July, 2010
28
Jul 10
Applied Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Course of the Week
Does the thought of biochemistry and science take you back to high school classes, where you couldn´t wait for science to end and sports classes to begin? Well, maybe this course isn´t for you, BUT science can be much cooler than you thought it could. Did you hear recently that scientists have discovered that Australian Marsupials, such as the kangaroo, probably originally came from South America? A new study by the University of Munster in Germany, has found evidence that more than 80 million years ago the marsupials migrated to Australia from South America via Antartica, which back then was geographically connected and known as Gondwana. If you study science, you could be the one researching and discovering things like this!
Source: Flickr Creative Commons - Subhash Chandra
The key to this discovery was found analysing DNA strands, an important part in the study of biochemistry. So if you are thinking that science IS sounding a lot cooler than it used to, check out some courses you can take to get you on your way to the next big discovery in science:
Queensland University of Technology in Australia run a Bachelor of Applied Science (Biochemistry). In this course you will start by studying the different scientific areas including life sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics and environmental science, and then move onto more complex molecular interactions, and experimental theory and practice in biochemistry.
The University of Westminster in London has a BA Molecular Biology and Genetics, which focuses on, you guessed it, molecular biology and genetics. As well as studying traditional sciences, these are applied to a modern context, such as how human life is controlled, the potential to generate great benefits in improved healthcare provision, as well as the connection with improvements in agriculture and the environment.
28
Jul 10
Guidelines for Muslim Students During Ramadan
Source: Flickr - Ashish T
A city council in the UK has issued guidelines for primary and secondary schools that advise on how to support Muslim students during the upcoming month of Ramadan. The report suggests the suspension of swimming classes, as students can accidentally swallow water when no food or drink is allowed during the hours of sunlight. It also recommends suspending sex education classes, as sexual thoughts are discouraged during this time. Other recommendations include scheduling exams after Ramadan, as a student´s concentration may not be 100%, and being aware of physical activity if some Muslim students are fasting. The guidelines are actually very culturally sensitive and sensible, as there are health-related issues that come into play when people are not eating and hydrating their bodies properly.
The council´s point of view is that students should not feel disadvantaged during school time due to their religious observance. But they have faced strong criticism from the National Secular Society, who say that it is wrong to force non-Muslims to observe Islamic laws and traditions. They say that rearranging school activities to avoid displacing a minority group based on religious views is out of proportion, and not fair to all students.
Educating parents and teachers about Ramadan seems to be a positive thing, and Muslim students should be given allowances for things that affect their religious beliefs and health during holidays and other times such as Ramadan. Religion is a sensitive topic, and sometimes awareness can make day to day life safer and more maneagable for everyone. Religion and education should be able to work together, not get in the way of each other.
26
Jul 10
Education and the Price of Crime in the UK
- The government in the UK is calling for better education in prisons. According to the BBC, prisons in England are under review by parliament in an effort to improve the educational programmes in prisons across the country. Skills minister John Hayes told reporters that effective education is vital to the justice system because education improves the chances that an inmate will find employment upon being released. Being able to offer a skill and find a job is “essential” in preventing criminals from committing a second or third crime, and to help them create positive role models for their families. In the UK, half the men and more than 70% of the women have no job qualifications at all. Two-thirds do not have a literacy level above the age of 11.
Complications in effective education plans for prisons in the UK arose in part due to job cuts and pay freezes for education staff. As a result, teachers have more work and less pay which has caused senior leaders to find work elsewhere. This meant the loss of mentoring support for those teachers with less experience.
The price of crime is not only high for the delinquent but also for the state. Functioning prison facilities cost tax- payers roughly £60bn a year in England, with £9bn as a result of re-offending. Mr. Hayes was quoted as saying, ¨the last thing society needs is people reverting to crime because they are, or feel they are, capable of nothing better. That is not good for society and it is not good for the offender. But we must have value for money – the review I am undertaking will look at current courses and where they can be better tailored to social needs.”
Reference | BBC
23
Jul 10
The Joy of Garbage – Course of the Week
Source: Flickr Creative Commons - D'Arcy Norman
Do you get excited about garbage? No? Well, neither do we, and this is not what this course is about either. The Joy of Garbage is actually about consumerism, recycling, ecosystems and politics, but it has a catchy title, doesn´t it?
This course, offered at UC Berkeley in the U.S., addresses current “garbage” policies – from electronic waste, recycling practices, landfills, incinerators, the dumping of hazardous materials, reckless or even unintended pollution of terrestrial and aquatic environments… just to name a few.
The first hour of class is dedicated to the weekly “Garbage in the News,” which will include student presentations, readings and discussion about current trashy topics. The second hour is generally reserved for a guest speaker or the viewing of a documentary.
Most students believe that topics surrounding environmental issues and sustainability are important for universities to address and even act on. To read about the “greenest” universities around the world click here, and to brush up on your garbage knowledge you know what to do.
21
Jul 10
Collaborative Editing Program, Useful for Students
Got a paper due and not confident in your editing skills? Notapipe, we recently discovered, is a web service that allows you to upload a draft or document to be edited by multiple users in real time. The document can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection and the program is compatible with web browsers for both PCs and Macs. Just think what this means for group projects! Every connected user can edit text, and changes are updated for everyone. Revisions to the document can be saved at anytime and there is no limit to the number of modifications that you can make. Students working in a collaborative atmosphere should find this much easier than making photocopies and marking up changes in red pen.
As far as pricing goes, Notapipe has a free plan option, however, it is a bit limited. To get a SSL connection (a secure connection) one must pay for the premium plan which is around 20 USD.
Recap:
- Cool service that allows for a document to be edited by various people.
- Can see changes made in real time.
- Access the the document anywhere there is internet.
- Free, basic and premium plans
- Secure connection can only be achieved through premium plan
- Not sure if the good old eraser and white out still sell, but who needs them?
19
Jul 10
Exercise Said to Improve Grades of College Students
Researchers are saying that college students who exercise tend to have better grades than those who do not exercise. A study done by Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan studied 266 undergraduate students to see if or how exercise influences Grade Point Average (GPA is on a 4 point scale, 4 being the highest grade, an A+). The study took into account the following factors that might also influence GPA apart from exercise; gender, study time, college sports and area of study. The results showed that students who vigorously and habitually exercised had a 0.4 point higher GPA than students who did not exercise.
Now, many argue that exercise and good grades do not have a cause and effect relationship, but are correlated because those who have the discipline to exercise probably have the discipline to study and manage their time better. That may be true, but it is important to note that exercise releases endorphins, which has shown to improve attitude and boost energy, both fundamental in being a successful student.
A similar study was conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine. The purpose of the study was to “assess the association between study time, grade point average (GPA) and meeting current recommendations for vigorous and moderate physical activity in college students.” Results showed that students who spend more time studying are more likely to exercise. A student who studies three or more hours per day is four times more likely to exercise vigorously than students who study less than one hour per day. And students with a GPA of 3.5 or above are three times more likely to exercise vigorously than students with a GPA below 3.0.
Verdict:
Exercise is healthy for both body and mind and may help students get on track to getting better grades.
What do you think?
Read more about this article, here.
16
Jul 10
Stereotypes Still Affect Women Today
www.the-scientist.com
The stereotype that boys are better than girls in math and science still affects the industry today. Women have made exceptional progress in education and the workplace during the past 50 years, especially in historically male-dominated areas such as business and law. In science however, women’s educational progress in the workplace is still slower. A new research report by the American Association of University Women is trying to explain why that is. What is stopping women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and math?
Not surprisingly, key research findings include social stereotypes, gender bias and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities that contribute to the inequality . Research shows that negative stereotypes about women´s abilities in math can indeed measurably lower their test performance. It also shows that these stereotypes can lower the aspirations that women have to study science. The report presents new ideas for what can be done to allow more gender equality in scientific and engineering fields.
Parents and educators can help to encourage achievement and an interest in math and science, yet more work is needed to ensure that women have full access to education and employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Colleges and universities can attract more female science and engineering faculty if they improve departmental culture to promote the integration of female faculty. The report by the AA of University Women provides evidence that women are less satisfied with the academic workplace and more likely to leave it earlier in their careers than men. By addressing this issue, maybe we can work towards a change in the number of women entering these industries.
The report can be found here.
14
Jul 10
Cheating Has Gone High-Tech
Source: www.thesun.co.uk/
The eternal temptation for students to cheat has gone high-tech. The old-school exam cheating methods from the past like sleeve method, toilet tank method, foot signal method, tissue cheat and the dictionary cheat are considered naïve and had been replaced by new generation methods that include mobile phones and other sophisticated technology. Cutting and pasting from the internet and sharing homework online like music files also worries teachers. Pupils can buy on-line exam cheat equipment, like for example a concealed ear-piece to receive information.
Cheating is a form of dishonesty and is generally considered unethical, nevertheless American research shows 74% of students at some 4,500 high schools admitted to serious test cheating, and 97% copied either homework or question papers. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland more than 4,400 people were caught cheating last year and an official figures show a 6% rise in cheating. As mobiles started to provide internet access, they became one of the biggest problems for examiners. Mobile phones enabled students to take photos, swap notes and search the web.
Schools and universities are trying to combat this abusive behavior and have already responded with their own efforts to crack down on it. Schools buy detection equipment to trace devices being used secretly in exam rooms. In Britain it was agreed students should sit exams in metal-lined rooms to block mobile phone signals. Airport-style security scanners should also be installed to prevent pupils from taking in phones and other equipment. One college in Florida, USA installed industrial camera systems in examination halls to track students. When a teacher sees something suspicious, they record the student in real time and the images are burned onto a CD for evidence. Students are not allowed to chew gum during an exam as chewing could disguise a student speaking into a hands-free mobile to a peer outside.
Around 55% of colleges and universities now use anti-plagiarism services that require students to submit papers to be vetted for copying. However, using technology shouldn’t totally replace educating pupils from an early age about why cheating is not appropriate. Students will always be tempted to cheat, and the more sophisticated the cheating becomes, the more efficient the education against cheating as well as detecting it will need to be.
12
Jul 10
Fashion Design for Pet Apparel – Course of the Week
This week´s Course of the Week is for those with an eye for fashion and a heart for the furry – Fashion Design for Pet Apparel!! That’s right, with this course on designing, creating and sewing pet garments, you can channel your inner flare for fabrics on models that never complain. This course is offered at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and will begin with an introduction to body forms of the four-legged, functional needs of pet clothing, as well as safety and ease-of-dressing methods. You will create everything a pet could possible want to wear, from T-shirts to winter coats and couture ensembles.
French Bulldog in Stripes
If fashion is your cup of tea, check out some of our other posts about fashion courses here and here.
Make it work…
7
Jul 10
Student, Slang and Science. How Does It All Add Up?
A physics student at UC Davis has proposed that the gigantic and unnamed mathematical quantity of 10 to the exponent of 27 be represented by the term “hella.” “Hella” is slang term used in northern California to describe a large quantity or replace the word “very,” and is thought to come from the slang word “hellavu,” like “hell of a lot.”
Examples: “I have hella homework” or “that cheeseburger was hella good.”
The name ocurred to twenty-year-old Austin Sendek while doing an experiment with a fellow classmate, who when asked what the voltage was in an electric field, responded “Oh, man — there’s hella volts.” To Sendek, the name just clicked. The petition for “hella” to denote 10 to the 27th power started as a joke, which logically led to a Facebook group, then drifted to the conversation of the Google Gods (who were quick to incorporate “hella” into Google calculator) and is now headed to the Global Weights and Measurements Committee for formal acceptance as a mathematical term. There have been many scientific contributions from universities such as UC Berkeley, Standford,and UC Davis – all of whom are located in the northern California region. Sendek says that although naming 10 to the 27th may not be a priority among the scientific community, recognition of the “hella” would distinguish northern California in the scientific world. Plus, as Sendek points out, it´s hella useful. Did you know that the diameter of earth is 1.4 hellameters?
To read more about this story, check out this article in the Los Angeles Times.
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