Tag Archive | Teaching
Defending of the Value of Algebra
This post is a little old, but I find it so encouraging that even those who are self-professed Math-phobes are coming to the defense of algebra (and through it mathematical thinking and the value of working to learn). This post was so good I’m going to copy a sizable portion here. The topic is important, […]
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part VI
In today’s final installment of TED’s wrongful conviction series, David Dow points out the uncomfortable connection between childhood environment and eventually being sentenced to the death sentence. About three quarters of death row inmates have a history in the juvenile justice system. How can we break this link and help end this link? Dow has […]
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part V
In today’s installment of TED’s wrongful conviction series, James Lockyer gives a case study of a wrongfully convicted client of his, and the long journey to justice. Some of the thoughts from previous talks in this series (click the Wrongful Convictions category above or the Wrongful Convictions tag to see other posts in this series, […]
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part IV
In today’s installment of TED’s wrongful conviction series, Peter Donnelly discusses how misunderstanding statistics and probability can lead to wrongful convictions. Even the “experts” can really mess this up. The problem is often experts in other disciplines attempting to apply statistics and probability, and failing miserably. However, often no one seems to notice. We would […]
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part III
In today’s installment of TED’s wrongful conviction series, Rob Warden discusses false confessions. Why would anyone admit to a crime that they did not commit? There are several reasons. Some are predictable (to make the interrogation stop), while others are more surprising (police have lied and implied they have evidence that they don’t). Warden gives example cases […]
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part II
In today’s installment of TED’s wrongful conviction series, Bryan Stevenson talks about the issue of justice. Our criminal justice system is supposed to give every accused the same protections, but does it? Stevenson points out where it does not, and how we might be able to make a difference.
TED on Wrongful Convictions: Part I
I recently came across a series of good talks about the phenomenon of wrongful convictions. There are numerous reasons for the problem, some of which will be discussed in the videos. I’ll spread them out over six days, so that my readers can give each talk the thought that it might deserve. The speakers come […]
The Power of Introverts
This is an amazing and powerful talk from Susan Cain at TED this year about the power of introverts. She suggests that our current education and work environments have shifted from catered toward introverts to heavily favoring extroverts. She asks for us to provide space for both. This is worth the listen, and consideration for […]
We’ve Got Great Alumni
Here is the latest example of our great alumni in the Department of Information and Mathematical Sciences here at Messiah College. In the controversial rankings of 4th through 8th grade teachers in New York City, class of 2005 alumna Kelly (Toolan) Hudson is listed as the 10th best mathematics teacher in the city. She’s also […]
Advice on Parenting: Let Your Kids Fail
Thought I’d come back from a somewhat extended paternity leave (more on that at some point) with a post about good and bad parenting. Over at the Huffington Post’s parenthood portal, Mickey Goodman asks if we are raising a generation of kids who are essentially helpless. As a professor here at Messiah College (and even […]
No Longer Normal 