June 17, 2007
This week eSchool News reports: “in the latest frontier of astronomy, known as ‘virtual astronomy,’ professional astronomers are increasingly enlisting the help of students and other novice stargazers to sift through these data in search of the next great breakthrough.”
What is happening in astronomy is at the leading edge of virtual apprenticeshipsomething that will replace uncountable hours of boredom experienced in the past by young people in schools. The Internet can connect youngsters to real places of productivity and research: businesses, laboratories and venues where knowledge is refined and art is made. In the agricultural world of a few centuries ago, the kids learned farming in real barns and fields. In the industrial times that created schools, children were sent to schools instead of factories (a good idea!). The Internet provides a new means for new generations to learn by participation. The astronomers are showing us that way, as described in the article cited above and here.
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June 17, 2007
LANSING, Mich.
Supporters of Michigans Proposal 2 won a key legal battle late Friday, as a federal appeals court lifted an injunction that had given the states three major universities six more months to comply with parts of the new law.
The opinion means the states voter-approved ban on some types of public affirmativeaction program goes into full effect as court cases proceed.
At least one pro-affirmative Read the rest of this entry »
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June 17, 2007
Seems like mobile technology is the theme this week...the Economist has an article/interview titled Nomads at Last that explores how technology (well, wireless communications) is changing how people live and work. An appropriate quote from Castells sums it up nicely: "Permanent connectivity, not motion, is the critical thing". I spend more time most days interacting with people in other countries than with people down the hallway. And I suspect the ability for people to interact outside of geographical constraints will replace much of what it means to "be here". Several times this week, I've approached people standing at counters, under the assumption they were there to provide a service for me, only to discover that they were in rather animated conversations with someone on their phone (go Bluetooth). "Here" means less and less. Connected means more and more.
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