Over the last 24hrs, er…, make that 36 hours now, I’ve overheard two conversations, and read an article all dealing with the same thing: rewarding students. Parents are mad, as well they should be. But not mad enough to do anything about it, complaining, writing a letter to the school district, or a letter to…
In 2004 I began teaching my World Geography course online . That is to say, my course was fully 100% online. Many students expect faculty to use Blackboard at both institutions where I teach. Students expect to find at least a syllabus. Many students expect to find some semblance of notes, as well. From the…
Having written a few notes about education, particularly about the holy triumvirate of Higher Education, K-12 Education, and Business, I’ve gotten some feedback. Feedback is good; feedback is the signal people need to re-tune their message, to clarify misunderstanding. One of the frequent concerns I’ve received regards my desire for more business interaction in high…
Our political climate is horrible. You might say, “Duh, I know this.” Knowing something doesn’t necessary mean you are aware of the insidious and nuanced misinformation propagated by politicians at every turn. Even the worst politicians are usually able to weave a fantasy narrative about how they are “right,” and their opponent is “wrong,” in…
Update: The following essay was written October 2011. On March 30th, 2013, the Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent and 34 other school officials were charged with running a “corrupt organization” (yes, just like the Mafia). The 35 individuals have been indicted for falsifying standardized test scores. (WashingtonPost) Let me begin by stating I am not going…
“Honey, you can do anything that you put your mind, too. You can be anything you want, just study, and work hard, and you can become anything you want!” As adults, we don’t really want to crush the hopes and dreams of future generations by seeming to be negative all the time. Some kids genuinely…
As an information technology professional, one involved in the realm of geographic information systems and mapping technology, students often ask what technologies they can learn to become more competitive in the job market. I stress two technologies, programming, and databases. For databases, I don’t point them in any particular direction, Oracle, SQL Server; even IBM…
I honestly do not think our current National Education System is churning out people prepared to meet the world head-on. Some schools are doing a fine job in spite reduced parental support, reduced administrative support, reduced political support, and local, state, and federal support. Americans whine about jobs, but Education is the only true way…
Technology use in the classroom, whether for K-12 or Higher Education, should not be the exception but the rule. I should point out technology should never replace good, solid teaching or the promotion of good, solid skills, such as working math problems using pencil and paper, or writing using pen and ink. Certain fundamental skills…
Writing is not simply a high school exercise designed by sadistic adults to torture teenage brain cells. The pain felt while writing, if not teenage angst, is the result of torpid brain cells firing into action. Writing is communication. Communication is imperative to all human interaction. Writing helps one organize thoughts, from linear progression in…
Constant Geography 
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