Archive for the ‘Reflections’ Category

Seattle Says

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

I was in Seattle attending Supercomputing 2011 a week ago.  It is an amazing experience to be surrounded by scientists in all shapes and sizes (no kidding), and computational experts in all fields.  I have collected some quotes which I think are relevant to our philosophy as inquiry-based teachers.

“Everything we do as humans is a model.  Computational thinking is enhancing how you think—the ability to manipulate a model with the power to re-compute and re-vitalize.”

Bob Panoff, Shodor Institute                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

“Computational (Science Education) is using a model to teach a concept.   (Computational Science) Education: teaching how to build the model.”

Bob Panoff,  Shodor Institute                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

“Have = had + change” 

 Stephen I. Gordon, Ohio Supercomputer Center                                                                                                                                                                              

“We are dealing with a Data Tsunami….there is more data generated than can be humanly read… Many of today’s important scientific breakthroughs are made by large, interdisciplinary collaborations of scientists working in geographically distributed locations, collecting, producing, and analyzing ever vaster and more complex data sets. This deluge of scientific data has been called the “data tsunami.” Large-scale science projects require software tools that support, not only insight into exponentially growing data, but collaborative science discovery. ” 

Cecilia Aragon,  eScience Institute, University of Washington                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

What is Expertise?

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Well, we all know that teenagers know everything! And in these modern times, it appears that there are a lot of experts out in the world. Not just teens. And they are all on the internet. Actors, who need words written by someone else in order to perform their jobs, are testifying before Congress as to the causes of autism, global warming, and even mountain top mining. Technology has put boundless information at the ready for multitudes of young people. The internet is perceived as the leveler of the playing field between the non-expert and the expert. The internet is perceived as having all the accurate and the relevant information; if one accesses and absorbs this relevantly accurate information then one will have gained the knowledge to make an informed and intellectual decision about anything. Thus, becoming an expert. But, is this true? Take time to listen to this Eye4You Alliance Science Friday: Making Science User-Friendly podcast “Who’s An Expert?” featuring Harry Collins, Distinguished Professor and Director for the Centre for the Study of Knowledge Expertise and Science, Cardiff University. Then, you make a truly informed decision on who are the experts.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200810171

Sponsored by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, this site is for teens, about teens, and to encourage teens to become “better informed global citizens”.