Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with Education

as far from Shopping Mall State as possible

brandnew — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:55:08 -0800

What are some of the more radical, yet reputable, universities in the United States? What are some universities in United States that encourage a culture of radical intellectualism? To be precise, I mean ones that promote or even encourage research and development of ideas that are unconventional, potential controversial, and likely to be found no where else.

I'm looking for those places of education that attract the most pure thinkers - educators and students that thrive by living on the edge of knowledge, uninterested in contemplating the usual paths. Although they may be fearless and provocative, they still employ rigorous and credible standards of research.

Of course this is an ideal portrait, and likely non-existent. But which universities even come close?

How to get to speed in mathematics for a phd?

tonci — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:43:53 -0800

Looking for programs or study options to fulfill math, statistics and economics prerequisites ahead of applying to grad school? I'm planning ahead for applying to a doctoral program in business and want to keep options open that would require stronger math background than I have. I'm aware of the predoctoral program at NYU and am looking for other ways to fulfill this kind of coursework. I would consider non-degree as well as degree options. The ideal programs would be like the post-bacs that are designed for people applying to medical school who didn't take required classes in college.

Help me finish my degree

F.Jasmine Addams — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:50:11 -0800

I completed about 3/4 of the requirements for a BA in history at a US university. I last attended about three years ago. I now want to complete my degree, but I am permanently settled in the UK. Going back to the states isn't an option, so I need to either find an accredited university with an online program based in the US that will accept my credit hours from the University of Tennessee, or I need to somehow finish my degree at a university here in the UK. I think the classroom experience is important for a history degree, so I would actually prefer the second option, as long as my credits from the US could somehow be converted to at least half of the requirements for a history degree here in the UK - I don't mind going back to school for a year-and-a-half, but I don't want to go back for another three years. I also wouldn't mind taking A-levels, if necessary.

This is my first foray into this idea, I will of course do some research and speak to people at my old university and at local universities here in Birmingham, but I am just looking to hear your experiences or your opinions about the viability of my ideas.

How does education about religion work in US schools?

bjrn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:49:54 -0800

Someone told me that in the US most public schools don't have religious studies or comparative religion type classes. Is this true? If this is true, how far does it go? Does that mean there's no (Greek/Roman/Norse) mythology either? And what would be the rationale behind not teaching it?

Want to have a real college "experience" but limited to community college and a state school in a city I just don't like.

evanrodge — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:35:15 -0800

Want to have a real college "experience" but limited to community college and a state school in a city I just don't like. Ok, so please let me fill you in on the back story.

During my high school years I switched schools three times. I never really had a chance to make good friends at any of them, although I was a reasonably popular athlete.

My family was forced to move to Tennessee the summer before my senior year. I was struck with a reasonable bout of depression due to loneliness shortly after we moved down here. I still have a few friends from my senior year, but most of them have gone off to college somewhere else. I was so focused on making friends and doing social stuff that I totally neglected my college search during this time. So my dad, who was a star college athlete, pressured me significantly to play lacrosse on scholarship. He talked about that non-stop, day in, day out. So finally I just settled on a small school in NC where I could play.

For my freshman year of college I went to a small school where I was to play DII lacrosse. I then realized that playing lacrosse was something I did as a kid, not what I wanted to do all during my college years. After my first semester there, my mom got really sick, so I decided to just come home and go to community college until she recovered.

This summer has been a total mess. I got accepted back to my small school (LMC) and also a larger state school - UT Chattanooga. However, I can no longer afford to go to LMC because I wouldn't be playing lacrosse for them.

I just visited Chattanooga, and I have to say that I really don't like it there. Its a big city with an outdated school, and I don't know anyone there.

So now I'm stuck. I just want to go to a real school where I can have a real college experience, but its too late to apply anywhere else, and by the time next spring semester rolls around I will have lost a whole year and a half of my college 'life'. I just want to have real friends and have some fun for once.

What do I do now?

What if Sinatra Really Digs Orville Redenbacher?

Dr. Zira — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:22:50 -0800

BarExamFilter: What are your favorite mnemonics and/or memory aids that helped you remember certain elements of a particular rule or concept? Examples: Stuff like in the BarBri lectures (like Paula Franzese's "Frank Sinatra Doesn't Prefer Orville Redenbacher" for Fee Simple Determinable/Possibility of Reverter) or the "MIMIC" rule for prior acts in Evidence. My creativity's zapped, so I'm desperate for some fresh ideas.

GradStudiesFilter: Best place for an education studies PhD?

meso — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:21:16 -0800

I'm 21, living in London, UK. I just got a first class BA in sociology of education with philosophy. I'm already starting to think what to do after my Master's degree (still in the sociology of education). If the planet's the limit, what are the best places to do a PhD in the sociology of education? (And is my envy to do it at somewhere like Harvard or Stanford worth pursuing?) Bonus points if you've been there yourself and share a slice of your experience!

How do I convince someone that (S)cience is real?

doppleradar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:50:32 -0800

How do I convince someone Science is real? I've run into a handful of people in the last year who are skeptical that (S)cience is real. Or is any more real/credible/valid than other "belief system."

Their arguments have all had one or a mix of "I don't believe in Science because":
1. It has been wrong before
2. There are still unanswered questions
3. There have been conflicting results on the same topic
4. I read "The Secret"/watched "What The Bleep Do We Know"/etc., and think that pairing pseudo-science with vaguely related Scientific concepts makes it all equally true.
6. Science is accepted because people are brainwashed by authority and not because it is true.
5. Any of the above reasons why Science is "wrong" proves my hypothesis right.
6. If it works for me, it is true.

I don't begrudge anyone their belief system, but am a little overwhelmed with the sheer baseness of why there is a distinction between Belief and Fact. It seems like there should be an easier way to explain it all than having to get into some long diatribe on the history and philosophy of Scientific thought.

So, hivemind, what is the most basic, and most respectful way to explain why (S)cience is "real?"

Warmup activities for young writers

lunalaguna — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:20:35 -0800

Looking for interesting, not cheesy, ideas to get 8th-10th graders warmed up for an afternoon of writing and discussion. I'll be leading some warm-up activities at a writing camp next week for 13-16 year-olds. I'm looking for ideas for some simple, quick activities (< 15 minutes) that'll get everyone up and interacting with each other. Freewriting and get-to-know-you type exercises are already planned, so something physical, not necessarily writing related, would be best.

How to argue against nationalism

omnigut — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:38:38 -0800

HistoryFilter: What popular historical myths are there about Portuguese and English History? My friends (one American and one Portuguese) get very riled when I talk about aspects of their histories that aren't positive. Today, I talked about how America had probably been "discovered" many times before Columbus, since the first people (now called Native Americans) had come here. I also mentioned that I'd heard The Chinese and Arabs may have been the first around the Cape of Good Hope.

They told me, in no particular order, that optimistic and/or inspiring history is best to learn as it motivates people, that young people cannot handle grey areas and violence, that poor and uneducated people need to be "protected" from the truth (seriously, they said that), and that these myths were popular because people wanted them to be true. Regardless of my attempts to argue against these points, one thing is clear; I don't know enough about Portuguese popular myths, and would love links to or mentions of information regarding them, if you could please help me out. I have enough info on American myths (Thanksgiving and Plymouth Rock, for example), but to not sound attacking, I feel I should also have some English/British myths (where I'm from) in my arsenal.

Please, does anyone have any suggestions?

Changing academic direction (am I being foolish?)

oneirodynia — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:46:11 -0800

Trying to transfer to a four year college, and changing direction mid -stream. Am I being foolish to consider shifting from aiming for a landscape architecture degree to one in ecological engineering, especially when engineering colleges have completely different requirements than what I've been focusing on? I've been going to community college on-off for many years now. A year ago last February, I decided to quit my job and go to school full time, with the intent of transferring to a four year college. At the time, I was designing and building gardens for a design-build landscape company, and had been taking numerous horticulture and drafting classes, plus the basic GE requirements. However, I'm kind of ... bored by basic landscape stuff. I want to design gardens that perform a function, like rooftop gardens that recycle HVAC water, or living machines. It seems to me like a degree in ecological engineering is the route to take, but it means basically starting over, with 2 years of calculus, plus physics, biology, chemistry (per UC Davis' website) The issues are:

I'm nearly able to transfer for Fall 09', but this change would definitely set me back. I'm impatient, and afraid of burning out.

I'm not good at math. I finished trig in high school with a D. That was 20 years ago, and I haven't taken math since. Surprisingly, I'm actually a little better at understanding it (I had no problems with the algebraic equations needed in my soil science and plant nutrition classes), but I've got to pass a math assessment to be placed in any math class, let alone get to where I can do OK in 2 years of calculus. Does it make sense to study for the assessment test, and try to get placed as high as possible, so I'm not going to school for 3 more years? I'm OK with any science or physics, but will I be killing myself trying to do all these more intense classes as quickly as I can? More realistically- is it even possible to cram for a math assessment course, and not wind up over my head in calculus?

My community college bureaucracy is understaffed, and no one in the transfer center will return my calls. I've been told to send emails to UC Davis and Berkeley, to talk to professors in the departments I'm interested in. I feel incredibly shy about writing to randomprof at dot edu.
Is this the right thing to do?

My other option is to stay the course and go for landscape architecture, with a minor or something in ecological engineering. My fear is that I won't get the toothy, nitty gritty science background I want to be able to build these types of ecological recycling systems, or that I'll be forced to mess around with a bunch of fluffy theory classes. But I'm also worried that it doesn't make sense to try to go for broke and start over on a course that may be extremely difficult, time consuming, and frustrating. If you've done this, please let me know how it turned out.

What do you wish you'd learned in college?

nímwunnan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:38:24 -0800

What do you wish you'd learned in college, especially art school? What important lessons or concepts that you know now, preferrably related to your profession, passed you by in school? I'm mostly interested in arts education, but I'm looking for anyone who feels like they didn't get taught -- or were inefectively taught important things in school that they came to understand later. Bonus question: If you haven't been to art school but you know someone who has, what do you wish they had learned?

93% of MeFites Can't Find the Nation of Niue on a Map

Weebot — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:50:07 -0800

How stupid are these surveys about American stupidity? Since the publication of Rick Shenkman book, I've been hearing look-how-dumb-we-are statistics more often. Such gems include "70% believed that Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11", "Six in ten can't find Iraq on a map", and "33% of young Americans cannot find Louisiana on a map". There are many others, but you get the idea.

I've always been hesitant to take these stats at face value because the news stories about them are usually without context, and the stats themselves look suspiciously cherry-picked. But since Shenkman's book has caused these stats to pop up with more frequency, I want to know just how accurate they are. Is America that stupid, or do these studies get played up because it makes a good story? Are any of these studies online, and if so, do they break their results down by demographics? Are there any particular studies that are, well, more disheartening than the ones already mentioned?

I'm most interested in the demographic breakdown in these studies, actually. I've always figured there were more to these stats than the AP wire stories ever say. Any help, AskMeFites?

Where Can I Find Self-Reflective Profiles?

themadjuggler — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:27:42 -0800

Where can I find examples of profile-writing that say as much about the profiler as the profilee? This year I will be leading a publication project with my ninth-grade English language arts classes in which they profile members of their community (local artists, musicians, shopkeepers, civil workers, etc.). Hopefully, my students will be able to look at these people's accomplishments/struggles and think about who they want to be in the future and how they will contribute to the community themselves. I want them to strike a balance between writing about their interviewees and writing about themselves, but I can't think of any good works of this genre to use as model texts.

My students have a wide range of academic abilities including some with special needs. There is a significant proportion of English language learners, as the school is in a largely Hispanic neighborhood of Brooklyn. At the very least, we will look at Sandra Cisneros's vignettes in The House on Mango Street, and perhaps Ernesto Quiñonez's Bodega Dreams.

What are your best suggestions for this group of young writers?

Help me plan a sabbatical

dougiedd — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:11:36 -0800

I think after 20 years in my post it is almost time for a sabbatical leave. Should my board approve this idea, please help me to think about some fun and educational plans for a year-long sabbatical adventure. I am in the non-profit health sector, an MD executive with a primary focus in community health. I am especially interested in developing my insights and leadership towards the broad determinants of health from practical community based approachs. I think travel out of the US would be of interest to both my family and me.

Online Education

pearlybob — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:48:42 -0800

Can anyone suggest a good Online degree program to further my education career? I currently hold a bachelor's with a t-4 teaching certificate. I plan to stay home with my son for another 4 years but would like to go back into education at the administrative level when he enters full time kindergarten. Can anyone suggest a good, online Masters or Specialist in Education Administration program? Or, give me some guidelines on what to look for in a good program. I'm not really looking for the cheapest. I've been googling but I have no idea how the programs measure up or the best way to tell. Thanks in advance for any help!

Blogs that teach?

btkuhn — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:59:34 -0800

Blogs that teach? Most of the daily blogs that I read, even the "scholarly" ones or those dealing with a particular subject, are focused on links to topics of interest, or the blog writer's analysis of a particular topic. For instance, the volokh conspiracy is an excellent law blog, but it doesn't "teach" the fundamentals of law to the reader; rather, it addresses specific rulings, usually with the author's analysis of the issue.

I am interested in finding blogs that teach the reader about the subject of the blog. To continue with the subject of law, I want to find blogs that say, for example, "Today we are going to learn about contract law (or one particular aspect of contract law)", and then go over the basics of contract law. Kind of like that email service that emails you a few pages of a book every day. It seems like there are plenty of podcasts online that do this (I've used MIT courseware in the past and it's great), but I learn much better with the written word format. Plus, an RSS feed breaks things up so that you don't have to set aside an hour to watch a lecture.

I'm not interested only in "academic" blogs; any feed that teaches a subject or skill in a stepwise manner via RSS. I'm thinking bird-watching, or juggling, playing the guitar...

Interesting Non-Academic Fellowships

divabat — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:27:38 -0800

What are some interesting non-academic fellowships out there? Some examples of what I mean:

Sauve Scholars
Pop!Tech Social Innovation Fellows
Ashoka
Echoing Green
TED Conference Fellows
YouthActionNet Global Fellowship
YSEI Fellows

So essentially they give you money and support for your projects, or for attending an event of theirs, but the focus isn't on academia and is generally open to a wider selection of people (compared to traditional fellowships that are geared towards academics). What other terms do they use to describe themselves?

(the examples I used up there are largely youth-oriented, but other focus areas are more than welcome.)

Teaching kids music

baggymp — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:50:54 -0800

How do you encourage children to learn to play musical instruments? We've started well with our first child. At three years old he likes banging and clanking away on percussion instruments strategically placed around the house. We encourage him to sing and he likes to blow his recorder, mouth organ and imitation sax.

We want to buy a piano keyboard but don't want to start him on structured lessons too early. Do you know an ideal time to start teaching him and how can we encourage him further through structured play? Are their any teaching systems that adopt this approach?

How does one sort out grad school?

prunes — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:08:00 -0800

I have been trying to figure out what to do for graduate studies for over a year now. Help! I have always been somewhat of a dilettante. I own prep books for no less than three graduate exams (the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT). I have, to date, taken zero exams. This is primarily because I keep bouncing back and forth on what I think I want to do.

For a long time I was set on going into business. I studied economics undergrad and I planned to go to a top 10 business school after I had gotten enough work experience. I ended up working for the financial advisory group of a Big Four firm. Today marks my first-year anniversary, in fact. But working here has allowed me to recognize that business might not be for me. What I most enjoy is working on big deals, designing creative solutions for problems, and, of course, the pay.

But I feel that by working in such a competitive corporate environment I am being forced to forsake my intellectual curiosity. For whatever reason I feel I'm not being true to myself. I see myself being happier as a professor--in what discipline I am unsure. (One of my hesitations, however, is that I lack the obsession for a particular discipline; indeed, my interests are more broad.) And so since graduating I have also considered graduate programs in:

-Economics (I don't have the math skills)
-International Relations/Political Science
-Law

After a year of trying to sort my grad school program out I feel I have made no ground. How can I sort out what to do with myself?

Coaching techniques

elf27 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:15:59 -0800

Is there a book or other resource that will provide tips/techniques on being a coach? I am tasked with helping others to bring forth their best in an endeavor in which I do not have experience. The coaching will one on one. It will be in a business related endeavor, not sports.

I’ve been told by people I respect not to worry, that a good coach does not need to be an expert in the field at hand. I’m told that good coaches often don’t have background in the business of the coachee; that a coach with experience in the field runs the risk of being a problem solver.

So I’m needing to learn techniques for coaching on this level. Not on being a tutor. Not on being an instructor.

If you can’t relate to this idea, please don’t try to set me straight, and that I should obtain expertise in the field; it won’t help me. What will help is if I can be guided to material that will support the approach indicated above.

Thank you in advance, metafilterites, for your generosity.

career in language learning

mammary16 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:12:09 -0800

After a long period of soul-searching (and trying many different jobs), I've decided on a career path in language learning. After spending a year teaching abroad, and afterwards working in educational publishing and test development in the states, I've decided that I would like to work in language learning and language policy.

I have an almost academic interest in questions of linguistics (I have a double major in anthropology and english lit, and almost completed a linguistics major) and have a passion for learning languages and international travel.

I'm learning Russian and will be attending Moscow State for classes in advanced Russian in the fall of this year. I plan to also learn Arabic and Chinese in the near future.

I wouldn't want to focus purely on ESL, but rather on the theory and pedagogy of language acquisition in general. Additionally, I would like to be involved more specifically with online courseware, language learning software, and the intersection of classroom instruction with software.

Ideally I'd like to be able to do the following:

1. work for governments and non-governmental organizations in the U.S. and abroad in an educational policy role

and

2. have the opportunity to consult for large corporations to assist in developing language learning software and curricula

I have strong computer skills and have taken some programming classes, but I do not have any real work experience with programming, which may be an issue if I'd like to oversee these kinds of projects. How much of a problem would that be?

I've been thinking that this would require a mix of an education MA and an applied linguistics MA - is that correct? I don't quite know where to begin.

Also, any recommendations for good schools for this kind of thing (U.S., but I’d also consider the U.K. or Singapore) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Let me teach the children how to shoot themselves into space

greenland — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:38:52 -0800

Night school for an eventual Science Education degree? In NYC? Does it exist or must I find some other way to (eventually) blind the middle grades with science? I live in NYC and am trying to pursue an undergraduate degree in science education (preferably for middle grades and up). However, I'm near 30 and can't afford to lose my daytime income. This thread was inspiring, but lacking in specifics regarding pursued majors/degrees.

CUNY/Hunter/City College, Columbia, and NYU all offer programs in science education, but I can't seem to find a school or program with night classes I can take towards this eventual goal. (I also can't seem to find a General Science Education degree, but that might be a whole other AskMe.)

I've never been to college, so it's quite possible that I'm just not looking in the right places. Any advice about how to tackle this problem, or am I just out of luck?

What is the recipe of the gods?

mcarthey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:19:09 -0800

I am looking for THE book for exercise and nutrition programs. I realize this is a topic that is often debated in many different forums and blogs throughout the Internet, but I am looking for an authoritative book on supplements, nutrition and exercise. I own a large number of books myself, but the information I have acquired over the years is spread thin, and oft-repeated, in a variety of sources. Primarily I would like the book to feature a tried-and-true "recipe" of exercise, nutrition, and supplementation. I have experimented with a number of programs, but have yet to develop one of my own that works for me. That said, I have lost a good amount of weight, but feel I am missing something.
I am not looking for a Joe Weider or Men's Health or Body for Life program, but instead a scientific oriented manual on the hows, whys and whens of the program and supplementation. Basically, I need a pre-made program that I can stick to and follow. I am in my late 30's and have lifted weights for nearly 20 years.

How do I teach to improve test scores in 4th and 5th grade

jeffreyclong — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:00:20 -0800

I'm interviewing tomorrow for two positions, 4th and 5th grade teaching. Reading, writing and math scores have all gone done in the past year at this district and they are all about 10% or more lower then the state average. What strategies would you suggest I propose that I would use to bring these scores up. Especially reading.