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Thursday, February 9, 2012

'Flipped classroom' teaching model gains an online community

Public release date: 9-Feb-2012
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Contact: Michael Rutter
mrutter@seas.harvard.edu
617-496-3815
Harvard University

The Peer Instruction Network, a new global social site for interactive teaching, launches at Harvard

Cambridge, Mass. - February 8, 2012 - Researchers at Harvard University have launched the Peer Instruction (PI) Network, a new global social network for users of interactive teaching methods.

PI, developed by Eric Mazur, Area Dean for Applied Physics and Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), is an innovative evidence-based pedagogy designed to improve student engagement and success.

Mazur, famous for his talk titled "Confessions of a Converted Lecturer," developed the method after realizing in the 1990s that his physics lectures at Harvard, while popular, were not helping students to master the basic concepts.

The PI technique relies on the power of the "flipped classroom." Information transfer (i.e., a teacher transferring knowledge to students) takes place in advance, typically through online lectures. In short, students study before rather than after class.

As a result, the classroom becomes a place for active learning, questions, and discussion. Instructors spend their time addressing students' difficulties rather than lecturing.

While originally developed for Mazur's introductory physics courses, PI is now used across multiple disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities.

The Peer Instruction Network will serve as a hub for educators around the world to connect and share their PI experiences, submit questions, and engage with other PI users.

"In the first phase of community building we are aiming to register current and potential users of Peer Instruction," said Julie Schell, Co-Founder of the Peer Instruction Network and a senior education postdoctoral fellow in the Mazur Group at SEAS.

"So far, the response has been remarkable," Schell said. "More than 1,900 educators from elementary schools to research universities worldwide, including those in Ethiopia, Israel, Singapore, Vietnam, Finland, Germany, Greece, South Africa, and places like South Dakota, New York City, New Orleans and Oklahoma, have joined the Network."

Testimonials from network registrants suggest why PI is rapidly becoming a pedagogy of choice: It works.

A science professor wrote on the site: "I use the technique so extensively that I've moved my lectures from 'live' to video podcasts that the students view before coming to class. In-class 'lecture' time is now devoted to Peer Instruction, worksheets, and physics demonstrations. Works great!"

At Harvard, Mazur and his team have long been encouraging other faculty to experiment with Peer Instruction in their own courses. With support from Cherry A. Murray, Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), he has even used it to better engage faculty at faculty meetings and retreats.

"We are amazed by the response to the initial launch of the Peer Instruction Network," said Mazur. "By connecting people who use interactive teaching methods, we hope to cultivate a community of practice that will have a global effect on educational change."

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

'Flipped classroom' teaching model gains an online community

Public release date: 9-Feb-2012
[ | E-mail |

Share ]

Contact: Michael Rutter
mrutter@seas.harvard.edu
617-496-3815
Harvard University

The Peer Instruction Network, a new global social site for interactive teaching, launches at Harvard

Cambridge, Mass. - February 8, 2012 - Researchers at Harvard University have launched the Peer Instruction (PI) Network, a new global social network for users of interactive teaching methods.

As a result, the classroom becomes a place for active learning, questions, and discussion. Instructors spend their time addressing students' difficulties rather than lecturing.

While originally developed for Mazur's introductory physics courses, PI is now used across multiple disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities.

The Peer Instruction Network will serve as a hub for educators around the world to connect and share their PI experiences, submit questions, and engage with other PI users.

Testimonials from network registrants suggest why PI is rapidly becoming a pedagogy of choice: It works.

###

[ | E-mail |

Share ]

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/hu-ct020912.php

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Why a volcano's eruption paralyzed air traffic

Jagged flecks of ash spewed into the air may have boosted the effects of the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which paralyzed flights across Europe, a new study finds.

The ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull caused turmoil in the air for nearly a month. Still, the eruption was a relatively small event. For instance, the plume never reached more than about 6 miles (10 kilometers) in height, and the volcano only spewed out about 9.5 billion cubic feet (270 million cubic meters) of ash over the course of several months, while some eruptions can spew out many times more than that in the span of a single day.

The reason that Eyjafjallajokull had such widespread influence was due to how the volcano's ash spread unusually far and stayed for an oddly long time in the atmosphere. To learn more about why this was, a group of scientists collected ash samples from across Iceland.

The researchers found that at Eyjafjallajokull's vent, upwelling magma violently reacted with nearby glacial water. This rapid cooling made the magma contract and fragment into fine, jagged motes of ash. Near the end of the eruption, equally fine, porous ash was generated when small gas bubbles trapped in the molten rock expanded as the magma neared the surface.

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The investigators found that the median width of all the ash grains was less than 1 millimeter wide. Starting about 6 miles (10 km) from the vent and moving outward, particles smaller than 16 microns ? about a sixth the width of a human hair ? became more than 20 percent of the mix.

Computer models suggest the irregular shapes of these jagged and porous ash grains made them less aerodynamic, increasing how long they spent aloft. This helps explain why a small eruption still impacted a large area.

"This was not a big eruption, but still it caused problems over Europe and the Northern Atlantic," said researcher Piero Dellino, a volcanologist at the University of Bari in Italy. "This means that our complex society is not prepared to face natural hazards. We have to therefore learn from this lesson, considering that other volcanoes in Europe can produce much bigger eruptions ? see, for example, historical events of Vesuvius."

Dellino noted that their research took place well after the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, which might call their findings into question.

"At the moment, it is impossible to monitor in real-time the content and concentration of fine ash in the eruption cloud," he said. "We need to advance science and technology in order to get data as soon as possible after eruption initiation."

The scientists detailed their findings online Jan. 4 in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46312726/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Is ?Strategic Planning? An Oxymoron? | Governance and Strategic ...

The term, ?Strategic planning? is so ingrained in our business language, it is easier to work around it than attempt to redefine it.

A dictionary defines strategy as a ?behaviors, processes, or structures aimed at evolutionary success.? ?Evolutionary? is long-rage and to me, beyond any useful ?planning? horizon.

Top leaders engage in strategic thinking, an ongoing focus to position the company to be where it is beneficial to meet now-developing-trends where they will be in decades or generations ahead. Wayne Gretzky explains his greatness saying he skates to where the puck will be [rather than chasing after it].

?Planning? usually means something short term. For example, as business people (and consultants, leaders, managers, parents), we plan our days and weeks. We also use ?planning? to describe the process for designing what our organizations will do next year. We still call it planning when we attempt to design what we want to accomplish in a several years, in what we call a long-range plan.

In this way, the term, ?strategic planning,? becomes an oxymoron.

In spite of that, I use ?Strategic Planning? to describe the strategic thinking process and the process of top leadership defining mission, vision and core or enterprise strategies. To implement that so-called Strategic Plan, I rely on the next levels of management to develop tactical plans?long and short-range goals?to achieve with deadlines and action steps, staff assignments, and budget line-items.

These later tactical plans are often referred to as ?strategic plans.? One might argue: these tactical plans can be called the plans that implement strategy; therefore they are strategic plans. My concern is that calling the lower planning, ?strategic? may distract us from strategic thinking and core strategy development. Thus, I help my clients label them differently, and to involve different groups of people in four distinct tiers.

For those interested in more, read my model at danclark.com >>services >>planning. I welcome your feedback: comment here or email me ? dan@danclark.com.

Source: http://boardgovernance.storeblogs.com/2012/02/07/strategic-planning-an-oxymoron

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Saturday, February 4, 2012

Building A Patio | Garden Patio

Budget for building a patio
If you want more open space for family and friends, but they should stick to a budget, DIY project would be an ideal way to create a new porch. However, before you do it will be important for understanding the installation process for the type of material. Regardless of the choice of paving stones, concrete, brick, tile, etc., you need to know how to steps. Thus, when finished will look stunning rooms, patio will be safe and you will complete the project in compliance with the designated fee.

One of the most important thing to know about creating open space is to know that there are limitations. Unfortunately, too often, homeowners choose a design and materials that are designed for professionals, only to find their way over their heads. As a result, finished terrace looks sloppy, unsafe, and construction began to fall apart prematurely. So if you?re interested in installing your own patio, be realistic about what can and can not do.

A perfect example is the concrete patio. Terrace of this material involves more than just pouring concrete. For this type of patio concrete must be perfectly aligned, devoid of bubbles, and the concrete can be poured when the weather is cold, which will crack. Since this is a special design of the patio is more complex, it may be better to hire a contractor for this work. However, other materials will be easier to install, such as brick, pavers and tiles.

building a patio Another important point to make a key that you can achieve the look of expensive designer, but do not spend a fortune. An example of this is innovative about the materials used. For example, a patio set from native stone, you?ll spend quite a bit if money. A cheaper alternative that will not sacrifice the look and continues to produce well-made garden for many years to break down the pavement, put them in a sort of mosaic design, and then to seal them using paint to create the natural look of stone .

You can also complete the installation of new patio on a budget buy bricks, tiles, pavers and other materials at the right time. For example, home improvement stores and garden centers are usually available in late summer. In fact, the savings can be 50% or more, it will be worth the purchase of materials, at the end of summer, put them aside until the spring, and then use it to create a patio that will stand the test of time.

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Source: http://patio.aboutgarden.info/building-a-patio/

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Friday, February 3, 2012

Feds' secret no-fly list more than doubles in a year

WASHINGTON?? Even as the Obama administration says it's close to defeating al-Qaida, the size of the government's secret list of suspected terrorists who are banned from flying to or within the United States has more than doubled in the past year, The Associated Press has learned.

The no-fly list jumped from about 10,000 known or suspected terrorists one year ago to about 21,000, according to government figures provided to the AP.

Most people on the list are from other countries; about 500 are Americans.

The flood of new names began after the failed Christmas 2009 bombing of a Detroit-bound jetliner.

The government lowered the standard for putting people on the list, and then scoured its files for anyone who qualified. The government will not disclose who is on its list or why someone might have been placed on it.

The surge in the size of the no-fly list comes even as the U.S. has killed many senior members of al-Qaida. That's because the government believes the current terror threat extends well beyond the group responsible for the September 2001 attacks.

'Want to cause us harm'
"Both U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities and foreign services continue to identify people who want to cause us harm, particularly in the U.S. and particularly as it relates to aviation," Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole said in an interview.

The Nigerian man who pleaded guilty in the Christmas 2009 attack over Detroit, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was listed in a large U.S. intelligence database that includes partial names and relatives of suspected terrorists.

How suspects reach the 'No-Fly' list

That database is a feeder to the broad terror watch list, of which the no-fly list is a component, but only when there is enough information linking the person to terrorism.

Officials believe the U.S. had enough information about Abdulmutallab at the time to put him on the broader terror watch list, which would have helped the intelligence community catch him.

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The Christmas attack led to significant changes in how the U.S. assembles its watch list.

Intelligence agencies across the government reviewed old files to find people who should have been on the government's terror watch list all along, plus those who should be added because of the new standards put in place to close security gaps.

Muslims often put on no-fly list without explanation

A senior Homeland Security Department official, Caryn Wagner, told senators Tuesday during an oversight hearing, "We have been able to harness the intelligence from the intelligence community to inform our instruments to keep people out at our borders, to make sure that the wrong people are not getting on airplanes at last points of departure and to make sure that people who shouldn't get them are not receiving immigration benefits from the department."

After the Christmas attack, "We learned a lot about the watch-listing process and made strong improvements, which continue to this day," said Timothy Healy, director of the Terrorist Screening Center, which produces the no-fly list.

Broader threat standard
Among the most significant new standards is that now a person doesn't have to be considered only a threat to aviation to be placed on the no-fly list.

People who are considered a broader threat to domestic or international security or who attended a terror training camp also are included, said a U.S. counterterrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.

As agencies complete the reviews of their files, the pace of growth is expected to slow, the counterterrorism official said.

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the government on behalf of Americans who believe they're on the no-fly list and have not been able to travel by air for work or to see family.

"The news that the list is growing tells us that more people's rights are being violated," said Nusrat Choudhury, a staff attorney working for the ACLU's national security project. "It's a secret list, and the government puts people on it without any explanation. Citizens have been stranded abroad."

The government will not tell people whether they're on the list or why they're on it, making it impossible for people to defend themselves, Choudhury said.

People who complain that they're unfairly on the no-fly list can submit a letter to the Homeland Security Department, but the only way they'll know if they're still on the list is to try to fly again, she said.

While the list is secret, it is subject to continuous review to ensure that the right people are on it and that the ones who shouldn't be on it are removed, said Martin Reardon, former chief of the Terrorist Screening Operations center and now a vice president with the Soufan Group.

'Articulable facts' needed
If a person is nominated to be on the no-fly list, but there is insufficient information to justify it, the Terrorist Screening Center downgrades the person to a different list, he said.

"You can't just say: 'Here's a name. Put him on the list.' You've got to have articulable facts," Reardon said.

On average, there are 1,000 changes to the government's watch lists each day, most of which involve adding new information about someone on the list.

The no-fly list has swelled to 20,000 people before, such as in 2004. At the time, people like the late Sen. Ted Kennedy were getting stopped before flying ? causing constant angst and aggravation for innocent travelers. But much has changed since then.

While thousands more people are on the list, instances of travelers being mistaken for terrorists are down significantly since the government ? not the airlines ? became responsible for checking the list, Pistole said.

Travelers must now provide their full name, birthdate and gender when purchasing an airline ticket so the government can screen them against the terror watch list.

But with the nature of the terrorism threat, it's not likely that the list will dwindle, even as al-Qaida's core leadership is defeated, Reardon said.

"I would argue that even if (al-Qaida) as we know it ceased to exist as of tomorrow, other terrorist organizations or lone wolves with both the intent and capability of carrying out attacks against the U.S. would fill the void," Reardon said. "The consolidated terrorist watch list exists for that very reason."

Once they are identified and placed on the list, he said, "We have a much greater chance of keeping them from entering the country."

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46233824/ns/us_news-security/

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Public universities to hike tuition?

With public funding drying up, will universities have to raise out of state tuitions?

This WSJ?article about Penn State raises some interesting issues. ?Ambitious public universities are finally recognizing that state governments will no longer fund them. ?Anticipating that overhead from the NIH and NSF is about to dry up, such schools are aggressively raising out of state tuition. ?Parents of potential out of state freshmen have the right to ask themselves; "am I getting my money's worth at School X?"

Skip to next paragraph Matthew Kahn

Mathew is an economics professor at UCLA and has written three books: Green Cities (Brookings Institution Press); Heroes and Cowards (Princeton University Press, jointly with Dora L. Costa); and in fall 2010, Climatopolis: How Our Cities Will Thrive in the Hotter World (Basic Books).

'Smart Clothing' Could Become New Wearable Gadgets (LiveScience.com)

Today's ordinary clothing has the untapped power to become tomorrow's wearable electronics. A Canadian lab has tested special fibers that can help make soft, flexible touch screens and batteries woven directly into the fabrics of modern life.

Turning rigid electronic parts into stretchy, smart clothing material has not proven easy. But early ideas have already hinted at practical uses beyond just wearing glowing "Tron" jumpsuits as fashion accessories. People may swipe a finger across a car's upholstery to turn down the heat or brush at their coat sleeves to adjust the volume of a connected music player ? experiences that seamlessly blend "hard" gadget functions with "soft" objects.

"We don't want humans to be aware of what they are wearing," said Maksim Skorobogatiy, a physicist at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal in Canada. "It has to be self-contained piece that can charge itself, store energy and perform useful functions. Otherwise, it's an extra burden that nobody needs in our lives."

That philosophy has driven Skorobogatiy to assemble a diverse team of researchers focused on making the soft versions of electronic gadget parts, including multitouch screens, batteries and even microchip transistors. Those technologies could lead to smart clothing that monitors a person's health signs, or even acts as a wearable computer.

"The problem with most of the soft electronics ? the few examples that exist nowadays ? is that people mostly just put chips or widgets onto textiles and try to enable interesting textile functions," Skorobogatiy told InnovationNewsDaily. "Most of the electronics are not designed for soft interfaces."

Some labs have tried embedding tiny nanoparticles inside ordinary cotton thread so that they can conduct electricity. But they must wrestle with problems in making the material last a long time, as well as needing to use chemicals to bind the nanoparticles to the cotton.

By contrast, Skorobogatiy's lab turned to the manufacturing process used to create the optical fibers that carry TV and Internet signals. The technique allowed the Canadian team to make new polymer-based fibers based on melting the preformed material to pull out a long, thin fiber shape. Such fibers can conduct electric signals.

The researchers wove the fibers into an experimental touchpad that showed off partial multitouch capability similar to what smartphones or tablets possess. That work appeared in the January issue of the journal Smart Materials and Structures.

Next, they made flat sheets of batteries by combining typical lithium battery materials with thermoplastic binder material. Skorobogatiy's lab cut the battery sheets into thin strips and wove the strips into typical clothing textiles ? an achievement detailed in the January issue of the Journal of the Electrochemical Society.

The technology of smart clothing may seem imminent, but psychological barriers remain because textile manufacturers are hesitant to work with completely new fibers. The Canadian researchers have begun working on toppling such barriers by providing fibers for designers to try out.

One big challenge remains ? creating the soft textile version of the transistors at the heart of all modern devices. If Skorobogatiy's lab can pull off that trick, they could enable extraordinary pieces of smart clothing that act like gadgets but easily fit in with ordinary wardrobes.

"We're moving toward a self-contained textile battery, electronics and sensors ? all made with textile thread," Skorobogatiy said. "At this point, we're only missing the electronics."

This story was provided by InnovationNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. You can follow InnovationNewsDaily Senior Writer Jeremy Hsu on Twitter @ScienceHsu. Follow InnovationNewsDaily on Twitter @News_Innovation, or on Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20120201/sc_livescience/smartclothingcouldbecomenewwearablegadgets

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Peer Instruction Network, a new global social site for interactive teaching, launches at Harvard

The Peer Instruction Network, a new global social site for interactive teaching, launches at Harvard

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A dictionary defines strategy as a ?behaviors, processes, or structures aimed at evolutionary success.? ?Evolutionary? is long-rage and to me, beyond any useful ?planning? horizon.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

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