fbpx
Home Blog Page 1312

Word + Quiz: interstitial

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word + Quiz: interstitial

: of or relating to the spaces between intervals, sections or segments (interstices)

_________

The word interstitial has appeared in 22 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 3 in the music review “The Bloom Is Still on Claire Chase’s Monumental Project” by Seth Colter Walls:

The evening concluded with a performance of Edgard Varèse’s “Density 21.5,” the 20th-century classic that has motivated Ms. Chase’s 21st-century pursuit of new repertoire. That brief work’s stark cries of heraldry served as a moving, climactic end to a show that was paced to entertain.

In progressing without breaks for applause over 75 minutes, this concert’s movement from one piece to the next was, at times, too smooth. Brief tape-music compositions by Bahar Royaee and Mr. Lorenzo (who also contributed an LED artwork titled “Light Flute” to the staging) were presented casually — essentially serving as interstitial music, while Ms. Chase darted between platforms inside the Kitchen’s space. Though as far as downsides go, this occasional sense of being too charged-up is the right kind of problem for an organizer to have during a multidecade initiative as demanding as this one.

_________

Learning With: ‘The Mueller Report Is 448 Pages Long. You Need to Know These 7 Key Things.’

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Learning With: ‘The Mueller Report Is 448 Pages Long. You Need to Know These 7 Key Things.’

2. According to the report, what are two examples of times that President Trump lied or tried to get his staff to lie about matters related to the Mueller investigation?

3. The authors write:

The president has spent the past two years denouncing the news media. He has repeatedly accused reporters of making up sources to destroy his presidency. The report, though, shows not only that some of the most unflattering stories about Mr. Trump were accurate, but also that White House officials knew that was the case even as they heaped criticism on journalists.

According to the Mueller report, what are two examples of times the president denounced the news media even though White House officials knew the news stories were accurate?

4. On page 220, the report explores the question of whether the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offense:

The evidence we obtained about the President’s actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgment. At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.

What does that conclusion mean? What does the Mueller report say about whether the president committed obstruction of justice?

5. What did the Mueller investigation uncover about Russian interference in the 2016 election?

6. The analysis ends with the following three paragraphs:

Prosecutors describe a president who was preoccupied with ending a federal investigation, a White House that repeatedly told misleading and changing stories, and a presidential campaign that was in repeated contact with Russian officials for reasons that are not always clear.

Even though prosecutors concluded that didn’t amount to provably criminal conduct, the report is astounding in its sweep. Yet it is also a reminder of how much the public has learned over the past two years about Mr. Trump’s conduct.

If the American public or members of Congress were learning these things for the first time, the political fallout would normally be devastating. The consequences of the report remain to be seen, but if people are not surprised or shocked by the revelations, then Mr. Trump may have benefited by the steady drip of news stories he has so loudly criticized.

What point are the authors making? Do you agree?

Finally, tell us more about what you think:

What is your reaction to the seven takeaways that Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, two Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, make in the article?

What Students Are Saying About: Controversial Murals, ‘Senioritis’ and a 17-Foot Python

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
What Students Are Saying About: Controversial Murals, ‘Senioritis’ and a 17-Foot Python

I believe the school should not paint over it the murals, but instead have a plaque explaining the history behind these photos. Example, “This picture explains how, though he was a valiant general, George also kept slaves …” or “ this dead native american shows the hardships the natives have faces and still face to this very day from the white people.” I think the murals should stay, and continues to show our ugly but very true american history.

— George Siokos, Masterman Philadelphia

@George Siokos George, but is it worth having to walk under murals of dead kin everyday. Is it worth being reminded everyday that your ancestors were not even considered human. I respect your opinion, but I believe that history can be taught without bringing people’s self esteem down.

— Tino K., Masterman Philadelphia

@George Siokos I think you make a very fair point that these are pieces of history and they definitely had a lot of effort put into them, and that is something that should not be overlooked. This is a very hard question, and I can definitely see how one could take either side. You certainly shouldn’t just get rid of something that someone put a lot of work into, especially if it is historically valuable, but is that really more important than making students feel safe and not discriminated against at school, which is supposed to be one of the safest places in a kid’s life? It would be nice if there were a compromise, a way to preserve the art while also upholding students’ self confidence. Of course, you’re certainly entitled to your own opinion, but in the end, I feel that it is more important that all students feel equal than it is to save paintings that degrade certain racial groups.

— Sivan Frankel, Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA

@George Siokos I totally agree. Even though these murals can be offensive, they express a part of our history. They shouldn’t be destroyed.

— Kaya Perelman, Masterman, Philadelphia

I think that the murals should get taken down if people are actually getting offended. Some people might say that kids need to learn about these events, which is true. But they can just learn about them in class. If nobody cared about the murals the if would be different because no one would be harmed by them. But people are feeling dehumanized by the murals and that’s not right. So I think that since people really care about these murals and are offended by them then they should be gotten rid of.

— Sabrina Mintz, Masterman, Philadelphia

@Sabrina Mintz While I agree they should be taught about in class, they can’t be taught and forgotten about, the events need to be acknowledged and remembered. History is history and it cannot be changed, the best we can do today is learn from them and that’s a reason the murals should stay, it’s so we can remember the events and not repeat them.

— Benjamin Chiem, J.R. Masterman – Philadelphia, PA

@Sabrina Mintz I also agree, the murals are still a part of history no matter how the events are described. It’s better to learn about history, compared to just hiding from it and trying to forget about it. People need to be aware of how it used to be, and how far we’ve gotten in our present time.

— Benga Oni, JR Masterman, Philadelphia PA

I think that the murals should stay in the high schools because the past is the past and there is nothing we can do about it. Not all of history is good, and we need to learn how to accept that. Of course some of these murals may not honor or have a positive purpose, but history was not smooth and either should these murals be. If the artist wanted to create something that depicts a darker time in history, so be it. We cannot sugar coat the past, for it happened.

— Sophia, Masterman

@Sophia It’s not about changing the past … We are still taught history in our classes after all. I think we should view the situation through scientific point of view. For example, if we just accepted the murals even if people found this offensive, would not this be evolutionary stasis? We wouldn’t evolve or gain anything by acceptance which would leave us in stasis. However, if were to remove the murals, we would evolve in a way of intelligence. We would be more intolerant of racism and the such.

Yeah it seems small to remove one mural, but what about the kids who go that school? It probably would affect them to some degree at least. Remember the Galapagos islands? It was only one minor change; a drought. To the world, this drought in the Galapagos was nothing. However, to the finches living there, it sure was a big deal!

… Humans are no longer primitive anymore. I don’t think we are dealing with issues of physical evolution anymore, but instead evolution regarding intelligence.

— G Jap, Masterman School, Philadelphia PA

A symbol of resilience

For me, The murals remain us a part of the history and help us to be stronger. That remind us to understand how difficult it was for the ancestors to g fought to enjoy the privilege. Together we are strong.

— Dorrotie 3A, YC CLIP

@Dorrotie 3A I agree with you all the way because history makes up what we are now and does make us stronger. True statement.

— Teddy Santos, Julia R. Masterman

Remembering the past to face the future

In my opinion, if something happened, there is no point in trying to cover it up under the wraps of time. For example, in the case of the murals, George Washington did fight in (what I believe to be) the 7 Years War, and did command Native Americans, who were, at the time, employed by both the British and French forces. Also, George Washington did own slaves, as did many of his contemporaries, it was just a product of the times.

A good example of why we should not try to shield past blemishes from the people of the youth is the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1917. Adolf Hitler used the reasoning that, if no one remembered the Armenian Genocide, (which they hadn’t) no one will remember the Holocaust. He said “After all, who today remembers the genocide of the Armenians?” All in all, those are my thoughts on why we should not try to get rid of the mistakes of the past, because if we do, history is bound to repeat itself.

— Jonah A., Masterman School

@Jonah A.This is a wonderful comment

— Hank, Philadelphia, PA

@Jonah A. I agree with how you related the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust to this issue. As with both genocides, genocides with these natives should not be forgotten, and it being placed on the walls of the high school, should not be removed to never forget what early Americans did to natives.

— George Siokos, Masterman Philadelphia

@Jonah A. I strongly agree. The past isn’t something we should hide and keep in the shadows. It is something we should always pay attention to and grow from. Without knowledge of historical events, we may repeat the same mistakes, which wouldn’t have a great result on the later future

— Abibat Lateef, Julia R. Masterman

@Jonah A. Well written, and great background. I definitely agree about not covering up our history, because why hide what has already been shown?

— Naiima Jabati, Julia R. Masterman, Philadelphia

Do these murals belong in a school?

I feel like it really does matter that these murals are in high school. We are intended to learn a lot in high school so if we do see murals that depict such bad actions then the students will be influenced more than they are already. As a student i understand that our minds are still developing and very easily manipulated. If these murals would be anywhere else like in a government office building, hospital or a courthouse the adults that are in those places already know right from wrong, they already have a formed opinion of their own. Unlike the teenagers that walk the halls of this school.

— Ciarah Torres, Iuka Mississippi

@Ciarah Torres I agree for the most part, but I believe that if these murals are thought of as offensive it doesn’t matter where they are. I also believe that it doesn’t matter what your age is, you can still be manipulated or convinced of something if you’re exposed to it enough. Besides these minor details I agree with your comment.

— Samuel Hamilton, Masterman

Having these types of murals in a school might be a little harsh especially because teenagers are just developing. Instead of just having a mural, it would be nice to have a little excerpt somewhere explaining what is happening in the mural. During history, students should learn about the murals, too and discuss their views.

— Jessica H., J.R. Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA

@Jessica H. I agree with you. We should not try to cover up history’s mistakes. We should try to learn from them.

— Justin T. Liu, Masterman; in Philly

@Jessica H. I totally agree. We can’t just ignore these things, no matter how hard they are to accept. Also, having extra information about the murals is an excellent idea. It is important for the students to understand what they are seeing and why it was created.

— Anya Finlay, Masterman- Philadelphia, PA

Learning about the good and bad parts of history

I recommend that the school remove the murals from the school. I think they should paint a new mural showing different aspects of George Washington’s life that aren’t as offensive.

— Christian, Walla Walla High School

@Christian I can see where you are going and it is a good line of thinking yet it still honors George Washington, and to honor a person you must honor them entirely in all that they have done, don’t you agree? Really, in my opinion, it would just end up with the same result as Washington was a slave owner and a man who oppressed many people and you can’t really ignore that. Still, your point is valid as the murals depict a cruel and offensive part of Washington’s life and evoke emotions amongst the people who are members of the groups he oppressed so it makes sense to immediately want to get rid of it, yet history is history and it is important to acknowledge atrocities done by people whom we honor and revere.

— Reza Chity-Guevara, Masterman, Philadelphia, PA

@Christian I respect your opinion but if you want to glorify a person such as George Washington, you should know his entire personality/beliefs and what he did in his lifetime. By just showing the aspects of Washington’s life that cutting out how he harshly treated others, a false understanding of his personality can be interpreted with his heroic side showing only.

— Hope A, Masterman, Philly

I believe the murals should stay. There are few reasons for this. The first and most obvious one is that they have historical importance. They were painted a long time ago and lots of other buildings and art from the past are still being protected today. Another reason is that it is educational. Lots of teachers and textbooks make George Washington out to be a great person, but learning about the bad things he did is also very important because no one is perfect and we all have our mistakes. The final reason is that we shouldn’t sugarcoat history. No matter what happened, we should still learn about it. These murals are in a high school. They are for sure old enough to realize that this is what happened in the world. That’s why they should keep the murals.

— Tierra G., Walla Walla, WA

@Tierra G. I couldn’t stress that point enough. I agree with you when you say that these murals carry so much historical importance. This is such an important part of our history and we can’t just tear it down. The students need to be able to learn from these paintings and censoring the past won’t make it easier. Keeping these pictures up will help us from ever backtracking into our old ways.

— Maeve McNichol, Masterman, Philadelphia, PA

__________

Computer Screen

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Computer Screen

What story could this image tell?

Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this illustration.

Post it in the comments, then read the related article to find out what this image is all about.

Find many more ways to use our Picture Prompt feature in this lesson plan.

What Role Does Nature Play in Your Life?

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
What Role Does Nature Play in Your Life?

What are your experiences with nature?

How often do you take a leisurely stroll through the grass, a garden or the woods? How often do you stop to look at, touch or smell a flower?

How do you feel when you are alone in nature? Do you find it relaxing, invigorating, healing?

In “The Healing Power of Gardens,” Oliver Sacks, a neurologist who died in 2015, wrote:

As a writer, I find gardens essential to the creative process; as a physician, I take my patients to gardens whenever possible. All of us have had the experience of wandering through a lush garden or a timeless desert, walking by a river or an ocean, or climbing a mountain and finding ourselves simultaneously calmed and reinvigorated, engaged in mind, refreshed in body and spirit. The importance of these physiological states on individual and community health is fundamental and wide-ranging. In 40 years of medical practice, I have found only two types of non-pharmaceutical “therapy” to be vitally important for patients with chronic neurological diseases: music and gardens.

The essay continues:

I have lived in New York City for 50 years, and living here is sometimes made bearable for me only by its gardens. This has been true for my patients, too. When I worked at Beth Abraham, a hospital just across the road from the New York Botanical Garden, I found that there was nothing long-shut-in patients loved more than a visit to the garden — they spoke of the hospital and the garden as two different worlds.

I cannot say exactly how nature exerts its calming and organizing effects on our brains, but I have seen in my patients the restorative and healing powers of nature and gardens, even for those who are deeply disabled neurologically. In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication.

My friend Lowell has moderately severe Tourette’s syndrome. In his usual busy, city environment, he has hundreds of tics and verbal ejaculations each day — grunting, jumping, touching things compulsively. I was therefore amazed one day when we were hiking in a desert to realize that his tics had completely disappeared. The remoteness and uncrowdedness of the scene, combined with some ineffable calming effect of nature, served to defuse his ticcing, to “normalize” his neurological state, at least for a time.

An elderly lady with Parkinson’s disease, whom I met in Guam, often found herself frozen, unable to initiate movement — a common problem for those with parkinsonism. But once we led her out into the garden, where plants and a rock garden provided a varied landscape, she was galvanized by this, and could rapidly, unaided, climb up the rocks and down again.

I have a number of patients with very advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, who may have very little sense of orientation to their surroundings. They have forgotten, or cannot access, how to tie their shoes or handle cooking implements. But put them in front of a flower bed with some seedlings, and they will know exactly what to do — I have never seen such a patient plant something upside down.

The essay concludes:

Clearly, nature calls to something very deep in us. Biophilia, the love of nature and living things, is an essential part of the human condition. Hortophilia, the desire to interact with, manage and tend nature, is also deeply instilled in us. The role that nature plays in health and healing becomes even more critical for people working long days in windowless offices, for those living in city neighborhoods without access to green spaces, for children in city schools or for those in institutional settings such as nursing homes. The effects of nature’s qualities on health are not only spiritual and emotional but physical and neurological. I have no doubt that they reflect deep changes in the brain’s physiology, and perhaps even its structure.

Students, read the entire Opinion piece, then tell us:

— What role does nature play in your life? Do you actively seek it out? How much time do you spend there? Tell us about your experiences in nature.

— Have you ever experienced any of the restorative or healing powers of nature and gardens — physical, spiritual, emotional — that Mr. Sacks describes? Where do you go to relax and find peace when you are feeling stressed out or down?

— What is your reaction to the stories of nature’s effect on people with mental and physical illnesses that Mr. Sacks recounts? Which story stands out or fascinates you the most and why?

— How accessible is the natural world where you live? Are there many gardens available to stroll through or sit in? Do you have any plants in your school or home? Are you more likely to seek out nature after reading this article? Do you think young people spend enough time in nature?

— Look through the photos featured in the article. Select one that you find most beautiful, or one that shows a place you would like to visit and experience. If inspired, write a poem about the picture.

Further Resources:

Heal Me With Plants

Take a Walk in the Woods. Doctor’s Orders.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

How Chelsea went from Google IT Support Learning to a Google Job Offer

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
How Chelsea went from Google IT Support Learning to a Google Job Offer

Chelsea found success after completing the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. Today, she works as a Data Center Technician at Google’s new data center in Clarksville, Tennessee.

My name is Chelsea Rucker. I live in Nashville, Tennessee. I completed the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera: I was drawn to the program because Google is my favorite technology company. Just a year ago, I lived in a shelter with my daughters. Thanks to Coursera and the Grow with Google initiative, I’m starting a career with Google that will help me maintain a sustainable lifestyle for my family. The culture at Google leaves so much room for growth — that’s what I love most.  

Here’s my Google IT Support Professional Certificate course list:

The program’s relevant content allowed me to speak knowledgeably throughout my interviews and implement practical uses for what I covered in the courses. I’ve tried so many learning platforms, from in-person classrooms to online courses. Learning with Coursera gave me the flexibility to take courses on my own time. Without the flexibility to get up at 4 am to finish work while my daughters sleep, I’d never have been able to earn my certificate so quickly. I believe education should be open and available to any learner, regardless of their lifestyle or income.

 

Ten Trendy Handwritten Fonts

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Ten Trendy Handwritten Fonts

Ten Trendy Handwritten Fonts

Handwritten fonts are making a huge impact this year! Everywhere you look you can see brands using a hand-written font in makeup and housewares and fitness. It is easy to see why they are popular. The authentic handwriting instantly adds a personal and human touch to any design.

Add an authentic touch to your newsletters and prints this year with one of these trending handwritten fonts.

Signature Collection

 

Serendipity

 

Sebastian Bobby

 

The Amoret

 

Poppit & Finch

 

Valerie

 

Lunar Alchemy

Halcyon

 

Hello Paris

 

Ultra System

 

Conducting Research Projects in Collaboration with Teachers

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Conducting Research Projects in Collaboration with Teachers

These examples show that applied research is important and more applied research is needed. It can point researchers to limitations of research findings and at the same time motivate new research questions to tackle. Thus, applied research does not only help to provide teachers and students with practical tips, but also informs research itself.

Applied research can be messier – particularly coming from an experimental research background – because you cannot control for all variables you’d wish to control for. However, the practical implications are higher. In addition, collaborations between researchers and teachers in this research field is – in my opinion – the way to go and should be a focus of the research agenda.

Peter concluded with a twist of a quote by Bjork, Kornell, and Dunlosky (1) who stated that “effective learning can be fun, it can be rewarding, and it can save time, but it is seldom easy.” Peter stated:

“Applied research in the classroom is fun, it is rewarding, and it is time well spent, but it is seldom easy.”

Additional resources of the talk can be found here.

Word + Quiz: proclivity

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Word + Quiz: proclivity

: a natural inclination

_________

The word proclivity has appeared in 61 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Aug. 24 in “W.N.B.A.’s Stars of Old Are New Again, and Six Wins From a Title” by Howard Megdal:

The Mercury faced the most difficult path to the semifinals of the four teams still playing. They defeated the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night in Phoenix, then flew to Connecticut and defeated the Sun, 96-86, on Thursday night in a thriller. The victory ran Diana Taurasi’s career record in winner-takes-all elimination games to 13-0.

“If I had the answer, I would gladly tell you,” a smiling Taurasi said about her proclivity for winning do-or-die games. “A lot of it is luck. A lot of it is having great teammates — you don’t do it alone in this sport. You have to rely on your teammates and your coaches. We relish these moments where it’s up to you if you want to keep playing.”

_________

Film Club: ‘Another Kind of Girl’

By
onlinefreecourse
-
0
Film Club: ‘Another Kind of Girl’

How can a challenging experience make a person stronger?

“Another Kind of Girl” is a 10-minute film that touches on themes of courage, resilience and speaking one’s truth. It is filmed and narrated by Khaldiya, a 17-year-old Syrian refugee living in a refugee camp in Jordan. She describes what her life inside the camp is like and how the experience has changed her and her family.

Students

1. Watch the short film above. While you watch, you might take notes using our Film Club Double-Entry Journal (PDF) to help you remember specific moments.

2. After watching, think about these questions:

• What moments in this film stood out for you? Why?

• Were there any surprises? Anything that challenged what you know — or thought you knew?

• What messages, emotions or ideas will you take away from this film? Why?

• What questions do you still have?

3. An additional challenge: What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?

4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)

5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.

6. To learn more, read “Another Kind of Girl.” Khaldiya writes:

When I arrived at the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan three years ago, I was overwhelmed. My family left our village in the region of Syria where the revolution began, after the area was bombed. My mother and six younger siblings and I suddenly became eight of the world’s 4.5 million Syrian refugees, and we have been living with 80,000 of them in our camp ever since.

Life in a refugee camp was different from what I’d expected. While it is hard in many ways, it has challenged me to be stronger and more independent.

_________

More?

• See all the films in this series.

• Read our list of practical teaching ideas, along with responses from students and teachers, for how you can use these documentaries in the classroom.

• Our next Film Club will take place on Thursday, May 2.

1...1,3111,3121,313...1,386Page 1,312 of 1,386

Recent Posts