46. Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education.
Agree:
- Encourages students to be excellent test-takers and not actually learn the information
- Those that would seek a deeper understanding of a topic/subject are demotivated
Ex: Medical schools with accelerated programs
Disagree:
- Motivates students to do well
- Grades allow teachers to decipher areas that students are weaker in and adjust the course plans accordingly.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
44. The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves.
44. The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves.
Agree:
- Increased competition
- Results in medical, family, and social issues
Disagree:
- Technological advancements have increased the pace of life but has also made it easier.
Ex: invention of the wheel, telephone, Internet
Agree:
- Increased competition
- Results in medical, family, and social issues
Disagree:
- Technological advancements have increased the pace of life but has also made it easier.
Ex: invention of the wheel, telephone, Internet
43. Students should always question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively.
43. Students should always question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively.
Agree:
- Questioning allows innovation.
Ex: Copernicus, Galileo
Ex: Michelangelo, Da Vinci
- Students will be more engaged when they are questioning.
- Teachers and textbooks are not infallible.
- Questioning provides the opportunity to modify current theories.
Disagree:
- Questioning is not approved.
Ex: Italian philosopher Bruno was burned at the stake because his cosmic theory of an infinite universe offended religion.
Ex: During the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang burned books and buried scholars alive to prevent people from questioning the government.
- Excessive questioning would be counterproductive (i.e., meaningless questions).
- Students need a foundation of knowledge.
Agree:
- Questioning allows innovation.
Ex: Copernicus, Galileo
Ex: Michelangelo, Da Vinci
- Students will be more engaged when they are questioning.
- Teachers and textbooks are not infallible.
- Questioning provides the opportunity to modify current theories.
Disagree:
- Questioning is not approved.
Ex: Italian philosopher Bruno was burned at the stake because his cosmic theory of an infinite universe offended religion.
Ex: During the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang burned books and buried scholars alive to prevent people from questioning the government.
- Excessive questioning would be counterproductive (i.e., meaningless questions).
- Students need a foundation of knowledge.
Monday, January 9, 2012
42. (45.) The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries.
42. The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries.
(45. Claim: It is no longer possible for a society to regard any living man or woman as a hero.
Reason: The reputation of anyone who is subjected to media scrutiny will eventually be diminished)
Define: greatness
- Accomplishments that benefited society?
- Depends on the cultural environment (socioeconomic times, religious beliefs, etc.)
Agree:
Ex: Galileo was condemned for his support of heliocentrism, the theory that the Earth and other planets circled around the stationary Sun. This model was contrary to the popular belief in geocentrism, the belief that the Earth was the center of the universe.
- Scientists lay down the fundamentals of science and it is only years later that technologies are built upon these foundations that the full potential of these discoveries are realized.
(Ex: President Clinton's scandalous affair with Monica Lewinsky obliterated what good he did in the office, including a fantastic view of the national interest and a broad, inspiring vision of a nation of diversity.)
Disagree:
- Contemporaries sees the climb to the top of some great people.
Ex: Steve Jobs is widely acclaimed as the pioneer of the personal computer revolution.
(Steve Jobs, though a hugely successful businessman and inventor, was also known for being rude and mean. However, this did not diminish his success or popularity.)
- Greatness through influence
Ex: Voltaire's satirical writings were an inspiration during the French Revolution.
(45. Claim: It is no longer possible for a society to regard any living man or woman as a hero.
Reason: The reputation of anyone who is subjected to media scrutiny will eventually be diminished)
Define: greatness
- Accomplishments that benefited society?
- Depends on the cultural environment (socioeconomic times, religious beliefs, etc.)
Agree:
Ex: Galileo was condemned for his support of heliocentrism, the theory that the Earth and other planets circled around the stationary Sun. This model was contrary to the popular belief in geocentrism, the belief that the Earth was the center of the universe.
- Scientists lay down the fundamentals of science and it is only years later that technologies are built upon these foundations that the full potential of these discoveries are realized.
(Ex: President Clinton's scandalous affair with Monica Lewinsky obliterated what good he did in the office, including a fantastic view of the national interest and a broad, inspiring vision of a nation of diversity.)
Disagree:
- Contemporaries sees the climb to the top of some great people.
Ex: Steve Jobs is widely acclaimed as the pioneer of the personal computer revolution.
(Steve Jobs, though a hugely successful businessman and inventor, was also known for being rude and mean. However, this did not diminish his success or popularity.)
- Greatness through influence
Ex: Voltaire's satirical writings were an inspiration during the French Revolution.
41. (48.) Claim: When planning courses, educators should take into account the interests and suggestions of their students.
41. Claim: When planning courses, educators should take into account the interests and suggestions of their students.
Reason: Students are more motivated to learn when they are interested in what they are studying.
Assumption: Students' interest can be integrated into courses and benefit the course.
(48. Educators should find out what students want included in the curriculum and then offer it to them.)
Agree:
- Students are more engaged in learning when they are interested.
- Teachers are more motivated to teach when students are engaged.
- Students can provide teachers feedback on their teaching style (i.e., open forum vs. lecture)
Disagree:
- Teachers have a better understanding of what material should be in courses.
- Students would willingly skip over "boring" material that would be critical for their knowledge.
Reason: Students are more motivated to learn when they are interested in what they are studying.
Assumption: Students' interest can be integrated into courses and benefit the course.
(48. Educators should find out what students want included in the curriculum and then offer it to them.)
Agree:
- Students are more engaged in learning when they are interested.
- Teachers are more motivated to teach when students are engaged.
- Students can provide teachers feedback on their teaching style (i.e., open forum vs. lecture)
Disagree:
- Teachers have a better understanding of what material should be in courses.
- Students would willingly skip over "boring" material that would be critical for their knowledge.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
39. It is primarily through identification with social groups that we define ourselves.
39. It is primarily through identification with social groups that we define ourselves.
Define: social groups
- Who we hang out with
Agree:
- Social groups provide a sense of belonging.
Ex: The "black is beautiful" movement and the embrace of African hairdos, culture and traditions.
- Social groups provide people feedback on who they are.
- Some join social groups that hold similar beliefs and values to the individual.
Disagree:
- A person is defined by his or her individual nature, actions, reactions and role in society.
- Some join social groups to try and identify with it.
Ex: poor becoming rich and joining rich
Define: social groups
- Who we hang out with
Agree:
- Social groups provide a sense of belonging.
Ex: The "black is beautiful" movement and the embrace of African hairdos, culture and traditions.
- Social groups provide people feedback on who they are.
- Some join social groups that hold similar beliefs and values to the individual.
Disagree:
- A person is defined by his or her individual nature, actions, reactions and role in society.
- Some join social groups to try and identify with it.
Ex: poor becoming rich and joining rich
38. Society should identify those children who have special talents and provide training for them at an early age to develop their talents.
38. Society should identify those children who have special talents and provide training for them at an early age to develop their talents.
Define: special talents- higher intellectual awareness for certain subjects (ie, early interest in puzzles, higher level of reading, etc.)
Agree:
- Advantageous to develop these talents early on by allowing the child to focus and understand the use of their talents.
Disagree:
- How can you objectively identify special talents?
- Talent is not always innate but can also be cultivated.
- Geniuses can arise without early cultivation.
Ex: Albert Einstein was teased for his speech impediment and slow manners as a child and only finished a semester of school but he is now considered a genius.
Define: special talents- higher intellectual awareness for certain subjects (ie, early interest in puzzles, higher level of reading, etc.)
Agree:
- Advantageous to develop these talents early on by allowing the child to focus and understand the use of their talents.
Disagree:
- How can you objectively identify special talents?
- Talent is not always innate but can also be cultivated.
- Geniuses can arise without early cultivation.
Ex: Albert Einstein was teased for his speech impediment and slow manners as a child and only finished a semester of school but he is now considered a genius.
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