Make education an early priority in administration | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
I'd like to see education be a priority as well. What I'd really like to see a grand overhaul of the system of educational funding. I'm not sure exactly how to solve the problem - and I admit that I don't know enough of the details to be able to suggest a solution, but I do know that the amount of money that is involved in education is substantial. However, the imbalance between the money that goes to the actual students or the teachers is quite overpowered by the amount of money spent on administration of all of the numerous private, city, state and federal funding that all come piecemeal into the system as a whole.
It's a pretty inefficient way to run things - but again, I'm just not sure what can be done, if anything, to resolve the problem.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The end of anti-intellectualism?
RealClearPolitics - Articles - "Intellectuals"
The article is actually quite good. I actually find that there isn't any "rampant" anti-intellectualism at any given time or era. I think it is more along the lines of certain intellectual ideologies are more popular than others with the public, while other ideologies are more popular with either academia or with government. So, it's not so much anti-intellectualism as anti-ideologism.
So, it's not so much an effect as it is a perception. At least that's my take.
The article is actually quite good. I actually find that there isn't any "rampant" anti-intellectualism at any given time or era. I think it is more along the lines of certain intellectual ideologies are more popular than others with the public, while other ideologies are more popular with either academia or with government. So, it's not so much anti-intellectualism as anti-ideologism.
So, it's not so much an effect as it is a perception. At least that's my take.
Brain Implants!
Putting Thoughts into Action: Implants Tap the Thinking Brain: Scientific American
Sweet!
I, for one, welcome our inevitable transformation into cyborgs.....
Sweet!
I, for one, welcome our inevitable transformation into cyborgs.....
Academics are just like the business world
The Chronicle: 4/14/2006: Mob Rule
Great. And here I am trying to get into an academic environment - nice to know that the same type of territorial disputes that you get to see in the business world remain constant as you move into other fields.
Then again, it's not surprising. To protect your reputation and your job you have to stake your academic claim and defend it, research it, publish about it - essentially it becomes your life. Anyone would aggressively defend their life.
Great. And here I am trying to get into an academic environment - nice to know that the same type of territorial disputes that you get to see in the business world remain constant as you move into other fields.
Then again, it's not surprising. To protect your reputation and your job you have to stake your academic claim and defend it, research it, publish about it - essentially it becomes your life. Anyone would aggressively defend their life.
Environment affects alcohol misues.....duh
Families, friends, schools and neighborhoods contribute to adolescent alcohol misuse
And here's the nurture article promised earlier. This is another one of those examples of the kind of study that, after you read it, you say "of course." So, let me get this straight: your friends, family, school and neighborhood (also known as socio-economic status) affect the decisions you make as an adolescent?
No. Way.
And here's the nurture article promised earlier. This is another one of those examples of the kind of study that, after you read it, you say "of course." So, let me get this straight: your friends, family, school and neighborhood (also known as socio-economic status) affect the decisions you make as an adolescent?
No. Way.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Nature/Nurture and Mental Disorders
In a Novel Theory of Mental Disorders, Parents’ Genes Are in Competition - NYTimes.com
Well, there's the rub - isn't it? Is it more nature or nurture? The pendulum seems to be swinging away from nurture (No Child Left Behind...anyone?) and towards the nature side - although I'm about to post another article that focuses on nurture (albeit in a rather stupidly simplistic way I think).
Oh, well. One more theory that stands no real chance of being proven or disproven because of the individualistic of us humans.
Well, there's the rub - isn't it? Is it more nature or nurture? The pendulum seems to be swinging away from nurture (No Child Left Behind...anyone?) and towards the nature side - although I'm about to post another article that focuses on nurture (albeit in a rather stupidly simplistic way I think).
Oh, well. One more theory that stands no real chance of being proven or disproven because of the individualistic of us humans.
Ice Age...Averted!
New Ice Age Predicted -- But Averted by Global Warming?
This article is so funny on so many levels that it really cracks me up.
More here.
This article is so funny on so many levels that it really cracks me up.
More here.
Are national educational standards a good idea?
Gates Foundation Standards? Why Not? at The Core Knowledge Blog
States rights people will give you a ready answer, as will libertarians: No. Conservatives and Republicans answers will vary but would most likely say: possibly, but probably not. Democrats and Liberals answers will vary slightly but lean strongly toward: Yes.
I'm not so sure. Where in the world did we ever get the idea that we needed a homogenized national education system? Sure, other smaller nations have more homogenized systems, but they aren't generally dealing with a population of 300 million. Most other nations don't have the same system of large, relatively independent states a-la the US of A. It is a politically thorny issue because of the political climate. My question is not whether or not it could be done, but whether or not it should be done.
National testing doesn't have a track record of success, and most national programs also don't exactly engender a reputation for a likely hood of success. I think people look to the national governess to "fix" things that don't appear to be working on a local or state level. What doesn't occur to them is that most people aren't satisfied with national government programs either.
Honestly - name one governmental program run on a national level that everyone thinks works like a charm and serves as a model to all other countries as THE way to do something.
So, needless to say, I'm not a fan of "national" anything, but not because I believe more in states rights or anything, I just have zero confidence in our government to "fix" anything. Usually once the federal government gets involved, things get worse.
States rights people will give you a ready answer, as will libertarians: No. Conservatives and Republicans answers will vary but would most likely say: possibly, but probably not. Democrats and Liberals answers will vary slightly but lean strongly toward: Yes.
I'm not so sure. Where in the world did we ever get the idea that we needed a homogenized national education system? Sure, other smaller nations have more homogenized systems, but they aren't generally dealing with a population of 300 million. Most other nations don't have the same system of large, relatively independent states a-la the US of A. It is a politically thorny issue because of the political climate. My question is not whether or not it could be done, but whether or not it should be done.
National testing doesn't have a track record of success, and most national programs also don't exactly engender a reputation for a likely hood of success. I think people look to the national governess to "fix" things that don't appear to be working on a local or state level. What doesn't occur to them is that most people aren't satisfied with national government programs either.
Honestly - name one governmental program run on a national level that everyone thinks works like a charm and serves as a model to all other countries as THE way to do something.
So, needless to say, I'm not a fan of "national" anything, but not because I believe more in states rights or anything, I just have zero confidence in our government to "fix" anything. Usually once the federal government gets involved, things get worse.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Lazy students
College students 'get away with' poor preparation - USATODAY.com
They get away with it because it is easy to game the system. Essentially, they can get away with it because we, as professors, allow it. We go for the short, easy route as opposed to finding more rigorous methods of assessment of knowledge. It is an unfortunate reality of mass education. To really push an individual student to learn we need to be able to customize an individual approach to teaching and assessing that individual (think "apprentice" as opposed to "student"). From a practical standpoint that just doesn't work for today's educational environment where at some of the larger universities you have Psych 101 classes of 700 or more students in a stadium-style lecture hall.
The biggest problem is how funding is handled, both at the collegiate level and the K-12 level (actually, especially at the K-12 level). Improved, streamlined funding that reduces the number of required administrative functions and increases the amount of money channeled to both teachers and students would move a long way toward alleviating this problem.
But the system we have is rather entrenched, so I don't see change coming anytime soon.
They get away with it because it is easy to game the system. Essentially, they can get away with it because we, as professors, allow it. We go for the short, easy route as opposed to finding more rigorous methods of assessment of knowledge. It is an unfortunate reality of mass education. To really push an individual student to learn we need to be able to customize an individual approach to teaching and assessing that individual (think "apprentice" as opposed to "student"). From a practical standpoint that just doesn't work for today's educational environment where at some of the larger universities you have Psych 101 classes of 700 or more students in a stadium-style lecture hall.
The biggest problem is how funding is handled, both at the collegiate level and the K-12 level (actually, especially at the K-12 level). Improved, streamlined funding that reduces the number of required administrative functions and increases the amount of money channeled to both teachers and students would move a long way toward alleviating this problem.
But the system we have is rather entrenched, so I don't see change coming anytime soon.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Violent Media Paranoia
Youth violence linked to Web sites, study claims - Digital Life- msnbc.com
So, does this effect extend backwards in time to violent movies and television? Or is it just websites?
Did they also control for SES and for violent crime statistics in their neighborhoods and schools?
This all, of course, is based on Bandura's Social Cognitive theory of learning which holds the view that we exhibit behavior based on observed models. There has been a lot of research on this and there is possibly a connection of sorts, but there is a real difference between watching real or staged violence and imagining or desiring to commit violent acts and the actual commission of violent acts.
I'm not ready to buy in just yet.
So, does this effect extend backwards in time to violent movies and television? Or is it just websites?
Did they also control for SES and for violent crime statistics in their neighborhoods and schools?
This all, of course, is based on Bandura's Social Cognitive theory of learning which holds the view that we exhibit behavior based on observed models. There has been a lot of research on this and there is possibly a connection of sorts, but there is a real difference between watching real or staged violence and imagining or desiring to commit violent acts and the actual commission of violent acts.
I'm not ready to buy in just yet.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Are our teenagers really getting dumber?
Dimming down: How the brainpower of today's 14-year-olds has slipped 'radically' in just one generation | Mail Online
I don't see as the conclusion of the study is entirely convincing. Especially the "it's all the fault of TV and Video Games!" part of the conclusion. There have been other studies that point to the idea that video games especially, but also television in general can contribute to enhancements to some cognitive functions.
Other problems - was this just a one-time test, or do they have multiple, longitudinal results to compare?
I'm just not sure that you can say that that big of a change has occurred in such a short time. This is, of course, a press release that will sensationalize the more controversial aspects of the study so this surface report is not much to rely on - but the results of the original study would be interesting to see.
I don't see as the conclusion of the study is entirely convincing. Especially the "it's all the fault of TV and Video Games!" part of the conclusion. There have been other studies that point to the idea that video games especially, but also television in general can contribute to enhancements to some cognitive functions.
Other problems - was this just a one-time test, or do they have multiple, longitudinal results to compare?
I'm just not sure that you can say that that big of a change has occurred in such a short time. This is, of course, a press release that will sensationalize the more controversial aspects of the study so this surface report is not much to rely on - but the results of the original study would be interesting to see.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Red is sexy
Well, at least for men it is.
I'm a sucker for a good "perception" study. So, all you women out there - you want that man to notice you, wear red.
I wonder though: red is perceived as a "power" color and is thus frequently worn by people (even women) in powerful positions, and especially by politicians. Does wearing red by a female politician make her seem more desirable?
Also, Presidents Regan and Bush were/are famously accustomed to noticing female reporters dressed in red. Doesn't that just open a whole new can of worms!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Blasting "Spore" - harsh reality
Flunking Spore -- Bohannon 322 (5901): 531b -- Science
This is an amazing critique of the "evolution" game Spore. What is most interesting is not the actual critique (which form my experience with the game is entirely accurate: visually interesting and somewhat creative but nothing revolutionary and certainly not educational in the slightest) but the message behind the critique.
The problem is that the game is simply NOT an educational game, and despite some clever marketing to make it appear so, was never intended to be educational; the creators know better than to try that angle. A truly educational game would never be a big seller. To sell copies you need to have strong game play, which in the culture of gaming means that it has to have familiar goals and objectives and have a recognizable play style.
For educational gaming to make the leap into mainstream gaming you'd have to come up with something pretty remarkable. But it would not be beyond the realm of possibility. One easy example would be a war-history game (using the Civil War, or even specific battles, as a template) and then allow gamers to try their hand at winning the great war.
The bottom line for educational games is: if you want to make money, you can't make it educational. That paradigm might shift in the future as game-play becomes ever more immersive, but for now that's the paradigm we have to live with, and one very big (multi-billion $ big) reason why there are so few resources devoted to educational gaming.
This is an amazing critique of the "evolution" game Spore. What is most interesting is not the actual critique (which form my experience with the game is entirely accurate: visually interesting and somewhat creative but nothing revolutionary and certainly not educational in the slightest) but the message behind the critique.
The problem is that the game is simply NOT an educational game, and despite some clever marketing to make it appear so, was never intended to be educational; the creators know better than to try that angle. A truly educational game would never be a big seller. To sell copies you need to have strong game play, which in the culture of gaming means that it has to have familiar goals and objectives and have a recognizable play style.
For educational gaming to make the leap into mainstream gaming you'd have to come up with something pretty remarkable. But it would not be beyond the realm of possibility. One easy example would be a war-history game (using the Civil War, or even specific battles, as a template) and then allow gamers to try their hand at winning the great war.
The bottom line for educational games is: if you want to make money, you can't make it educational. That paradigm might shift in the future as game-play becomes ever more immersive, but for now that's the paradigm we have to live with, and one very big (multi-billion $ big) reason why there are so few resources devoted to educational gaming.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Gaming news
Gaming Round Up « Neuroanthropology
The ever-interesting Gaming News Round Up! Always good for some interesting reading.
The ever-interesting Gaming News Round Up! Always good for some interesting reading.
Is a Bachelor's Degree worth it?
America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree - Chronicle.com
Well, the majority of the article focuses on those lower 40% of the graduating class for whom college is a major struggle. The author devotes a little time to the actual utility of a bachelor's degree in today's world, and makes some very good points.
What is probably more sad is that a bachelor's is not the defacto starting point for any meaningful employment in corporate America, and means very little in the grand scheme of things. If everyone has one, what is it that sets you apart? Now the masters is the new bachelor - the minimum degree required to be considered for most upper level positions, and a PhD is becoming more commonplace as a means to and end in the working world. A PhD used to be almost solely for the purposes of entering into academia, now it seems that it is headed for the same status as the masters degree was 15 years ago.
I've posted about his main beef, the cost of higher education before, and there is much discussioin about it. It shouldn't be that expensive, and it shouldn't be something difficult just for the sake of being difficult.
Well, the majority of the article focuses on those lower 40% of the graduating class for whom college is a major struggle. The author devotes a little time to the actual utility of a bachelor's degree in today's world, and makes some very good points.
What is probably more sad is that a bachelor's is not the defacto starting point for any meaningful employment in corporate America, and means very little in the grand scheme of things. If everyone has one, what is it that sets you apart? Now the masters is the new bachelor - the minimum degree required to be considered for most upper level positions, and a PhD is becoming more commonplace as a means to and end in the working world. A PhD used to be almost solely for the purposes of entering into academia, now it seems that it is headed for the same status as the masters degree was 15 years ago.
I've posted about his main beef, the cost of higher education before, and there is much discussioin about it. It shouldn't be that expensive, and it shouldn't be something difficult just for the sake of being difficult.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Perceiving Beauty
Seems that our definition of beauty (in regards to facial beauty) are influenced rather significantly by our social groups.
So beauty isn't just in the eye of the beholder, but in the recognition of the group.
So beauty isn't just in the eye of the beholder, but in the recognition of the group.
Nature vs. Nurture in IQ
Some very interesting observations here.
Essentially: the latest and most detailed tests for genetic markers of intelligence make a difference of less than one percent of the variation. That's not much.
Essentially: the latest and most detailed tests for genetic markers of intelligence make a difference of less than one percent of the variation. That's not much.
Helicopter parenting
I know several mothes that need to be shown this research. Pair it with this research and then you're looking at some real problems.
How big is your memory?
We don't know, but apparently it's bigger than we previously thought.
Although, I will say this, if another person says "we only use 10% of our brains" again - I swear I'm going to freak out.
Although, I will say this, if another person says "we only use 10% of our brains" again - I swear I'm going to freak out.
Your guide to free will
Finally...NOW I have a guide to understanding free will.
I haven't dived in yet, but I hope that it presents both sides of the argument.
I haven't dived in yet, but I hope that it presents both sides of the argument.
Politics and the brain
I've been seeing a lot of posts about politics and the brain (for obvious reasons). Rather than try to summarize them, I'll just dump all of them here.
Cognitive Dissonance and Politics
The Political Brain
The Neuroscience of Voting
Cognitive Dissonance and Politics
The Political Brain
The Neuroscience of Voting
Whither the "Teen Brain"?
There has been some solid research recently on the differences in the teen brain, some of it more sensational than others. This article gives a rather even-handed approach to the issue.
Behavioral Economics
It's a hot new field of research and study, but is it really all it's cracked up to be?
I'm all for creating productive jobs for different fields, and especially in favor of finding practical application of neuroscience research. I don't think it's so much that the field isn't useful as it is still in the infant stages of development. Give it time to prove effective or not - then make a judgement.
I'm all for creating productive jobs for different fields, and especially in favor of finding practical application of neuroscience research. I don't think it's so much that the field isn't useful as it is still in the infant stages of development. Give it time to prove effective or not - then make a judgement.
Happiness therapy: Self-acceptance
So, is unconditional self-acceptance actually a good thing? I'm not so sure. It is certainly a good way of skirting around some of the issues created by feelings of guilt and shame (as mentioned previously). For some people I'm sure it would be a good thing, but I'm not so sure this is a benefit from a societal perspective.
Happiness = long life
Gee - this is a real shocker! [/sarcasm] Happiness can add 10 years to your life.
Heck, at the very least it would help you enjoy your time on the planet even if it was shorter than someone who was unhappy.
Heck, at the very least it would help you enjoy your time on the planet even if it was shorter than someone who was unhappy.
Exercise your way to a better memory
Not memory exercises, but actual physical exercise.
The more we study it, the more we find that regular exercise is the key to nearly every aspect of a happy life.
Heck, even thinking is a great way to burn calories!
The more we study it, the more we find that regular exercise is the key to nearly every aspect of a happy life.
Heck, even thinking is a great way to burn calories!
"I do not think it means what you think it means."
Archaic references to Inigo Montoya not withstanding, I can't wait to dig into this series of articles - not just re-visitin, but changing our perception of some of the most classical psychological studies of all time.
Apparently the popularly held perception of the result of these studies is not exactly supported by the actual results of the original studies. I love finding out that things don't necessarily mean what you think they mean.
More thoughts here.
Apparently the popularly held perception of the result of these studies is not exactly supported by the actual results of the original studies. I love finding out that things don't necessarily mean what you think they mean.
More thoughts here.
See what you believe
....speaking of perception....here's a great article on how even our visual perception is altered by our beliefs.
So, you know - it's all in your head!
So, you know - it's all in your head!
Negative Self-perception, Shame and Guilt
Negative Self-perception and Shame Psychology Today Blogs
I have wanted for some time to do a little more research involving shame and guilt and the effects those feelings have on motivation. Certainly from the perspective of strongly religious people guilt could be a very powerful motivating factor to action. I think that we could find that it could be, in a round-about way, an effective motivation for positive action.
Here are some additional (negative) thoughts about feelings of Guilt. Again, I disagree - it is not a "wasted" emotion, it is your minds way of using negative emotion to embed a memory of "wrong" actions in a way that could help diminish those behaviors. Guilt and Shame are closely related and both very powerful and seeingly universal feelings - even from an evolutionary standpoint (which I don't necessarily advocate) they should point to a very useful origin.
Instead of marginalizing them and trying to get people to ignore them, why not go the "positive psychology" route (more or less) and channel their effects for greater positive emotions?
Here are some thoughts on how the language of pride and shame seem to have universal roots in our neurobiology across cultures.
I have wanted for some time to do a little more research involving shame and guilt and the effects those feelings have on motivation. Certainly from the perspective of strongly religious people guilt could be a very powerful motivating factor to action. I think that we could find that it could be, in a round-about way, an effective motivation for positive action.
Here are some additional (negative) thoughts about feelings of Guilt. Again, I disagree - it is not a "wasted" emotion, it is your minds way of using negative emotion to embed a memory of "wrong" actions in a way that could help diminish those behaviors. Guilt and Shame are closely related and both very powerful and seeingly universal feelings - even from an evolutionary standpoint (which I don't necessarily advocate) they should point to a very useful origin.
Instead of marginalizing them and trying to get people to ignore them, why not go the "positive psychology" route (more or less) and channel their effects for greater positive emotions?
Here are some thoughts on how the language of pride and shame seem to have universal roots in our neurobiology across cultures.
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