different from during the Jurassic period. Regardless of engineering plants to be good for dinosaurs, a dinosaur would not be able to survive effectively today...Just look at what happened to the triceratops in the movie. It ingested a plant that was not good for it...

Lastly, a particular group brought the topic of God into the ethics of science related ideas like genetic engineering. This is fine, but saying things like genetic engineering isn't in the bible, so it shouldn't be done is taking things a little far in my opinion. Reading the bible literally is fine to an extent, but looking past the advantages of genetic engineering because its not in the bible is like saying we should drive cars because it pollutes the air. Cars aren't in the bible, why drive them? This example is a bit much, but the idea remains. is It is completely fine to center your life around God, I do my best to live this way myself. However, taking things in such a literal way is a little bit extreme...

MLA Citation/Research Discussion Day: 9/21/09

The MLA Citation powerpoint was a great review for me today. I would be lying if I said there were not moments when I began to dose off, but it certainly refreshed some of my knowledge in the subject area. :)

As for our research discussion and the sources that were found on the Chaos Theory, our group found some excellent material. Ethan found some nice general information that explains the Chaos Theory really well for a better background understanding of the topic. I found a research study that interrelated the ideas of the Chaos Theory with life transition counseling. The principals of the Chaos Theory are carried from science processes in general to psychological situations with professional counselors. The fact that the Chaos Theory can be applied outside of the spectrum of ecosystem homeostasis makes it both applicable and interesting.

Goodnight.

Final Jurassic Park Blog

Well I'm back from Lincoln, Nebraska. Big cross country meet took me away from the beauty of the Wartburg College campus Friday afternoon and I arrived back this evening...

Jurassic Park was a thriller yet again on Friday. The pursuit of the scientists and children by the the raptors was both exciting and suspenseful. At the same time, it was very ironic that in the end, it was the t-rex that saved the day. My final thoughts on the conclusion is that it is sad that the park couldn't be endorsed. The fact that the chaos theory indeed applied to this park is disheartening because it would be AWESOME to go to.

Past Imperfect was a very interesting read. Personally, I agree for the most part with what the author has to say. The chances and ability of recreating dinosaurs is a little farfetched. At the same time, the point made about using frog alleles to finish the DNA chain of the dinosaurs does in fact make little sense. The characteristics just don't match up. I wish that it was possible to recreate the dinosaur population, but the legitimate knowledge is just not there yet. I want to be the first to get involved when the science and technology is truly there for the rise of dinosaurs...

Blog #4 (9/16/09)- Jurassic Park Day #2

Thats what I'm talking about! Man vs. Wild. No movie can duplicate what happened in Jurassic Park today. A t-rex and real encounters with the dinosaurs. It was another very exciting day in IS 101 as a movie watcher.

The main thing coming to my mind today was the lack of knowledge and caution truly taken by John Hamman to create the park. Why on earth would a park in need of so much security be left to only two men on computers. A high security park like this needs to be protected and actions such as complete shut down should never happen. The sneaky fox played by shaving cream boy ("Newman" in the classic sitcom Seinfeld) should not have been given the capabilities to perform such a computer function. There should have been some way to see him doing this. More computer geeks were needed....

Lastly, there is the dying triceratops. Why was there not more knowledge about species function and survival when creating the park. Plants were present that had no business growing in a jurassic ecosystem. Hire some better botanists John!

Over and Out...

Blog #3 (9/14/09)- Jurassic Park Day #1

(As the Jurassic Park Theme Song is playing) Class began in abnormal fashion today. Students seemed overexcited to be in IS 101. Who wouldn't be though? Dinosaurs walking around, eating leaves off trees, and ripping longhorns apart. On top of that there is excellent science being exposed as the mastermind of Michael Crichton is revealed. (Music Concludes)

I have seen the movie several times and it still amazes me that the plan to transfer the embryos is in a shaving cream canister. For a science nerd like myself, THAT IS AWESOME. As for the excitement of the movie, I'm looking forward to more Man vs. Wild action between the scientists and the dinosaurs.

Lastly, I find Jeff Goldblum hilarious. His sarcasm, wit, and sense of humor fits his character perfectly. He makes an excellent addition to the team of specialists visiting the park.

Blog #2- The Things I Carry

To begin, it always helps when you bring an item to college, that all the parts and pieces are included. It doesn't do a lot of good to bring a camera to college to use for class projects when you don't bring the cable to upload the pictures to your project. One of many lessons learned...and carried.

As for the physical things, there are many. In my pack, our family van, a vast assortment of items were hauled and transplanted into this little ten-foot by fourteen-foot space called a freshman dormitory. Outside of the typical clothes and toiletries, many sentimental and personal entertainment items were packed. I brought a laptop, 5 pounds, that I can use for not only schoolwork but also communication back home and with old friends. A stereo system, about 50 pounds with the speakers, I brought to supply me with music and melodies to take my mind off the pressures of college. Along with that came my Ipod, 4.9 ounces, to take these melodies on the go. My cell phone, 3 ounces, I brought along to keep my connected with those around me and to call home whenever I may have a question or just want to talk. Lastly, a microwave and miniature refrigerator are stashed in the corner, 60-70 pounds collectively, to supply me with snacks and food when the Mensa is not open.

Among the physical things are mental and emotional baggage that I carry with me. I carry the stresses of doing homework again and making sure time is effectively spent. I carry the need to meet new people and make new friends, even though that requires putting myself out there. I carry the physical soreness from being on an athletic team. Lastly, I carry my dreams. The dreams of what I want to do with my life and how I want to spend it. The dreams of a career and a family. It's the dreams that keep us going. Through all of the things I see and feel, dreams are the most important. In the words of the transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau:

- "I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

Blog #1- 9/10/09

I've made it through the first day of college classes! When people say that college is going to be more work then high school it is an understatement. The reading is intense in all classes, not just literature. :)

I have had a great experience thus far too. Cross country camp in the Black Hills was a blast, and I found a group of people that I feel very comfortable around. At the same time, practices are very difficult and a totally different level the high school. My legs have never been this sore day after day, and yet I'm faster then I've ever been.

My roommate is awesome, and I'm learning how to live with someone else after having my own room for so many years. The large increase in freedoms comes with greater responsibilities and I'm learning the time management is imperative. Well, thats enough for blog #1. I should really go study....

Josh Hones