AppleInsider | Apple’s Jobs blasts teachers unions

AppleInsider | Apple’s Jobs blasts teachers unions

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs lashed out at teachers unions during an education reform conference on friday, claiming that no amount of technology in the classroom would better public schools until principals had authorization to fire bad teachers….

Jobs said the problem with U.S. institutions is that they have become unionized to a point where ridding public schools of poor teachers is prohibited. “This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy,” he said….

During his speech, Jobs reportedly told the crowd that he envisioned future schools where textbooks would be replaced with a free, online information source that are constantly updated by experts, like the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

I feel that unions exist because managers treat employees unfairly. That said, teaching is a profession, and ineffective employees SHOULD have the opportunity to improve to a standard, but I wonder the value to the profession to keep continually ineffective teachers teaching the next generation of children. Your thoughts?

Google Cheat Sheet

Saw this on jeremy’s page and thought I’d share the love. Too bad this came to my attention after (C)CLD121ers just finished their google lab: Google Cheat Sheet (Version 1.06)

Possible Cure For Autism

I found Jersey scientists find a possible key to autism on Slashdot, and I find it really interesting just because I have a personal interest in metabolizing fatty acids as it relates to personal health issues.

Failings of Science Education

Since I hope to be teaching 2 science courses next fall, Failings of Science Education drew my attention:

Thinking vs. memorizing. Steve Rissing, a biology professor at Ohio State University, presented results of
an experiment on teaching difficult topics in intro courses. Rissing used two different approaches to teaching students about working with enzymes, a topic on which he has previously been concerned about limited student learning. With one group, he used the traditional “cookbook method” — step-by-step instructions for a lab experiment. A second group was given only a very rough assignment — how to prepare enzyme solutions from a raw turnip — and wide latitude on what to do. When tested later on the key concepts, the second group fared much better. Rissing is applying these ideas with more assignments that encourage independent thought in intro courses, many of which require students to read The New York Times daily and to be prepared to discuss science issues raised that day.

It points back to problem-based learning and the social construction of knowledge, all over again.

Mind Hacks: Virtual reality to treat combat trauma

Mind Hacks: Virtual reality to treat combat trauma: “…virtual reality is being used to treat soldiers who have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after combat.

Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories, pathological avoidance of things related or loosely-related to the trauma, and persistent arousal.”

I wonder if this would be useful, someday, for treating children with perceptual challenges.