We often underestimate learners...

What learners like in their teachers...

(Getting practical. A guide to teaching and learning. Saide. 3rd Edition. Criticos, Long, Mays.et al)

Challenging the very nature of reality!

DESCARTES' EVIL GENIUS (Joel Levy, A bee in a cathedral. And 99 other scientific analogies.)

If you were nothing more than a brain in a vat of fluid, wired up to a computer that simulated reality for you, would you be able to tell?

In 1641 French philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650) posed an argument that challenges the very nature of reality, posing the ultimate doubt about the universe, 'Suppose', he wrote, 'some evil genius not less powerful than deceitful, has employed his whole energies in deceiving me; I shall consider that... all ... external things are but illusions and dreams of which this genius has availed himself to lay traps for my credulity.' In other words, if the only means we have to determine the nature and existence of reality is the information that arrives in the mind via senses, it is possible that we could be deceived via these senses.

The modern version of this sceptical dilemma is the 'brain in a vat' problem. If you are not really a person with a body, walking around and interacting with reality, but actually just a brain suspended in a vat, fed a simulation of reality by a powerful computer, there would be no way to tell the difference.

This conceit forms the basis of the film The Matrix.

Interesting stuff to know:

The cerebrum - the outer part of the brain - is thought to be the seat of the conscious mind. If the cerebrum's wrinkles were all unfolded, it would cover four pieces of A4 paper.

The mind can have extraordinary powers over the body. Hindu holy men, known as saddhus, can consciously slow their heart rates to just two beats a minute and stay under water for up to six minutes.

Some Tibetan monks practise a skill known as tumo, where they learn to raise the temperature of their fingers and toes by up to 8°C (15°F), simply by an effort of will.

You spend the equivalent of 122 days asleep every year - that's about a third of your life.

The dolphin and the echidna are the only mammals that do not have REM sleep (as far as researchers can tell).

Newborn babies spend up to 70% of their sleep time in REM sleep.

From conception humans design their own reality with input from parents, family and the world. If our heavenly Father would have been our single input, how amazing could reality have been?

Math Science and Technology (MST) Report from the DoBE October 2013

The DoBE has released a report on MST and I view it as a good read for those who are interested in these learning areas and what the government is planning for the future as solutions and recommendations.

http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=O26UtU9j3bg%3d&tabid=358&mid=1301

I can underpin the seriousness of a country at loss for good ideas on how to stop this critical challenge we have in South Africa. The time has come to refrain from blaming each other and pull together as a nation to seek solutions - especially the public sector is viewed as a solution to this challenge.

Annette Lovemore of the Democratic Alliance (DA):
"No matter what dedicated maths, science and technology structure Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga decides to develop within her department, she must take cognisance of the fact that successful teachers have succeeded largely despite her department, and not because of it. She must draw on their expertise. Their excellence must be recognised and duplicated many fold." [Politicsweb. Accessed 29/10/2013]

As teachers we have the responsibility to share our fresh knowledge on Classroom Management and Praxis, Educational Psychology, and Instructional Methods with those teachers who haven't studied for a while and might be a bit rusty on these issues. I have recommended good reading books too:

The Educator as Mediator of Learning. Nieman & Monyai, 2006.

Remain positive and remember that teachers have an extra accountability factor, before God, when it comes to children.

Celebrities are also human.

Yes, Einstein was challenged with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

During my research on barriers to learning, I was amazed to learn that many prominent celebrities suffer from this disorder and how challenged their lives became in social context. ODD is a disruptive behaviour disorder. There are three types, namely:

* Attention defecit-hyperactivity disorder...is characterised by inattention, a high level of activity and impulsivity, or a combination of these, Note, though, that it is often not considered a disability;

* Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is diagnosed when learners are defiant with adults and vindictive or blaming with peers to an excessive degree over a long period of time; and

* Conduct disorders are diagnosed when learners fight, bully, display cruelty to animals or people, or otherwise repeatedly break serious rule.

[Taken from Educational Psychology. Anita Woolfolk. 11th Edition. Pearson, page 137]

How does one distinguish between just plain bad behaviour and ODD as a teacher, apart from seeking professional help? I experience primary school learners as children that have not been taught the ethics, manners and self-worth common to a normal family setup, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are ODD due to their aggressive and unmannered behaviour towards teachers and peers.

The answer is basically to consider where the child has come from at any given day, try to establish patterns of occurance and keep a portfolio, talk to teachers who have experienced the same behaviour with that specific child, talk to the parents and family during parent meetings to pin down the occurance, and finally refer the child to a professional for diagnosis. Until then the child cannot be labelled and the process of support can begin with a holistic approach of child, family, school and professional caring net of sharing information.

There is so much resentment in our children today towards the world, but on the other hand I must admit that if I were a learner in my community today, I would also be furious with the Do BE with the challenging ergonomics and teacher quality we find in schools currently. I have so much empathy for the way learners have to experience their education - which should actually be a carefree time of their lives.

One can only hope for an education rebirth on all levels of society.

On a less serious note...In the book "A bee in a cathedral. And 99 other scientific analogies." Joel Levy published an analogy 'Measuring the Internet' by way of Einstein's formula.

"Russell Seitz of Harvard University took a novel approach and decided to weigh the Internet. Einstein's famous equation E=mc² describes how energy has mass (albeit infinitesimally small mass). Seitz applied this principle to an estimate of the total amount of Internet traffic in bytes, multiplied by the energy required to move a byte of information, arriving at the conclusion that the Internet weighs 56g (2 oz) - about the weight of a large egg."

TEDxManitoba - Rick Van Eck - The Gaming of Educational Transformation

E-waste

"Lagos has one of the largest dumps for unwanted or old electronic items. This is called e-waste. This is a very serious threat to the environment and can also be dangerous to people's health" (Our World Our Society, Grade 6 Learner Book). Lagos is situated in Nigeria and the country is rated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa, and seventh fastest in the world.

Not only is e-waste a challenge for this country but will become a worldwide one, as we all know that the computer's existence in its traditional form is fast coming to and end. Heaps of screens, CPU towers, keyboards , mouses and accessories will eventually add to the growing waste dump because the new technology of learning is leading the way for cellphone devices to be harnessed in the world of information sharing.

Google's catch phrase for today is "The web is transforming Africa' and the truth is that this is putting it lightly, actually it is revolutionising the complete human mindset towards information sharing. The following link from nyotamedia showcases this through a slideshare presentation:

http://www.slideshare.net/rudydw/how-mobile-technology-is-transforming-africa

I have an undescribable hope for rural area schools and how education can manifest itself creatively via technology appropriate devices that speak to the 21st generation in a way they understand and prefer to learn. I dream of schools where teachers mediate technologically to educate learners...no more teachers sitting around in staff rooms, unwilling to be in classrooms...only learners with bright eyes and bushy tails, eager to learn from an information giant like Google, going the distance for those humans who are willing to seize the moment and secure our future (leaders)!

Thank you Google!