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The annual clown show begins anew. Williams is #1, Union #43, for those who care.
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“In the end, I don’t give the proverbial rodential posterior what Francis Collins’ religious views are, as long as they don’t directly impact NIH science policy, and I see no evidence from his track record that there’s any reason to be concerned that he’ll be somehow injecting them into the NIH or using them to determine policy or funding priorities. Personally, I find that whole line of criticism to be a huge distraction over what is far more important in a new NIH director, namely his policy priorities.”
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“Of course, the current pre-med curriculum, based on a rather inflexible menu of courses, already delivers basic concepts of science to students. But the challenge posed to educators — and yes, administrators — by “Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians” is the notion that mathematical and scientific content should be presented in context, preferably by emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches in the classroom and laboratory. Robert Alpern, co-chair of the AAMC-HHMI Committee, asserts correctly that the curriculum could “become much more interesting.” “
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“â¢Send gifts: To be honest, sending merchandise to buy votes from colleagues in the US News reputational survey probably won’t work – in large part because the president rarely gets to see the goodies sent (other administrators snag them beforehand). So, to make an impression, think big. Send a car. It worked for Oprah. And this year is the perfect time. You can probably get a great deal on a fleet of American brands. “
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“Sometimes, the caveats in a study speak louder than the findings. I think that’s the case here. A suggestion that classroom instruction supplemented by online exercises can lead to more learning than classroom instruction alone would hardly come as a surprise. But that’s about the only firm conclusion I draw from this meta-analysis. “
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“While students are spending considerable time completing homework, parents are generally supportive of homework practices, the study shows. They’re also involved in homework — usually in minimal but supportive ways, said Ken Kiewra, UNL professor of educational psychology and an expert on learning strategies, homework and study methods.
“Our findings should squelch the sentiments that homework is robbing children of free time and that parents are opposed to homework practices,” Kiewra said. “Parents generally report that children spend ample time playing and socializing and report that homework workloads are reasonable.””
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“Death Star
An unshielded exhaust port leading directly to the central reactor? Really? And when you rebuild it, your solution to this problem is four paths into the central core so large that you can literally fly a spaceship through them? Brilliant. Note to the Emperor: Someone on your Death Star design staff is in the pay of Rebel forces. Oh, right, you can’t get the memo because someone threw you down a huge exposed shaft in your Death Star throne room.”