"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 .