You walk into class, pick up a copy of (or have printed out) the slide handouts for today’s presentation and sit down to wait for the class to begin. What you haven’t realized yet is that the PowerPoint slides that you have in front of you are affecting the way you learn and exercise your mind.
The classic argument of whether or not technology has made our life easier or more difficult is definitely not going to be answered soon. Yet, the role of technology in the classroom is a whole other issue to explore. As I continue to round off my education, technology has had a greater presence in my educational growth. I love the fact that I can have wireless Internet at the tip of my fingers, computers in every room, and now even an LCD projector for every single room in a building. However, whether or not technology is contributing to the enhancement of my education is a completely different conversation.
Epson and Acer are both companies that dominate the production of the LCD projector with record shattering profits in the last half decade. My guess for why the increase? Every hospital, business and classroom has now adopted the “digital lecture hall.” Tucked away on the ceiling of these rooms, the LCD projector is now a standard in classroom equipment, just like any other desk, chair, and ….white board…maybe.
Cambridge is an amazing university, however, I began to notice after a week that the white boards and overhead projectors were beginning to disappear. Not physically, but the use of white boards and overhead projects as a tool for teaching has almost completely diminished. All my lectures all of a sudden were based on a PowerPoint. There has yet to be a complete lecture where a white board was needed, which must be pleasant for Microsoft to hear.
After doing a literature search and reviewing case studies on the use of PowerPoint in the classroom, I can definitely say that the results go both ways. On one hand, Powerpoint lectures have shown drawbacks. On the other hand there are no changes or some improvement on test scores and student participation.
Learning without slides
I had an opportunity to hear Michael van Swaaij , PayPal Interterm CEO, speak on Monday when I mistakenly walked into the wrong class (PowerPoint dementia), and I listened to him deliver a great talk without once using PowerPoint. To top off this experience, I had an opportunity to meet and hear Professor Roger Penrose speak about this theory of what was before the big bang. [Penrose is famous for many things as well as his Penrose stairs and being a close colleague/friend/co-author of Stephen Hawkings]
What I was most amazed about Penrose is his ability to capture a room over 600 students and professors, explain his theory of which about 25% of it I understood, and effectively communicate it all with simply a dozen transparencies and an overhead projector.
Okay, so these were just general lectures, but what about the sciences? I took a three-day course on neuroscience and the set of lectures was done on the overhead. It was beautiful, taking notes, paying attention in anticipation of what is going to be discussed next and essentially actively getting involved with my own education.
You’re never too young to learn
The use of PowerPoint is now replacing middle and high school classrooms. I remember watching my little cousin prepare her book report presentation obsessed with different fonts and themes without realizing what she was writing about. I believe that as our minds develop with age and by always seeing PowerPoint lectures we limit our thinking skills. If students are given PowerPoint slides, they don’t learn how to take notes properly and retain information for their own growth and development.
The use of PowerPoint in the classroom will depend on the subject, professor, and students. A PowerPoint based lecture can only be as effective as the professor who is presenting it. Yet, their ability to lecture using PowerPoint has to become a skill and art. Like any teacher, the most important thing is to be able to effectively connect with your students and convey your lecture in a way that your students will learn and grow. I am afraid, however, that the general context of the lecture becomes a delicate balancing act with conveying your message and not reading from the PowerPoint. In all honesty, there have been some bad professors that would have been more effective with PowerPoint slides, so again, the benefits of using of technology in the classroom can outweigh the drawbacks if delivered properly.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
In the third grade, I remember playing tag on the jungle gym with my friends when a girl called me a sexist pig for not allowing her to play with us. For the very first time in my life I experienced sexism. Appalled by the word – Pig – that is (I didn’t know what sexist meant), I was put off a little and pulled the girls’ ponytails. Almost 15 years later I find myself in a society where, in my eyes, women run the show. This mentality surely came from being raised by a strong will powered single parent mother. However, when I take a step into reality this is certainly not the situation. Even as much as we try to create equal opportunity for males and females, we continue to see women joining forces against the dominant male society.
Now, I know many might suggest the Republicans were trying to make a statement by nominating Governor Sarah Palin to be Senator John McCain’s VP running mate. Yet, I will avoid this specific subject tonight not only because it is a blog entry on its own, but also because who would want a VP that views the world with ignorance and bias.
Yesterday I received this email:
——————————–
Subject: Women’s Network Event
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 18:41:17 -0000
From: XXX
To: XXXX
Please would you alert the women in your department or institution to the forthcoming Women’s
Network event:
12.00pm - 2.00pm Thursday 20 November 2008 ‘Work-Life Balance’
Speaker: Dr Suzanne Doyle-Morris, Doyle Morris Coaching
Venue: Beves Room, King’s College
This workshop will look at determining priorities and strategies for work-life balance.
Women’s Network events are open to all women employed by the University of Cambridge. Graduate students are welcome.
——————————–
To preface this, WiSETI (The University of Cambridge Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative) sponsors this event. The work WiSETI does is commendable because we are seeing powerful institutions such as Cambridge creating the foundations for strong women to be empowered. All the while knowing that the business world is inherently sexist.
Granted everyday the news covers this issue. In a press release last week, The Corporate Library, an independent research firm that provides corporate governance information, reported that female CEOs lag behind male CEOs in total compensation. I think just in general women are under represented in executive management and this is a balancing act that will begin to equalize itself out in the years to come.
I was offended by this email because of the fact that this event specifically says this event is open to “all women employed by the University of Cambridge.” I don’t ever remember in my life going to a Men’s Networking Event or a men’s only even for that manner. This event, in my opinion, goes against the rules of the university as stated:
“Direct discrimination occurs when an individual or a group is treated less favorably than others would be in the same circumstances on the grounds of gender (including gender reassignment), race, colour, ethnic origin, marital status or disability.”
The Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination and Burden of Proof) Regulations 2001
On a quick tangent, I am a supporter of Affirmative Action in understanding that women actually benefit tremendously from this policy. Affirmative action being the policy that allows access to education or employment for under represented individuals. The Department of Labor estimated that 6 million women workers are in higher occupational classifications today than they would have been without affirmative action policies.
While serving as a Senator at UC Berkeley, I had the esteemed privileges of working with an amazing diverse population of student leaders. Specifically, however, by working with other fellow Senators I learned ever more how important language matters. As a result, I began to see ‘you guys’ become transformed into ‘you all’. Slowly, my diction began to take into consideration the people I was speaking to.
In addressing this email, I believe what would be more important is having an event with women in medicine, business, law, and even engineering and having them discuss their story. Or even better, encourage not only women to come, but anyone who would be interested! Networking especially between only women I think eliminates the whole nature of networking. In an opportunity to meet new people, you want to meet people who bring different experiences, education, cultures and even sex.
The outreach, education, and support for women to contribute in fields such as health, the sciences, engineering, law is a crucial process for this society, yet it must be done with diligence.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
The birth of the United States was on the back of slavery, which ended in 1865. This was nearly 100 years after America fought for her independence but after almost 200 years of slavery in the US.
It took congress 5 years to amend the US Constitution and in 1870 the Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, which prohibits the government to prevent a citizen from voting based on an individuals race or color. It took another 50 years for the US Constitution to prohibit the government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on a person’s sex. Essentially, women were given the right to vote by the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920.
Unfortunately, there were still places in this country where individuals were still prohibited from voting and basic rights that were protected by the Constitution were not being reinforced by local government and eventually gave rise to the Civil Rights Movements (1950s-1970s). During this time, everyday citizens fought for basic rights. It took congress a second time to reinforce through the National Voting Rights Act of 1965 that you cannot “deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” Finally, in 1971 the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the US Constitution standardized the voting age to 18 as a result of the fact that our parents were being sent to Vietnam without having the right to vote.
I believe that sometimes we take advantage of these rights and over look the fact that so many people fought hard for us to simply vote without being harassed. Now, I don’t mean for this to be a history lesson, but it should be easily recognized that in one of the greatest countries in this world, only in the past 30 years has voting been a right for what comes out to be more than 70% of the country (age 18 and older). It is our responsibility as citizens of the US to vote! This is a right and a privilege that we have in this country.
How you vote is a different story…
I am not going to break down each candidate and their social, economic and foreign policy.
What I will tell you is that I believe that Senator Barak Obama is not only the best candidate, he is probably one of the best candidates who has ran for president in the history of this country. (at least in my life time). Never have I ever seen such an effort by such a passionate individual. Never have I ever seen an individual whose YouTube videos bring motivation for me. Never have I ever seen a half black, half white man who comes from a disadvantaged background, study at one of the top universities in the country, essentially live the American Dream, and run for President. Yes, only in this country is Senator Barack Obama’s story even possible.
It is time to return to realism, and away from unscrupulous foreign policy (Senator Obama has been favored by a four-to-one margin across the 22,500 people polled in 22 countries). We know that the new president will have a large responsibility and have a lot of working waiting for him. That is why we need Senator Obama to begin addressing the economic situation, the failing healthcare system and problems in our education system. The only strong candidate in this race is Senator Obama and it is Senator Obama who can help bring change and progress in a society that has been clouded with war, economic depression, and poverty.
If you’re still on the fence (and I did not want to go here), then think about this: President Palin
Echoing Senator Obama’s speech:
In one week’s time, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom up. In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families and education for our kids and renewable energy for our future.
In one week, we can choose hope over fear and unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together, as one nation and one people, and once more choose our better history.
That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for. And if in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me and make some calls for me and talk to your neighbors and convince your friends; if you will stand with me and fight with me and give me your vote, then I promise you, we will not just win Ohio; we will win this general election. And together we’ll change this country and we will change the world.
Who would have known that 2 years ago when my roommates were telling me about Senator Obama that I would have written a blog in support of him as president later on. If it is any consolation and in parallel with: WSJ, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Washinton Post- I am endorsing Barack Obama for President (just a little later than Colin Powell).
Please vote on Tuesday, November 4th.
If you are not registered to vote or your too young to vote, you can still help! Email and call friends and family who are registered to vote! Visit here, sign up, and you can contact people anywhere in the country and encourage them to vote Obama 08!
For you Californians- reinforcing the statement on Google’s blog, No on Prop 8 ☺, however, this is a whole different conversation…
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
aliansary @ October 28, 2008
Management by Email…
It is about 9:00 am, you just have arrived to work and the first thing you realize is that your email inbox has overwhelmingly tripled from 25 new emails to 75 new emails…OVERNIGHT! Okay, so one-third of the emails are Facebook messages/comments, Twitter updates, or news feeds. A small percent go straight to the trash, [...]
The reason I have failed to update the blog has been based on multiple reasons. Mainly because of the transition of moving from the US to the UK. It has taken sometime to get adjusted and I still feel like I am in vacation mode. I have now officially started my master’s program at the [...]
This last Sunday I attended a demonstration in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building in Westwood. This was a peaceful rally in response to the escalation in the number of innocent civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Although the war in Afghanistan would be a great write, it would also be a long (maybe a book [...]
The Great Mosque of Paris was build in the early 1920’s and was known during WWII as one safe haven for Jews as they were safely hidden in the basement and women’s section of the mosque.
I thought I get deep this week.
For many people Ramadan, beginning September 1 or 2nd for some, marks the ninth [...]
When Music Crosses Styles, Sounds, and Generations…
Alright, tonight I am going to do it a little different. Music. As long as I can remember, I have always been listening to music. My interest in music comes most likely from the fact that I can always remember my dad listening to great music. Everything from flamenco guitar, to classical Indian music, to [...]
I am so sad that the Olympics are over. The Olympics represent so much to the world, expect for Russian Federation who should have waited 2 more weeks before invading Republic of Georgia in spirits of the Olympic Games. I mean, Georgia did get 3 Gold and 3 Bronze medals but no excuses.
The best thing about the Olympics is that everyone gets over their trashy television shows and everyone bonds over discussing real life topics. Key Olympians such as Michael Phelps stand out in how he went from a 19 year old Athens Olympic medal winner to a 19 year old with 18 months of probation from [...]
I went to a park on Sunday that is still in developments and won’t be complete anytime soon. However, what has been done thus far is mind blowing and what is coming in the up coming years will define a 21st century park. On an old marine base on the boarder of Irvine and [...]
