Take a look at a story in the Ledger regarding the "Amethyst Initiative" -- a policy in which a number of college administrators are questioning the current drinking age of 21.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080829/NEWS/808290301/1036/EDIT&title=Age_Old_Debate_About_Age
Other countries have conflicting ideas as to what age constititutes the beginning of adulthood -- that is, an appropriate age marking maturity. Our "legal" ages range from the driving age (depending on the state), to 18 (the voting age), to 21 (drinking age), and on upwards to 25 (the age of marked benefits/lower rates).
What are your views on the Amethyst Initiative? Should the drinking age be raised or lowered or is 21 an adequate age?
Friday, August 29, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Creepy Treehouse
There's a relatively new term coined by tech. academics called a "Creepy Treehouse." That is, when a professor integrates online social networks into the curriculum (like Twitter and Facebook).
Read the blog about it in The Chronicle of Higher Education as well as the blog responses:
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3251/when-professors-create-social-networks-for-classes-some-students-see-a-creepy-treehouse
As a teacher, I believe social interaction with students, in ANY sort of environment, can be professionally detrimental. If it was to be a part of my students' class grade, there would have to be a justifiable objective to it. In other words, it would certainly have to do with something being taught & learned in that particular subject area. It would have to be RELEVANT to the course.
Personally, I think we can intelligently interact on newsworthy issues without being invasive and personal. I hope this blog can do that for everyone. If it starts to become somewhat of a "creepy treehouse" though, let me know. (I don't ever want that!)
1. What are your views on the concept of the "creepy treehouse"?
2. When do you think a professor/teacher crosses the line when it comes to implementing new technological features into a course?
3. Finally, what do you think about "befriending" your professors on such social networks as Facebook, Myspace, etc...?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Welcome to the Issues of the Week Discussion!
Hello, everyone!
This is where 10% of your grade begins. The rules for the discussions are as follows:
1. You will be posting a blog on an issue. What you will do is EMAIL to me the blog on the issue you wish to cover and the commentary you wish to add to the topic (naturally, you've got to start the conversation). I will post it up on the blog site for your classmates; whereupon, the discussion will begin.
2. You will also be responsible for CONTRIBUTING your thoughts, comments, theories, comparisons, rants, raves, inquiries, outrage, etc. on each of the blogs posted by your classmates. It's a give-and-take discussion, as well it should be.
3. Your blog postings and responses must NOT be anonymous. It wouldn't make much sense to grade an anonymous contributor when I wouldn't know to whom I'd grant the grade, would it?
4. Since your blog postings and commentaries aren't going to be anonymous, I expect you to respond thoughtfully and intelligently. Please note, however, that I will not censor your writing. I strongly adhere to the ideology of freedom of speech. I simply ask that you refrain from using vacuous vulgarities and brash insults directed at your fellow commentators. That's not adequate argumentation, in any case.
5. Your blog issue will be on a CURRENT topic that's debatable. This may require you to start reading the newspaper and newsworthy magazines, watching the tube, browsing the internet, and so forth. Direct your blog commentators to certain stories/articles on the topic as well, to assist in your discussion and their contributions.
6. Bear in mind, folks, I'll be contributing, too! Don't let MY vantage dissuade you from posting either (in good argumentation, no side is 100% right or wrong!). That certainly ISN'T what freedom of speech entails. In other words, feel free to disagree with my views. Just be prepared to back up your claim!
7. Have a good time with this. What I hope this blog will do is free your mind a bit and give you some ideas as to research paper topics you might not have thought of before!
So, without further adieu... Let's begin with something easy --
Each of you introduce yourself and give us ONE pet peeve -- one thing that irritates you -- big or small -- that really gets under your skin.
I'll start:
I'm MacKenzie Jennings (duh), and I can't stand people who engage in frivolous lawsuits and put on a ridiculous victim mentality. For instance -- do any of you remember the McDonald's hot coffee cup lawsuit fiasco? Whatever happened to personal accountability?
This is where 10% of your grade begins. The rules for the discussions are as follows:
1. You will be posting a blog on an issue. What you will do is EMAIL to me the blog on the issue you wish to cover and the commentary you wish to add to the topic (naturally, you've got to start the conversation). I will post it up on the blog site for your classmates; whereupon, the discussion will begin.
2. You will also be responsible for CONTRIBUTING your thoughts, comments, theories, comparisons, rants, raves, inquiries, outrage, etc. on each of the blogs posted by your classmates. It's a give-and-take discussion, as well it should be.
3. Your blog postings and responses must NOT be anonymous. It wouldn't make much sense to grade an anonymous contributor when I wouldn't know to whom I'd grant the grade, would it?
4. Since your blog postings and commentaries aren't going to be anonymous, I expect you to respond thoughtfully and intelligently. Please note, however, that I will not censor your writing. I strongly adhere to the ideology of freedom of speech. I simply ask that you refrain from using vacuous vulgarities and brash insults directed at your fellow commentators. That's not adequate argumentation, in any case.
5. Your blog issue will be on a CURRENT topic that's debatable. This may require you to start reading the newspaper and newsworthy magazines, watching the tube, browsing the internet, and so forth. Direct your blog commentators to certain stories/articles on the topic as well, to assist in your discussion and their contributions.
6. Bear in mind, folks, I'll be contributing, too! Don't let MY vantage dissuade you from posting either (in good argumentation, no side is 100% right or wrong!). That certainly ISN'T what freedom of speech entails. In other words, feel free to disagree with my views. Just be prepared to back up your claim!
7. Have a good time with this. What I hope this blog will do is free your mind a bit and give you some ideas as to research paper topics you might not have thought of before!
So, without further adieu... Let's begin with something easy --
Each of you introduce yourself and give us ONE pet peeve -- one thing that irritates you -- big or small -- that really gets under your skin.
I'll start:
I'm MacKenzie Jennings (duh), and I can't stand people who engage in frivolous lawsuits and put on a ridiculous victim mentality. For instance -- do any of you remember the McDonald's hot coffee cup lawsuit fiasco? Whatever happened to personal accountability?
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