RS 8: GDP

Before listening, watching and reading these sources of information the only thing I knew about GDP was what it stood for; gross domestic product. So it’s easy to say I learned a lot from these, but what I found most interesting was how this number isn’t all-inclusive.

I understand that this number means a lot and according to Simon Johnson it is a measure how the economy is doing. Additionally, the podcast explains how this one number contains all good and services that US produces. However, I think the omissions of the GDP are significant. I specifically liked how the podcast related GDP to a students GPA. It’s a number that means a lot but at the same time there’s a lot missing. Especially with the GDP where it only counts the positives, none of the negatives like the example of the oil spill. The other interesting part was the standard of living between the United States and Europe compared to by their GDP’s. I can know say (with the little knowledge I know about GDP) that I agree with the article that the GDP is just the start of comparisons. It’s a number that means a lot in one sense but is very broad at the same time.

RS 7: Ken Robinson & Education

I’ve been sitting in classrooms for over a decade with different teachers, learning about different things, in different schools. But a commonality that does exist, that Ken Robinson spoke about, is that every education has the same hierarchy. With math and language being at the top followed by humanities and art being the lowest on the chain. Not only is there a hierarchy of education but also a lack of creativity or at least further developing students creative side of the brain. Ken Robinson’s speech about schools killing creativity is an insight to what the future may hold and the problems in the education system at the present time.

Many people say there are many flaws with the education system whether that may be with our testing systems or, like Ken Robinson says, the lack of creativity that the education system allows. No matter what, the education system is a crucial aspect of children’s lives and is a significant part of children’s developments. Ken Robinson explains how kids are willing to take chances but when they become frightened of being wrong they loose their originality. Which leads to students “growing out of creativity”. The problem that this causes is an issue on a personal level but also a problem for the future. Robinson declares the education system needs to be reevaluated.

I think Ken Robinson has a valid point with saying the education system has flaws. I know first hand my sister, who is an artist, had a major problem with the education system throughout her life. For nine years of her life she struggled through classes, getting poor grades on her report cards, and getting in trouble from my parents. My parents hired a different tutor for each class to try and increase her grade but the only class that had a good grade was art, which only met once a week. By the time high school came, she was able to pick a few art classes as her elective but still did poorly in all of her other classes. Sheg ended up going to college at Marywood University, an art school, in which she excelled and did extremely great. To this day, she is working at top magazine in New York City making a great amount of money, loving her career. After struggling through all of her years in the education system she is know more successful than anyone would have thought. 

RS 5: Inside the Meltdown

RS 6: Personality Test

Personality test results

Ta-dah, your personality type is ESFJ!

Extraverted (E) 93%	Introverted (I) 7%
Sensing (S) 73%	Intuitive (N) 27%
Feeling (F) 65%	Thinking (T) 35%
Judging (J) 77%	Perceiving (P) 23%

RS 4: superbowl sunday

The National Football League and money go hand in hand; there is clearly a lot of money involved in the NFL. This podcast about the superbowl and the city in which it takes places is interesting in explaining how that city doesn’t benefit. Well atleast as much as I personally thought it benefited.

 This year, superbowl 46 is being held in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts consider home. This stadium was built in 2008, the same year in which it was chosen to host the 46^th superbowl. The economists in the podcast make it clear that this was not a coincidence. Costing over 700 million dollars this Football stadium won’t be paid off for another 30 years. When teams and cities decide to renovate or redo a stadium the NFL tries to reward them. The NFL says the reward of hosting a superbowl will beneficial to the stadium and the surrounding economy.  If the NFL told me that, I would believe that. Considering all the people that come together and the money that is spent.

These economists point out that the money is being spent but it is more so “being sucked out of people’s hands and disappearing”. The NFL has a flawed way of over counting the benefits to the economy. It’s better to say that money is being shifted around than anything else. The city itself thinks that there economy will not only benefit from the superbowl but it will also help public relations within the city. This podcast explains how there are very few success stores of special events making a city prosper. Clearly, there is a misinterpretation about the benefits in a city from the NFL. I think the podcast successfully explains the way in which the superbowl has flawed benefits.  

RS 3 My learning style

Visual/Nonverbal 30 Visual/Verbal 24 Auditory 30 Kinesthetic 22
Your primary learning style is:

		Your Scores Indicate a Balance of Learning Styles Use your highest scores to review your indicated learning styles. The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style The Visual/ Nonverbal Learning Style The Tactile/ Kinesthetic Learning Style The Auditory/ Verbal Learning Style
		The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style  You learn best when information is presented visually and in a written language format. In a classroom setting, you benefit from instructors who use the blackboard (or overhead projector) to list the essential points of a lecture, or who provide you with an outline to follow along with during lecture. You benefit from information obtained from textbooks and class notes. You tend to like to study by yourself in a quiet room. You often see information "in your mind's eye" when you are trying to remember something. Learning Strategies for the Visual/ Verbal Learner:  To aid recall, make use of "color coding" when studying new information in your textbook or notes. Using highlighter pens, highlight different kinds of information in contrasting colors. Write out sentences and phrases that summarize key information obtained from your textbook and lecture. Make flashcards of vocabulary words and concepts that need to be memorized. Use highlighter pens to emphasize key points on the cards. Limit the amount of information per card so your mind can take a mental "picture" of the information. When learning information presented in diagrams or illustrations, write out explanations for the information. When learning mathematical or technical information, write out in sentences and key phrases your understanding of the material. When a problem involves a sequence of steps, write out in detail how to do each step. Make use of computer word processing. Copy key information from your notes and textbook into a computer. Use the print-outs for visual review. Before an exam, make yourself visual reminders of information that must be memorized. Make "stick it" notes containing key words and concepts and place them in highly visible places --on your mirror, notebook, car dashboard, etc..
		The Visual/ Nonverbal Learning Style You learn best when information is presented visually and in a picture or design format. In a classroom setting, you benefit from instructors who use visual aids such as film, video, maps and charts. You benefit from information obtained from the pictures and diagrams in textbooks. You tend to like to work in a quiet room and may not like to work in study groups. When trying to remember something, you can often visualize a picture of it in your mind. You may have an artistic side that enjoys activities having to do with visual art and design. Learning Strategies for the Visual/ Nonverbal Learner:  Make flashcards of key information that needs to be memorized. Draw symbols and pictures on the cards to facilitate recall. Use highlighter pens to highlight key words and pictures on the flashcards. Limit the amount of information per card, so your mind can take a mental "picture' of the information. Mark up the margins of your textbook with key words, symbols, and diagrams that help you remember the text. Use highlighter pens of contrasting colors to "color code" the information. When learning mathematical or technical information, make charts to organize the information. When a mathematical problem involves a sequence of steps, draw a series of boxes, each containing the appropriate bit of information in sequence. Use large square graph paper to assist in creating charts and diagrams that illustrate key concepts. Use the computer to assist in organizing material that needs to be memorized. Using word processing, create tables and charts with graphics that help you to understand and retain course material. Use spreadsheet and database software to further organize material that needs to be learned. As much as possible, translate words and ideas into symbols, pictures, and diagrams.
		The Tactile/ Kinesthetic Learning Style  You learn best when physically engaged in a "hands on" activity. In the classroom, you benefit from a lab setting where you can manipulate materials to learn new information. You learn best when you can be physically active in the learning environment. You benefit from instructors who encourage in-class demonstrations, "hands on" student learning experiences, and field work outside the classroom. Strategies for the Tactile/ Kinesthetic Learner: To help you stay focused on class lecture, sit near the front of the room and take notes throughout the class period. Don't worry about correct spelling or writing in complete sentences. Jot down key words and draw pictures or make charts to help you remember the information you are hearing. When studying, walk back and forth with textbook, notes, or flashcards in hand and read the information out loud. Think of ways to make your learning tangible, i.e. something you can put your hands on. For example, make a model that illustrates a key concept. Spend extra time in a lab setting to learn an important procedure. Spend time in the field (e.g. a museum, historical site, or job site) to gain first-hand experience of your subject matter. To learn a sequence of steps, make 3'x 5' flashcards for each step. Arrange the cards on a table top to represent the correct sequence. Put words, symbols, or pictures on your flashcards -- anything that helps you remember the information. Use highlighter pens in contrasting colors to emphasize important points. Limit the amount of information per card to aid recall. Practice putting the cards in order until the sequence becomes automatic. When reviewing new information, copy key points onto a chalkboard, easel board, or other large writing surface. Make use of the computer to reinforce learning through the sense of touch. Using word processing software, copy essential information from your notes and textbook. Use graphics, tables, and spreadsheets to further organize material that must be learned. Listen to audio tapes on a Walkman tape player while exercising. Make your own tapes containing important course information.
		The Auditory/ Verbal Learning Style  You learn best when information is presented auditory in an oral language format. In a classroom setting, you benefit from listening to lecture and participating in group discussions. You also benefit from obtaining information from audio tape. When trying to remember something, you can often "hear" the way someone told you the information, or the way you previously repeated it out loud. You learn best when interacting with others in a listening/speaking exchange . Strategies for the Auditory/ Verbal Learner:  Join a study group to assist you in learning course material. Or, work with a "study buddy" on an ongoing basis to review key information and prepare for exams. When studying by yourself, talk out loud to aid recall. Get yourself in a room where you won't be bothering anyone and read your notes and textbook out loud. Tape record your lectures. Use the 'pause' button to avoid taping irrelevant information. Use a tape recorder equipped with a 3-digit counter. At the beginning of each lecture, set your counter to '000.' If a concept discussed during lecture seems particularly confusing, glance at the counter number and jot it down in your notes. Later, you can fast forward to that number to review the material that confused you during lecture. Making use of a counter and pause button while tape recording allows you to avoid the tedious task of having to listen to hours and hours of lecture tape. Use audio tapes such as commercial books on tape to aid recall. Or, create your own audio tapes by reading notes and textbook information into a tape recorder. When preparing for an exam, review the tapes on your car tape player or on a "Walkman" player whenever you can. When learning mathematical or technical information, "talk your way" through the new information. State the problem in your own words. Reason through solutions to problems by talking out loud to yourself or with a study partner. To learn a sequence of steps, write them out in sentence form and read them out loud.