There's a also a fairly recent book out called 'Brain Rules' by John Medina that's pretty good.
As long as brains are being discussed, I'll pull art down from one of those entries up there and insert it here. One of the oddities I discovered is that there's this huge myth out there about art. There's this belief that you either are an artist or you aren't. People generally believe that you have to be born with the 'art gene' or you won't be able to draw. This doesn't happen with music. Lots of parents start their kids out on musical instruments because they believe that music can be taught. And, mostly, it can. People can be taught to draw, too, though. It's just usually never done because of the myth. And I think this happens because music uses more of the left brain, and we're predominantly a left-brained society. Art depends more on the right side of the brain, so it loses -- actually we lose. And I'd be happy to talk about this over a beer (I can just see everyone walking off).
There is a strong correlation between music and math learning. It is also a huge myth that we are 'not creative'.....Some of us just have just had the myth reinforced throughout our experiences with creativity...or creative thinking.......sometimes it just got us in trouble! Larry, I understand the Picasso's genius was really his ability to draw like a child.....I mean exactly like a child....we can try, but our 'adultness' emerges in odd ways....but, Picasso actually could do it as a child does. Know anything about that....(are you opening up that bottle of beer?).....
99% of my students are working adults who are motivated to get that master's degree, to advance their careers, change careers, prove a point to themselves, continue to expand their minds, and/or add additional depth to their lives.
My dad used to tell us that graduation was just the beginning of a lifelong learning process.
It's so great to see the lightbulbs continually go on in the classroom (I have yet to teach online although no doubt that's coming) among these adult degree candidates.
I hear from Regis graduates, sometimes years later, to let me know of various successes. One is now working in our governor's office, another teaching college, another the highest ranking woman in a regional major utility company, another a fiscal analyst for the legislature's Joint Budget Committee.
One woman, former student, is the CEO of a construction company, another called to let me know that despite her adult ADHD her company has promoted her twice, and put her in charge of some major projects and accounts. The latter is an individual who, the week before she took my strategic management course, called me in shambles doubting she could handle the class. She ended up taking 3 courses from me, earning A's in them all, gaining confidence thoughout. In the last class (the Master's Capstone), I asked her to facilitate a one-hour module about psychological traps in decision making. Her self-confiidence really showed, handling it like an expert.
Just this year, two former students told me they decided to change careers in part as a result of an economics, and a public finance course they had with me, respectively. That's over the top!
Nothing gives an educator more happiness than seeing this kind of progress, nor hearing from them later on the milestones they've reached. How I appreciate that they took a moment to call or email with their news.
How wonderful to hear about this aspect of your life. My appreciation of you deepens as you 'come alive' in these message boards.
Same goes for everybody. Louie, I always thought you were clever and funny but not very sure of yourself. Now I hear you sharing and disclosing instances in your life of struggle and success. Thank you for sharing! I don't feel so alone.
And Loretta, re the brain thing, I believe that who we are can be summed up by the neural strengths and weaknesses we generally inherit. There is a company in California called the Amen Clinic. And that's not amen like you say at the end of a prayer, but Amen, as in a last name of middle eastern origins.
Anyway, at the Amen Clinic, for $3,200 they will scan your brain and put you through a whole regimen of tasks, both mental and physical, while scanning. If you have anger issues, they will make you angry and see what your brain does. If you cannot be assertive, they will verbally back you in a corner and see what your brain does. You get the idea. They have scanned more than 20,000 brains in the past 20 years. I believe they have a website, but don't know for sure, as I've been hearing about them from my younger sister. She has scheduled her very own brain scan. Only in California, right? I have also learned that because brain tissue has DNA in it, brains of the same family are likely to be similar in their composition and function. So I am eager to hear my sister's outcome. I do not know what she wants them to test except she says she wants better balance in her brain function and to find out what the active parts of her brain are.
Phyllis - I will look at the website....but, you are right - only in CA!! It might be an FMRI scan which is used in so much of this stuff! Marian Diamond maintains a stong mind-body connection, a sympiotic relationship. Also..some of the early infant brain reasearch (ala autism, ADD, etc.,) suggests that the environment plays an important role in activating stress hormone levels (e.g., cortisol) very early in life. thus, some toddlers arrive at pre school (if they get there)...with a heightened sense of stress and an elevated cortisol level...the 'fight or flight' part of survival; others, whose environment has been safer and more pleasant arrive with less of that hormone level....thus, they are in the 'all is good just uncertain with the world. Gosh, this topic has taken on a life of its own!! Taking it back to the original topic....I think in my next life I want to be a scientist!! Any scientists out there who can keep us honest???
This site never ceases to amaze me. My guess is that most of the topics of discussion would not likely come up at the reunion.
I was allowed to make my own decisions about what I thought I should do with my life. I always knew I would go to ASU. However, there were two major things that stood in my way. First, I lacked the study skills, and secondly, and most important, I lacked the self-discipline needed for college. So after high school graduation I enrolled at MCC for one semester. Again, the lack of self-discipline forced me to drop out and work various jobs for the next few years. I finally decided to learn a trade and went on to earn an AA degree in HVAC. For the next thirteen years I worked at ASU. It was a good job and I have no regrets. But something was missing; I wanted to do something else. I had volunteered in my son’s fourth grade class and loved it. One day my wife suggested I go back to school and earn a teaching degree. ‘But I’ll be 43 years old by the time I graduate.’ I replied. “And how old will you be if you don’t?” she said quoting Ann Landers. So I went back, this time a mature, self-disciplined student and earned a teaching degree and later a MA Ed. (Mark Rispole if you are reading this, your mother also gave me encouragement when I met with her to write my program of study at ASU. I am forever grateful.) The next fourteen years were the most rewarding years of my life, teaching 7th grade mathematics at Gililland and Connolly middle schools in TD3. I retired this past May.
Larry, you have completed many of the items on your list. You are a great artist and some of the things you write are funnier than Dave Barry. I do not know what you design but, I would guess that many of the products have made someone’s job or life easier/safer. Good luck with your “Pending…”
Gail and Carol P., good luck with your return to college. It’s fun being the old person who turns in every assignment before the due date and earns the high scores on the tests.
Jim, I always appreciate your insightful commentary. Congratulations to Loretta on your PhD. Gary T. Let us know how you are doing after your surgery.
Finally, does anyone have a positive experience to share about Mr. Knoche. I vowed that I would never treat my students the way he did.
Hi Jack -- I just read your post and am glad that have let us all have a glimpse of what has gone on in your life the past 40 years. I am glad that you went back to school and were able to pursue your desire. It must have been kind of a deja vu experience for you when you taught at Gililland. There were a lot of antics as I remember in Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Hancock's classrooms and I know you were in both of them with me -- lol! Let's not forget Louie, Mike M. Marco, Carolyn S. etc. in 8th gr.
Seems like we had to walk a loooong way to school and back. Don't know exactly how far it was, but have used it with my kids when they thought they ought to be driven a few blocks to school. ha!
Anyway, thank you for the encouragement in going back to school. I appreciate what you said about getting in the assignments early, etc. because that's exactly the way it is. I've been going to school off/on since 1975 and I'm still not through! lol!
Best Wishes ~
Carol P.
Lou,
I, too, have the goal to take the GRE this winter and then start a master's program next fall. I will be thinking of you as I study for the exam, take the exam and enter the program. Have you been studying with a prep book for the exam. What do you think about those math questions that do not give you a function? Now, just when do you think we can apply that in our careers?
Just knowing that there are others of my age starting advanced degree work is very encouraging to me. Instead of a retirement party, we will have to have a celebration of completion of our master's degrees and prayers to be able work at least 10 more years.
BYW, did you discover any new treatment modalities for substance abuse?
I had August Knoche for one semester after I had Mr. Levi(?) for Algebra-Trig the first term and was simply not ready for it. So I spent the remainder of the year w/Knoche taking Algebra III-IV. Unusual guy. I think he had pity on me for aspiring beyond my range and missing the mark. My attitude left a lot to be desired, having been brought down a notch. He seemed to have a certain smile for me that said 'you aren't so smart after all, eh....' Barely earned a B, and glad to be done with it.
Paid the price in college when I had to take some additional math courses required for econ. But those instuctors got me back on track, I remember them with gratitude.
Upon acceptance at grad. school, spent the prior summer, self-learning in two mathematical economics textbooks (which I still have on my shelf, sort of icons to the summer from hell), so that I wouldn't get washed out there. Sure glad I did, as my grad. student colleagues could run math circles round me. But in the end obtained just enough math & stat. to make it through and publish a thesis.
My department had attached to it a research methods expert who did nothing but help troubleshoot the link between student research and the computer center (SPSS programs, etc.) - immense help, and I learned a lot from her. Thirty-four years later I can still actually read and understand my own master's thesis. BTW, best book on research methodology I ever read (& still have it, too) was 'The Logic of Survey Analysis,' Morris Rosenberg. Among other things it has helped me many times detect lying with statistics, something that is done occasionally, no?
Jim....my stats and finance professor at UA was from Cornell and Econ was his field...he boiled stats down to a bagel so we could get it! I continued Math at ASU as an undergrad...but, again as it was not required for English majors, I only took two courses.....As I mentioned in the famous people thread.....all I have for my effort is a College Algebra book that belonged to Reggie Jackson before I bought it used at the bookstore. I don't think I can decipher my Master's thesis this many years later...it was quantitative...so next time around, I chose a qualitative methodology!! No stats!! I highly recommend it.
About a year ago I was convinced by 2 Retired Proffessors to go back to School and finish up. They told me there is no age that should stop us from a Dream.
After reading all of this, it made me decide to go back to work.
It will always be Psychology for me as I can spell Psychology now {:
Loretta: '...boiled stat. down to a bagel....' That comment reminded me of a conversation I had with Eve Kaufman in which she tried to explain to me the calculus application of the formula for a potato chip (that saddle-shape). I'd say I had thought she was nuts, but of course she was way smarter than any human I'd met by that point. Sure enough, I later found that you could do it (& of course don't we all daily use the mathematical formula for a potato chip?).
Occasionally when teaching econ. at my local community college, we'd get summer students from the Colorado School of Mines, one of CO's top scientific colleges (they take elective classes at the CC's for the low tuition). It was a kick to see these gifted folks explain the math behind some of the stuff I was putting on the board.
Jim....Yes, Eve Kaufman was brilliant....I enjoyed her younger sister, too. I believe her name was Laurie....I may be wrong. She was a freshman flute player in band when we were seniors....I love teachng at the community college for many reasons...the diversity of age, experience, education, and culture make for a lively class for sure. Among my international students I once had a woman from France who was a pediatric orthopedic surgeon....and a meteorologist from the Canary Islands....she introduced herself as a 'weather girl'...when I found out the reseach she was doing at ASU I had to explain the difference between a weather girl and a meteorologist!! I am always amazed at my students and what they bring with them.
John Cheslock was the stats professor....he was from Cornell so Elson may know him. He has since moved from UA to one of the universities in PA.
Do overs i'm not sure. I think that we are much like an arrow. We can set in the quiver hoping that we are never puled out to be used or set at the ready pulled back and ready to be launched but choosing not, because of fear not knowing were to go and then wondering what could have been. I choose to be the arrow in flight heading toward the target only looking back to see the wisdom i have gained,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,is the glass half full or is it half empty?.........I don't care just drink the water!!!
Mike, right on. Go for it, despite doubts. My wife advises me that 'some things are worth doing badly.' With emphasis on the word 'doing.' If we wait to act until we're good at something, well....
Drink the water and eat the Oklahoma style bar-b-qued bologna. Â
Billy,
Now that's what it's all about, people come 500 miles for Oklahoma style bbq bologna
I went from AZ to Tulsa to get some. And guess what, I ended up with more than bar-b-qued bologna. Damn those cops from Tulsa PD and Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.
Loretta, I like your reference to the international students.
Regis seems to go out of its way to welcome students from all over, and in fact one of our stated missions is a global perspective. Typically I'll have several foreign students in classes. Recently had three from different African nations, two of which refugees from political violence. Have had many students from the Middle East (which numbers unfortunately declined for several years following 9-11-01 - in fact two M.E. students dropped the day after it, never saw them again).
In an International Finance class, I had a student-come to find out he has a Ph.D. in Economics and is a tenured prof. in his country. Had two delightful students from Mongolia and Nepal in a class, both turned in great work. It's humbling, especilaly discussing economics when some students' countries have little 'consumer' sector to speak of. It's a case of the teacher learning more from the students than vice versa sometimes.
