Institute for Advanced Study, Opportunities for Scholars 2014-2015 | The Medieval Academy Blog INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY, School of Historical Studies, Opportunities for Scholars 2014-2015 . The Institute is an independent private institution founded in 1930 to create a community of scholars focused on intellectual inquiry, free from teaching and other university obligations. Scholars from around the world come to the Institute to pursue their own research. Candidates of any nationality may apply for a single term or a full academic year.
Studying vs learning There is a fundamental difference between studying and learning in the field of language learning. Being able to speak a language is a skill. A skill is something that is achieved over time through trial and error. Do you remember the first time that you magically started to find the balance on the saddle of your bike? Now, let us suppose that my very enthusiastic father wanted to teach me how to ride a bike by constantly giving me instructions on how to do it. A bike remains upright when it is steered so that the ground reaction forces exactly balance all the other internal and external forces it experiences, such as gravitational if leaning, inertial or centrifugal if in a turn, gyroscopic if being steered, and aerodynamic if in a crosswind. The rider applies torque to the handlebars in order to turn the front wheel and so to control lean and maintain balance. Studying is an act of deliberate learning. Mark and John both get a new language course. Mark examines the book. (*) Footnote:
THANK YOU, POSTACS! | pan kisses kafka YOU GUYS! “ My Academic Metamorphosis ” is #1 on the Chronicle Website today! Paywall and all! Look. Why should we keep yelling? But this also (and very importantly) requires a change from the top down , not just from the bottom up. Then (here’s the Akademische Verwandlung Cutting-Room Floor): while in grad school, all around you are only examples of people in the club –because you’re taught implicitly (by not being introduced to any of them) to give adjuncts, lecturers and other contingent faculty a wide berth, lest it be contagious. As you get closer to defense and start to present at conferences, your world grows…but only to other scholars in your own field–again, usually only The Fortunate. Organizing adjuncts? Like this: Like Loading...
Manga and anime declared good study tools for kids Children’s books and television shows these days are nothing compared to the ones that many of us had growing up. At least that’s what we tell ourselves. I think back fondly on those days of watching Rugrats and Scooby Doo marathons and scoff at the thought of modern-age children rotting their brains with Spongebob and Annoying Orange. But the fact of the matter is that letting kids subject themselves to those books and animations is important to the development of reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, though the shows now seem like garbage to our fully-developed minds. In Japan, the same sort of issue arises with kids becoming obsessed with manga and anime. Parents may try to insist that their children put away the comics and pick up a real book. Let’s start with the manga. Every time a child rereads their manga of choice, there is something new that they discover. But what about anime? In addition, anime can drastically broaden a child’s vocabulary. Like this:
Noam Chomsky on Democracy and Education in the 21st Century and Beyond Combat the epidemic of misinformation that plagues the corporate media! Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Truthout and keep independent journalism strong. Noam Chomsky. (Photo: Andrew Rusk / Flickr ) Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, political critic and activist. He is an institute professor and professor emeritus in the department of linguistics and philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Also see: Democracy and Education in the 21st Century: Part 1, Daniel Falcone Interviews Noam Chomsky, June 2009 Daniel Falcone for Truthout: I wanted to ask you some questions about education in the 21st century. Chomsky: Not sure the topic exists. Falcone: Yes, right. Chomsky: That's an interesting question. And these were independent farmers. And there was more to it than that. So, it's kind of a mixture. Right now, we happen to be in a general period of regression, not just in education. The other is what's happening to teachers like you.
Quickwrite: Why Teachers Don’t Read | In an effort to post more frequently I am inaugurating what I will call “quickwrites”, after the popular classroom writing activity. La Lettura, by Achille Boschi (1852-1930) A discussion in the car this morning brought up the question of what would make for a better professional class of teachers. My argument, based on my fifteen years of teaching experience, is that far too many teachers lack the much-touted “lifelong love of learning”. I noted that while many teachers espouse this maxim to their young proteges, they fail to practice it in their own lives, especially when it comes to reading. I understand why people don’t have time. A natural question at this point is, how do I do it. Like this: Like Loading...
How Many Teachers Really Understand Dialogue? | “A Multiplicity of Dialogues” is a thought-provoking article from the Ikeda Center in regard to the explosive flurry of interactions within such online groups as the Badass Teachers Association. I have spent the past week engaging with the BATs with an odd mixture of joy and dismay. On the one hand, it is a long time coming that such bold, open and honest discussions occur between educators. On the other hand, there is much spouting of opinions, venting of frustrations and often an unwillingness to go deeper. On this latter point, however, I wonder if it isn’t an unwillingness so much as not-knowing-how to deepen and expand conversations? In this article, Jim Garrison, Professor of Philosophy of Education at Virginia Tech University, and Larry Hickman, Director, Center for Dewey Studies, and Professor of Philosophy, Southern Illinois University Carbondale spoke with students about the role of dialogue in terms of identity and the greater self.
In Finland’s Schools, Less is More | LearnNow Despite fewer class hours, almost no standardized testing and teachers with free rein, the Finnish school system has risen to the top internationally. A fourth-grade student in York, Pennsylvania, sharpens her pencil, pulls out her state-issued math book and waits for her teacher to begin the lesson. Approximately 4,000 miles east, a similar fourth grader in Helsinki, Finland, prepares for math class by venturing into the snow and collecting sticks, berries and stones that she will use to create shapes for a geometry lesson. Sound like the difference between night and day, right? Yet these resourceful teaching methods have helped earn Finnish students the highest rankings on international tests, including a coveted second place on their 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores in science literacy, third in reading and sixth in mathematics. In recent years, Finland’s education model has emerged as a leader in flexible, noncompetitive learning. Related Reading:
The Gaze of Educators | This past week has been a heady flight, but I am happy to report that my feathers aren’t ruffled. A few days ago I joined the nascent Badass Teachers Association. Today I left the group. On a personal level it has been the final step in my movement away from direct activism in the progressive education movement. This has been a long journey for me, but I can confidently say that my role as an education reformer is necessarily very different from that of many of my peers. I have been both supported (mostly) and criticized for leaving the group. Prominent voices (I won’t say leaders because this group was the purest form of anarchy to which I have ever been party) reassured me multiple times that it would eventually all come together. I could go on, but it would sound like I’m complaining and I’m really not. On the other hand, American school teachers can be very weak willed at times. There have never been such challenges to education as we see today. Like this: Like Loading...
MA Education Reform at 20: What Lies Ahead? | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity By Alyssa Haywoode, Early Education for All (Left to right) Noah Berger, president MassBudget; Eileen Rudden, co-founder, LearnLaunch; John Jackson, President & CEO, Schott Foundation; John Bissell, Executive VP, Greylock Federal Credit Union. Photo: Strategies for Children "Since the 20-year history of education reform, Massachusetts has emerged as the top ranking state in the nation for overall student performance, but there is still more work to be done to fulfill the promise of a high-quality public education. Future reform efforts should allow for greater differentiation of supports with the end goal of fostering 21st century skills in all students in the Commonwealth." - Representative Alice Peisch, co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education It’s time to start a new conversation about education for the children of the commonwealth. The Panel Discussion Noah Berger, President of MassBudget What would Massachusetts be like if it had more college graduates, Berger asked.
Brycen R. R. Couture: Unschooler, Musician, Activist for Children, All People; the World: My First Reaction to Ron Clark's Article, "What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents" No matter how you look at school, its wrong. It doesn't matter if every teacher is (to use my Mom's word) a “gem”. It's the institution, it is mandatory for these kids to go there and to be forced to stay there and to do work once they are there. The goal of school is to condition the child to be in this painful environment. When I read Ron Clark's article, What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents, I wanted to give it the finger, but I'm not that kind of person. I feel very sad by what he wrote. My reaction to this article is pain.
The 12 Must-Have Skills Of Modern Learners If you consider yourself a modern learner and take advantage of modern technology in order to improve yourself, then you probably have some or most of these characteristics. If you use technology to bolster your understanding of a particular topic, use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to tackle tough questions, or simply collaborate across networks (online and in-person), then you’ve got some of the skills of modern learners. That’s the idea behind this fabulous visualization from User-Generated Education . It details the 12 skills of modern learners that, depending on your current skill level, you should aspire to attain, already have, or at least know about. Personally, I like the focus on agility and adaptability. Another critical skill I want to point out is empathy and global stewardship. What’s your favorite skill?