School For Independent Learners

The recent 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan and the revelation that their nuclear power plants could have leaked radiation reminds me of past nuclear accidents. This post is not about the tragedy in Japan, as everyone has probably already heard or read, but about history. Or more to the point, lessons I remember of history.

I think many people remember the Chernobyl disaster of April 1986. The nuclear accident that I remembered first was the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident on March 28, 1979. TMI is near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the state capitol.

That is almost 32 years ago.  I was alive, but too young to remember that day.   It did affect my up-bring and schooling. I grew up within 10 miles of TMI, and in elementary school, we were required to have our parents sign “in-case of emergency” evacuation forms relating to any potential nuclear accidents from TMI.  We even took a field trip to TMI in elementary school to learn about nuclear power. When my family moved to the neighboring town a few years later, and we were outside of the 10-mile radius, the emergency forms were not required.

Growing up, the TMI accident was in the back of my mind, but it was never a major concern.  After college, I worked in Harrisburg for a number years, and I was at most six miles from TMI. Maybe I should worry about nuclear plants more.  Now that I live in California, my concerns are earthquakes. Oh, wait . . .

[Associated Press Photograph]

Jaime Escalante was a math teacher who made national headlines in 1982 when all 18 of his calculus students passed the rigorous AP Calculus exam.  The Educational Testing Service accused his students of cheating.  Twelve of them retested and proved they did not cheat.  These events were portrayed (with added Hollywood drama) in the movie, “Stand and Deliver,” with Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante.

Calculus Does Not Have To Be Made Easy – It Is Easy Already

- Banner in Jaime Escalente’s classroom

Mr. Escalante was born in Bolivia and came to the United States in 1963, taking odd jobs while studying English and earning his teaching credential.  He died on March 30, 2010 at the age of 79.

I believe the greatest gift Mr. Escalante gave his students was inspiration.  I was inspired by my own high school AP Calculus teacher.  She explained the most complex theorems with ease.  I know she was happy and pleased to learn that I became a math teacher, as I have kept in contact with her.  I hope to instill inspiration in my own Calculus students.

You can read more about Jaime Escalante’s life here, and here.  Obituaries can be read at the Los Angles Times and the New York Times.

(New York Times photograph by Damon Winter)

The New York Times has an article on teachers defying gravity to gain their students’ interest in learning science and mathematics.  Northrop Grumman has partnered with Zero G Corporation to offer science teachers opportunities to experience zero gravity.

The Zero G Corporation also offers their Zero G Experience to the general public for $5,000 per person.

Anyone want to contribute to my zero G fund?

Read the full article at The New York Times.

[click the image for a full view]

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite was launched at 6:09 am (Pacific Time) on Monday, December 14 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.  It was carried aboard a Delta II rocket.  The WISE space telescope will use an infrared camera to map the entire sky every six months.  Of particular interest are comets and asteroids which may come close to Earth’s orbit.  The satellite will measure an objects’ infrared light.

[click the image for a full view]

The Free Digital Textbooks initiative was launched by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to offer free science and mathematics textbooks.

You can download these textbooks at the California Learning Resources Network.

Enjoy.

From government to non-profit organizations, teachers to textbook publishers, we all have a role to play in leveraging 21st century technology to expand learning and better serve California’s students, parents, teachers and schools. This initiative will ensure our schools know which digital textbooks stand up to California’s academic content standards – so these cost-effective resources can be used in our schools to help ensure each and every student has access to a world-class education. Governor Schwarzenegger

On December 7, 1941, Japanese Naval forces attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  In the aftermath, the United States entered World War II.

Students of history (should) know this; however, do most students remember the date December 7, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy?”

What about July 4, 1776?  Or 1215.  Or 1492?  Or July 1-3, 1863?  Or November 11, 1918?  Or June 6, 1944?

How important are dates when learning about history?  Should students be required to memorized these very important dates?  I think the answer is YES.  Why do we study history?  To learn about our ancestors, to share our unique and different cultures, and to NOT repeat our mistakes.

Why do you enjoy studying history?

The following two video clips are great examples of comparing sizes and scales.  Enjoy.

The first is an animation clip comparing the sizes of the eight planets (sorry Pluto!), our Sun, and a number of well known stars.

The second is a Powers of Ten film (9 minutes long) exploring the scale of the universe from the quantum level to the galactic level.

Imagine accessing 1,600 million pages of text from 4.6 million books and journals at your fingertips.

The HathiTrust Library is a collaboration of 25 universities, including the University of California system and the California Digital Library.

Full-text search is available on public domain and in-copyright material.

Hathi (pronounced hah-tee) is Hindi for elephant.

More information here.   Search here.

Happy Searching!

NASA has confirmed the presence of water on the Moon.  This is exciting news for potential future Lunar colonies and examing the history of the Solar System.  Data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) confirmed water was detected at the south pole from the LCROSS mission.

Maybe I will see a colony on the Moon in my lifetime.

The concept of a space elevator is to ferry people and supplies between Earth (or the Moon or Mars) and into geostationary orbit.  The use of an orbital space elevator (or beanstalk or skyhook) uses considerably less fuel, energy and money than a traditional rocket (i.e. Space Shuttle or Soyuz launches).

The space elevator concept dates back to 1895 to rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.  Sir Arthur C. Clarke, through his novel The Fountains of Paradise, is credited with introducing the space elevator to a larger audience.

Although we are many years (decades?) away from this becoming reality, NASA has invited scientists, engineers and inventors to try their hands at making a miniature prototype.  Seattle-based LaserMotive won $900,000 from NASA during a three day competition.  The Space Elevator Games were co-sponsored by NASA and The Spaceward Foundation.

We understand the basic physics behind this, but lack the engineering to create a strong enough tether (cable) to use.  Many engineers believe using carbon nanotube is one possible solution.

Personally, I hope to ride in a space elevator in my lifetime.