Comments for Great Parents Academy

Comment on Flip it? by Janet

Janet — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:59:56 +0000

I have made a note to investigate this concept more thoroughly. On the surface, it sounds like a fancy new term for the kind of learning process many good teachers have used successfully for years.Of course, we can always learn and improve our pedagological methods. So often though, a supposedly “new concept” comes along and it is simply a re-naming of good, solid, pedagogy practice that has been taking place in classrooms for ages. I tend to be skeptical until I investigate and research. In many cases, I find the so-called new concept is a cosmetic make-over that is making big bucks for some one!

Comment on Is Math Art? by Janet

Janet — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:45:47 +0000

I agree with the others! Is this a contradiction? I don’t think so. Math can be an art form, though it may not always actually be so. And certainly art can incorporate math with stunning effects. Math and art are not always exclusive of each other, yet in some instances they may be. Think about theories of connectivity – we are all connected in some way, and I believe the same can be said of math and art.

Comment on Programming for kindergartners? by Janet

Janet — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:38:47 +0000

This is awesome! I wish I’d had the opportunity to use something like this when I was teaching kindergarten. Even more importantly, it would help me learn as well! I am no engineer and kindergarten level is about what I need to understand the process. LOL

Comment on What is BYOD? by Janet

Janet — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:34:16 +0000

I feel as educators we must embrace the use of technology. Yes, we must have appropriate monitoring and must make sure all students have access to equally capable tools. I am not an engineer, but I’m sure some of our wizards could accomplish this. We are all on a learning curve with technological devices. The speed with which technology continues to evovle simply proves that we must teach students how to learn, but not necessarily a specific platform or device. By the time we learn something specific it is obsolete! We cannot even begin to comprehend the technological capabilities students today will have in the near and far future. Let’s give them every opportunity to learn how to learn so they can successfully navigate future devices and programming.

Comment on To Test or Not to Test? by Janet

Janet — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:24:16 +0000

Ed, this is certainly and interesting and controversial topic. I love GPA’s approach using formative assessment to guide students’ progress. This is also important for teachers in traditional classrooms. As a former classroom teacher I have seen the pros and cons of traditional high-stakes standardized testing. In my opinion, the cons far outnumber the pros.
I commend GPA for their innovative programming and use of formative assessment to guide student progress.

Comment on What is BYOD? by Richard G. Mooney, III

Richard G. Mooney, III — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:11:41 +0000

Excellent article! My initial thought revolves around monitoring the device to be used appropriately and the access all students would have to this idea. I understand that there are programs for less than privileged kids, but even with costs at any level, I wonder will certain kids be left out.

However, I was in the age bracket when college accounting courses had to face the question of bringing hand held calculators to class. Change can be tough, but very worthwhile

Comment on Is Math Art? by Tim Pakenham

Tim Pakenham — Thu, 08 May 2014 13:13:08 +0000

Of course math is art! As someone who used differential equations to compute the volume of an irregular solid in high school and then got stuck as math theory moved more into modern quantum theory, however, the
more interesting question is “When does mathematics cease being mathematics and become philosophy and theology?” Thanks for sending these along.

Tim Pakenham

Comment on Is Math Art? by Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 07 May 2014 12:42:18 +0000

I disagree. Stunning artworks can be created using math however math itself is not inherently an art form. My humble opinion

Comment on Is Math Art? by Richard Silvius

Richard Silvius — Wed, 07 May 2014 11:47:03 +0000

An interesting study found that mathematicians do indeed perceive beauty in math in the same parts of the brain that appreciate paintings and music.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/equations-are-art-inside-a-mathematicians-brain/

I would argue that the non-mathematician also sees math as art, but just might not realize it.

Math is obviously hugely important in the composition of music, but also informs the creation of other, less obviously related types of art and design.

For example: I use the golden ratio extensively in my character design and layout work because it is known to be aesthetically pleasing.

Comment on “Light Bulb” Moment by Linda Erzah

Linda Erzah — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 23:09:41 +0000

My kids are younger and I had the opportunity to teach them certain things, so I get what it feels like to see them experience the aha moment. However, being a working parent, it’s not easy to make time to determine what is appropriate to teach them at their age and find ways to teach them. I miss those times when simple things such as walking, talking, learning words, learning songs, learning numbers was my teaching domain. Oh, how I yearn to discover complex concepts with them. Nowadays, my big ones tell me what they’ve learned and they seem to know much about it. That’s cool! However, I am not always sure that my assessment of what they know is the same as what were taught or even what they should know. Long story short, it’s amazing that you are experiencing these moments with your child. I look forward to using GPA with my kids.