Group items tagged

randomized control trials used in medicine to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs are now being used to evaluate policies -- some people get assistance; others don't.\nthis can be read in conjunction with the course reading by Muir, Hazel. 2008. Science rules OK: Running societies the rational way. New Scientist (24 May):40-43.

"Metcalf, S. (2002). "Reading between the lines." The Nation" (Jan. 28): 18-22."

This article is actually an interview of Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, and Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science; both are also organizational theorists. The two discuss how organizations can be more successful if they can work better with uncertainty, and incorporate meditation, derived from periods of silence in dialogue sessions, into their work. They claim that organizations need to accept that change should be accepted as the reality, and that life is a continuous state of change. The two also discuss the concept of "collective cultivation," wherein Buddhism teaches that cultivation is the practice of meditation, study, and service. Organizations not only need to accept change, but they need to collectively work hard and know how to accept this change. Unfortunately, most organizations don't have the tools or methods to support this idea. This interview allows the reader to think more about the concept of organizations and leaders in general, and how we understand them. We can't blame the hierarchy for the way things are, because we put the hierarchy in place. We are responsible for our own actions when we obey the demands of our leaders. If we can change our own views of organizations and the habits that we have adopted to work in them, then we can potentially change the way that they function from the inside out.

What struck me most about this article is their suggestion that we need to change our concept of what it means to be a leader in an organization. Particularly in the Western world, we look to our leaders, in fact expect our leaders, to have all the answers. As a leader, being comfortable sitting with uncertainty makes those you lead uncomfortable with you. The process of action research incorporates many of the same characteristics Senge and Wheatley identify: listening, being open, engaging in dialogue. Actively using action research in the workplace may help us reform our model of leadership.

I thought this article was very different but also very interesting. I like the combination of a business perspective and a religious one. I never really put too much thought into any similarities between the two. The suggestions on an effective leader and an effective organization are insightful. I agree there needs to be more dialogue as well as more reflection in order for things to work more efficiently.

This article briefly examines communication skills. Although the article approaches such skills from a teacher to student perspective, I think a lot of the material can be used in any type of group or individual setting. After defining oral communication and listening, the article offers two methods for assessing speaking skills-the observational approach and the structured approach. Both methods can be assessed through a rating system. The assessment of listening skills is similar to a reading comprehensive test. The elements of a listening test are the stimuli, the question, and the test environment. The article offers assessment for communication skills in hopes to develop such skills and abilities to listen criticlly and to express oneself clearly.

Greenwald presents 3 key features that must be present in a TRUE problem-based learning lesson: initiating learning with a problem, exclusively using ill-defined problems, and teachers acting as thinking coaches. She gives and example of an ill-defined problem scenario, and also 10 Steps to PBL approach. This article is a great read and gives applicable tools, which seem like they would be great for teachers or facilitators to probe students to dig deeper in their hand-on investigations. In regards to my own project, I am always interested in problem solving approaches in graphic design, and a lot of the 10 steps in this article could easily be translated to a design problem/problem and the research that is required for it.

This article focuses on the many aspects of educational change. From history, to meaning, to processes, this seems to have it all and is really easy to read.

Insightful memoir providing information about the affects of bullying. Easy reading with personal reflection about feelings associated with being the victim of bullying. Very informative for educators, parents, students, but for anyone who may be dealing with such difficulties in their settings.

This article can be used for those who may want to begin using humor in your class without losing sight of the learning objectives.

This is a great read and humor has many long term benefits for overall health and well being. In nursing, it can be very stressful and humor can be a very effective measure to relieve stress.

The brain-based learning material that I have been reading recommends surprise as an important tool to gain and hold students' attention. Humor fits with this. The article recommends a highly organized, thought-out, and planned approach which may work for some but other teachers might just want to wing it.

This article outlined several issues. 1. High powered politicians coming together to make decisions on federal policy that directly effect their financial profits. 2. The use of insufficient evidence from studies, the lack of scientific correlation and the improper transcription of results from studies being used to make "the best" decisions in standardized tests and phonics instruction on reading skills. 3. The emphasis and funding for schools being put toward standardized tests and phonics instruction along with materials/products needed for them instead of other places that may be in more need.

This article brings to light what Metcalf describes as the "Bush Revolution" in education. After providing a brief history of education, referencing Horace Mann and John Dewey, Metcalf stresses education as a business, connecting McGraw (Publisher McGraw-Hill) and Bush. Bush changes the system and creates new standards in education, as a result new materials are then needed to implement his new education 'revolution.' Metcalf implies the situation is more about business between friends than actually worrying about educating children.

What stress reduction techniques can I provide and make available for allied health students? Here is a web sites I think anyone can utilize to reduce their stress.This site has a plethora of tools to help students with Attention and Learning ,Encoding and Retrieval, Group and Cooperative Learning, Memory, Monitoring, Motivation, Note Taking, Organization, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Questioning, Reading Comprehension, Test Anxiety, Test Preparation, Test Taking, Time Management, Writing, Proofreading and much more. A really nice plan for students and how they can reduce their stress while in school. Enjoy Mary McGurn

Great article related to Attention Restoration Theory (ART) which was part of my study in 692. Easy to read, and relevant for cognitive psychology students. Check out the Children & Nature Network for more research and info on the importance of connecting with and learning through nature: http://www.childrenandnature.org

Great quick read for resolving conflicts in all aspects of one's life using 7 easy steps. Give it a try!

Presented as a case study of the importance of Individualized Intervention for children with the diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder and achieving success. Additional support structure recognized as individually needed for Michael, he received focused instruction in the reading and writing program training nonverbal children to communicate via written word cards and later through typing on a keyboard or writing on paper.

This is an interesting initiative of a local business executive-turned-sculptor. I love that he not only found the courage to explore a creative avenue that he had never practiced in the past, but that he also seeks to help others do the same. I would be interested to read his book in which 100 people are interviewed regarding their significant life changes, and found it inspiring that there is actually a group in Needham that explores these ideas, called Discovering What's Next. What a great idea!

Thanks for posting this- I agree, it's impressive! Many adults are really afraid of art and afraid of exploring creativity. Not this guy, obviously!

The "Evaluation Exchange" is a periodical published by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It reports new ideas in evaluating programs and policies.This is a great resource because they include short yet in-depth articles focused on evaluation. I am sure that most CCT students could find useful resources and information within this site. One article I read, called "Evaluating the Impact of Professional Development," was of interest to me because it directly relates to my topic of evaluating a potential professional development opportunity for teachers.

Although my project is not necessarily geared toward evaluating an actual exhibit, I stumbled upon this site that is relevant and pretty interesting. This museum dedicates an entire section of its website to sharing evaluation reports of its exhibits. Most of their evaluations are conducted through observations and interviews, which gave me some ideas about how to design my own evaluation process. The Natural History Museum's evaluations are easy to read and might give others ideas about how to design effective evaluation procedures.

(access full PDF via Umass databases page to SAGE journals online) "In this article we delve into the potential learning capacity inherent in project-based organizations derived from conclusions drawn from action research as well as extensive field experience. We propose project-based learning as a means to deal with the challenge of sustainable growth of learning capacity, i.e. developing learning capabilities that enable reasoning beyond the short term; knowledge creation and sharing beyond the individual or team. Based on stories from the field, we explore the distinguishing features of project-based learning and ways in which project-based learning can be instrumental in building communities of reflective practitioners."

This is an interesting perspective on learning styles and options. I've experienced working in a Charter School with this philosophy, project based learning, which of course is appealing to some learners, but not all. It is an excellent option to pursue for particular students who may thrive in this learning environment, where they might otherwise flounder in a traditional setting. It would be nice to see this option incorporated more widely in regular public schools in addition to traditional tracks (business, college prep, vocational education). Mary Ann p.s. E.K. READ THIS ONE!

6 Features of Effective Teaching for Middle Schools & High Schools

If you have a chance to read this book, it really gets you to think about how we have structured our work environments potentially to our overall disadvantage. I heard an interview with Schwartz on NPR, was intrigued, so got the book. He talks about four basic human needs: Sustainability/Physical; Security/Emotional; Self-Expression/Mental; and Significance/Spiritual. Schwartz asserts that we need elements of all four in our lives, including at work, to be fully functioning and growing.