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Category Archives: science
Looking for hive mind help on a course
Actually, on two courses. The school I’m at (Newark Academy) ends the year with a nine-day “June Term”, wherein students take one class for six hours a day. June Term classes are supposed to be experiential and rigorous, and maybe a … Continue reading
re: Sexism in science: Peer editor tells female researchers their study needs a male author – The Washington Post
Apparently the study was so flawed that only a man could fix it. Just ’cause, you know, it isn’t science without at least a trace amount of testosterone spilled on it. Or — and this seems more likely to me … Continue reading
One sentence can pull you out of an entirely fine essay
I actually agree with most of what Fareed Zakaria writes in his Washington Post op-ed “Why America’s Obsession with STEM Education is Dangerous“. We need balanced, robust, well-rounded education, not narrow business-driven training. It will take many different vantages points to … Continue reading
Posted in philosophy, politics, ramblings, science, teaching
Tagged op-ed, politics, teaching
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Lunacon 2014 (1b): Alternate Technologies in Historical Fiction
Panelists: Russ Handelman, James Cambias, Paul Calhoun And here he is, That Annoying Guy From One Seat Over. This archetype shows up at every con, like a restless spirit. One of the panelists pointed out that, more or less by … Continue reading
The Political Asymmetry of Weather
So, the East Coast is in the middle of a record heat wave. How come we haven’t heard any hyperventilating media types announce that this “proves” global warming is true? After all, when we had a little snow in February, … Continue reading
Shouting in the wind
I know I’m not going to convince anybody, and this is far from the most important place to make this point, but I feel like I have to weigh in: Record snowfall does not “disprove” global warming. To advance the … Continue reading
Posted in politics, science
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Joking about Science
I regret the simple me-too-ism of just posting a link to an article, but this piece over at Project Syndicate is a nice, short reflection on how jokes scientists make (about their own profession) illuminate the two distinct views we … Continue reading
Posted in review, science
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Throwing Out the Textbook (Part II)
(Part I gives the background.) Since the date to order a textbook has long since passed, I’m pretty committed to not going with one for “Space Science & Astrophysics”. I’ve taken the plunge. The problem is, I don’t know exactly … Continue reading
Posted in science, teaching, technology
Tagged assessment, help, lecture, papers, quiz, Space Science & Astrophysics, textbook
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Throwing out the Textbook (Part I)
(You can skip to Part II.) Some of you might remember that this is nominally a blog about education. It’s time again to shunt aside all the personal and political things I like to blog about, and to instead post … Continue reading
Posted in science, teaching, technology
Tagged classes, help, Scientific American, Space Science & Astrophysics, textbooks
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Old nuggets
Anyone checking the frequency of blogging for this site need not be told that I am not a natural diarist. I keep trying to start a regular compilation of my thought but never quite get in the habit. I have … Continue reading