Teaching is an inherently wicked problem. (This idea has been addressed multiple times in this blog– search for “wicked.”) In 1973, scholars Rittel and Webber defined wicked problems as those that are ill-defined and that are judged only from the perspective of the individual who experienced the solution. A defining characteristic of wicked problems is Read More
Category: STEM
OpenMiddle: Challenging math problems worth solving
In my explorations of math education this fall, I have been encountering a wide range of resources for math teachers. Many list such a wide range of problems, resources, and tools that even a good search strategy is not helpful in finding the items that are unique to the site. Open Middle is a site Read More
BoxPlotR: An Excellent Data Visualization Tool
I am a fan of easy to use and effective technology tools. I am also one who values visual displays of data. BoxPlotR fits both of my criteria. Upload a CSV file or copy and paste CSV data, and BoxPlotR will create a box plot for you and find an display other summary statistics. The Read More
SkillsCommons #OER
Beginning in 2011, the Department of Labor awarded four rounds of grants under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program. This was designed to designed to support community colleges as they developed resources and programs for workforce development purposes. For full disclosure: I was employed under a TAACCCT grant as a Read More
LiveCode
In the early 1990’s, I was a fan of HyperCard, the program from Apple that allowed users to create “cards,” each with text, images, and buttons (along with other controls) that could be programmed using an easy to understand scripting language. My students and I wrote scripts to simulate genetics experiments, explore probability, and draw Read More
The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World that Values Sameness
Last summer, I was attending a conference and the keynote speaker mentioned Todd Rose’s book The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World that Values Sameness. I took the step that was not possible when I started my career, took out my phone and ordered a copy before the speaker was done. I Read More
#OER and #STEM
Educators are well-known for being easily distracted–we adopt a “new” or “innovative” method or strategy or tool for teaching, and we become strong advocates for it until the next innovation arrives. (In recent months, I have collected recollections of colleagues whose memories support the conclusion that some of us have been using these methods consistently Read More
What’s Wrong with Coding?
Coding is a hot topic in my media feeds again… each year when the events designed to increase students’ experience writing code, it appears again. I get it, but I am distressed by educators’ (and philanthropists’) fascination with coding. We are looking to closely at the field of design and are missing the far more Read More