Thanks, July...

...it's been great!
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by PAM


Like I said before, July is "my month". :)  It's wonderful that so many exciting things happened
Happy-ness...this month... I am truly thrilled!  Therefore, I would like to close this memorable month with something that I think is indeed quite special.


I am currently re-reading a book by John C. Bogle, which I purchased last year, and I've just gotten around to reading it this month - finally! And now, I'm leafing through it again.  Uh-huh, my current schedule affords me some leisure reading time, which is heavenly! I feel lucky, and I'm thankful. :)   I'll post something about my experience with this book, too... at some point.  In the book, Mr. Bogle reminded his readers about a beautiful poem written by one of my favorite writers of all time, the late Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.  The poem is entitled, "Joe Heller", which was about the author of the highly appreciated World War II book, "Catch-22".  The poem was printed in "New Yorker" in 2005.  These days,  New Yorker is one of my fave "on-line hangouts" as well, and I hope they (and the legal owner/s of this work of Mr. Vonnegut's) would forgive me for posting the poem here.


Here goes...

Joe Heller

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.

I said, "Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel 'Catch-22'
has earned in its entire history?"
And Joe said, "I've got something he can never have."
And I said, "What on earth could that be, Joe?"
And Joe said, "The knowledge that I've got enough."
Not bad! Rest in peace!

        --Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)
          The New Yorker, May 16th, 2005


July has been very kind.  I learned a lot this month - technology-related stuff, fascinating stuff... and, in the personal front, I've gained invaluable insights on so many things that used to be really perplexing.  Things didn't change, but July brought me a different kind of inner strength to confront conflicting thoughts and ideals on important things, and the borrowed wisdom to see what they all meant, and why I should, in fact, be thankful for them.  In the process, I met wonderful new people - new friends - as well... and that gives me so much joy.  


Thanks, July!  :)


***

Thanks to a former student of mine who dropped by my "hangout" earlier today (to show me her new car... which I never saw!)... our conversation actually inspired me to write this post.  Thanks, "pangit"! ;)  


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Saturday photo

Let the games begin!

Nope, I wasn't in London (what a shame!), but I was one of the millions of people around the globe who watched the live telecast of the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony today, joining the countdown with BBC at 2:00 AM (Manila time), on to the wonderful opening ceremony itself on Solar Sports.  And, boy, did I love it! :)  Danny Boyle didn't disappoint.

The production featured so many things that are uniquely British.  That piece of coolness where the Queen was escorted by James Bond (played by the beautiful Daniel Craig) from the Buckingham Palace to the Games, arriving in a helicopter, and (supposedly) parachuting to the stadium for a grand entrance was brilliant!  And then I was laughing like crazy while watching Mr. Bean participate in playing the theme of the "Chariots of Fire" by the London Symphony Orchestra with Sir Simon Rattle conducting.  Rowan Atkinson was hilarious - as usual.  All that elaborate bedtime story segment with J. K. Rowling was fantastic, too.  Made me feel nostalgic about the many, many books by English authors that I read as a child from my late mother's encouragement. I also particularly liked Boyle's "scan-through" of Brit pop music over the years because I am a big fan of Brit music, especially from the "Second British Invasion" era. Boyle also paid homage to the man who has given us "our other world", the www: Sir Tim Berners-Lee.  I flipped happily, too, seeing David Beckham drive a speedboat up the Thames, carrying the Olympic torch, and passing it to Sir Steve Redgrave who brought it into the stadium.  The torch was then passed by Sir Steve Redgrave and six other great British Olympians to seven GB promising youth athletes who ignited Thomas Heatherwick's masterpiece of Olympic cauldron - a gathering of 204 copper petals, each representing a participating country.  And, of course, I sang with Sir Paul McCartney as he closed the ceremony. :) 

Apart from being "added information", all the political implications of the Boyle-ian opening ceremonies that I imagined didn't mean much to me. I took what I can appreciate, and I'm leaving the rest to the Brits themselves.... and, uhm, to Mitt Romney! =)   Hmm... actually, I'm leaving Romney to the Brits! ;)

Overall, the very casual but classy way by which the whole production went was very welcoming indeed.  It didn't feel pretentious, overwhelming or overdone, nor was it intimidating even when British culture is known to be incomparable in depth, richness... and "coldness".  It was honest and didn't feel consciously trying hard to impress... then again, what need is there for the Brits to impress anyone?  I cannot imagine any.  But, yeah, Boyle's Olympic piece was modern but warm with nostalgia. It was dramatic without being extremely theatrical. It was proud without being smug... would you believe it?! Yep, it was very cool! The use of familiar British and British-created figures and characters that millions of people in the world welcomed into their homes and embraced like their own was thoughtful, respectful, inclusive, and felt like an expression of gratefulness... a worthy theme for celebration, indeed, especially in the Games where peoples of the world converge to celebrate the best of human characters.  The brilliant Boyle brought balance between traditionally grandiose Olympic opening ceremony and a uniqueness that can only come from an impressive depth in story telling... and, of course, a wonderful story to tell.  He also brought a delightful mingling of drama and humor, new and ancient, history and pop culture, straight-as-arrow GB and the cool GB, the basic and the elaborate, information and entertainment... and it was fun - the witty British way. I felt like a part of the celebration, too, which was awesome!  

Salute to the rockin' Brits!

***
Good luck to the Pinoy athletes competing in the London Games!  Mabuhay kayo!  

***

QOTD

QOTD #5
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by PAM

So, the Philippine President, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (P-Noy), gave his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.  I've been asked many times this week about my thoughts on the SONA... like my thoughts mattered at all!  (Haha....)  Well, I had very low expectations.  In fact, I went shopping last Monday, and I bought a book, magazines, a pair of shoes, and random things... which was wonderful because I haven't really gone "serious shopping" in about two months... maybe longer, before that. So, I've really not been contributing actively to the growth of the Philippine retail economy. I ammended that by going shopping last Monday...  but I did rush back home in the afternoon to catch the SONA - in its entirety.  

So, what did I think?

Well, first of all, I LOVED IT that P-Noy's SONA was in Filipino - in its incredibly glowing beauty... music to the ears really!  It flowed nicely, too, that I didn't get bored even if it was more than an hour long.  Second, I think the SONA contained stuff that any taxpayer hoped to hear - positive stuff.  As for the veracity of the figures P-Noy mentioned to substantiate what he claimed to be a generally "arrow-up" scenario for the Philippines, I
It's more fun in the Philippines!have no way of knowing.  What I do know is that I don't feel as miserable these days when I'm moving about Metro-Manila as I did two years ago - and before that.  There seems to be some order these days, or at least, the perceivable desire to put order on things... there is also some feeling of hope rather than despair and discontent a few years ago.  And that Philhealth bit he spoke about, I benefit from that.  I had a first-hand experience last year, and I was absolutely satisfied... or maybe because I had very low expectations? ;)  Nah, they really did a very good job providing the service they claim they would provide.  If anything, this got me interested again in keeping abreast with the goings-on and progress the government is making, minus the (usually stomach-churning) politics part of it. With the allegedly ultra corrupt government of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a host of mongrel allies of hers in power, it was just hard to stay interested... like I said, despair with the government was predominant - for me, at least.

Third, I liked it that P-Noy spoke about Education as a priority, and Science and Technology as a target for growth in the coming years.  I see that there are concrete programs in place, too... and I believe that those are doable.  While it remains to be seen how steadfast the government will be in pursuing the targets they set, I'm hopeful that they'd stay on track.  What this country can count on is that the folks in the Education and the S & T sectors are serious about getting this country on competitive wheels - as  
Daang matuwid? Sana. Tara!they've always been!  Now, with honest-to-goodness government support, maybe these folks' efforts will finally translate to concrete and sustained achievements that would be of more significant impact to the country. This country really needs a stronger Education and S&T sectors for greater self-reliance and sustained economic growth.  Fourth, I agree that infrastructure, energy, and transportation should be paid close attention to. They comprise some of the most basic government services that every Filipino could benefit from every single day, and they will speed up attainment of many goals pertaining to economic stability.  Fifth, if the figures stated by P-Noy were "for real",  I'd say I'm impressed by the progress they are making in the Agriculture sector.  In any case, it's about time that the Philippines re-claim its former place as one of the countries in the world with highly stable Agri sector.  That will give this country a real edge because a progressive and dynamic Agri sector will guarantee food security, an indicator of environmental sustainability, and it will give some degree of independence economically through sustained job generation.  Having said that I am ecstatic that P-Noy singled out coconut water as among the Agri sector's good news!!  Wow! :)  I'm sure that gave the "big kids" in the lab at the Research Center a great reason to keep working hard to work on the Philippine coconut water. :)  It would've been awesome if P-Noy also mentioned carabao's milk... maybe, next year! :) Indeed, we, geek people, are that easy to please. ;)

But, yep, no matter what, many people will always feel like P-Noy left a few things a-wanting for attention.  The important thing is, this government is trying - very hard - to convince  the country to leave behind the culture of corruption, start anew, and move forward towards true progress - together as one nation.  That said, I'm glad that P-Noy showed decisive leadership to rekindle national pride among Filipinos by speaking in strong note over Beijing's show of military muscle to edge out the Philippines in Scarborough Shoal.  I've been asked about this, too... and my jaw usually hurts from restraining blood pressure surge, just because I find it hard to answer a little girl's question: "China has so much already, what do they want those little islands for?"  But I'd like to follow the example of Sec. Albert F. del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs in maintaining calm, diplomacy... and class.  Therefore, let me use this quote from one of my favorite writers of all time instead to express my feelings:

"(Kilgore) Trout’s story reminds me of the time my late great-aunt Emma Vonnegut said she hated the Chinese. Her late son-in-law Kerfuit Stewart, who used to own Stewart’s Book Store in Louisville, Kentucky, admonished her that it was wicked to hate that many people all at once."

           - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922 - 2007)

So, peace to the Chinese.  

Alright, I have work to do... plus, I found an old Beatles CD in my collection, and I'm dying to listen to "Let it be", so I'd better be going.  Ciao!

***
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Wednesday nostalgia

by PAM

I was looking for something in my room last weekend, and I stumbled over an old CD that I haven't seen in a long time, it's "The Singles 81 > 85" by Depeche Mode.  While I haven't been listening to DM in a long time, the minute I saw the album, I knew exactly which single I wanted to listen to.  It was this one...

"The grabbing hands grabbed all they can... all for themselves

after all it's a competitive world, everything counts in large amounts."

So this was probably why my late mother used to subtly discourage me and my siblings in listening to these British artists back in the '80s - the "second British invasion"... most of them sang about things that kids are not "supposed" to know about... yet.  Things that we're bound to find out later anyway... in adulthood, when we're ready to unmask idealism to the "reality" that it is - imperfections and all.  Then again, I think it's also possible for one to create his/her own reality - idealism and all.

I'm glad our mother allowed us some independence to think for ourselves back in the '80s, when we were still teenagers... turning the other way when we sneaked in youthful wisdom via Brit music into our little "experimental grown-up world".  That made things a bit easier to take these days... just because we were sufficiently warned.   

***

Celebrating what's good about pop culture...

...and its "happy marriage" with academic life.
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by PAM

It's been gloomy how many days here in Manila with all that rain, and flooding in some parts of the Metro.  Yep, it's that time of year.  What made the gloomy days sad and shocking was the news story on the senseless killings in Aurora, Colorado during the screening of "Dark Knight Rises", which is the last installment in the Batman trilogy by Christopher Nolan.  Apparently, the alleged gunman, James Eagan Holmes, who left 12 innocent people dead and more than 50 more wounded from the shooting rampage is a scholarly young man with sterling academic record who was pursuing his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Colorado.  Man, how did that happen?  Here's a young person who, obviously possesses extra-ordinary academic capabilities, looking to put all that potential to good use by pushing himself to the boundaries of academic challenge.  And then he dropped out of his Ph.D. Program... and then this!  After his arrest, he allegedly likened himself to Joker - the villain in the Batman comic series.  What happened?  What went wrong?  Once again, being in the academic world, this bothers me. *sigh*      

With the previous post on pop culture and teaching "big kids" these days, and the circumstance around which this senseless killings in Colorado happened, it's difficult not to imagine a connection between the influence of pop culture on young people and how they go about figuring life out as they feel their way into the realities of adulthood.  Just how big a role academics play in smoothing out this connection so these kids do not trip, stumble to confusion, and drown in moral paralysis daunts me!

I think I need to gather positive thoughts to calm down nerves here... so I'm pulling out a couple of my "power shots" in my "pop culture and academic life healthy marriage" trunk.  It's a two-part video from one of my favorite talk shows, BBC's "HARDtalk", with the one and only, Stephen Sackur, interviewing the one and only, Brian May, the legend of a guitarist of the phenomenal rock band, Queen, and an accomplished astrophysicist.  I keep these videos somewhere in the cyberspace, and when the going gets tough, I try to to cheer myself up with these videos.  Here's the first part...

"I got very, very depressed... (difficult) but it (depression) can be the making of you."

... yeah, that feels good.  Okay, here's the second part...

"I love being a scientist, asking all those questions of how things work... I also love being instinctive and becoming a part of the universe in a much more unquestioning way...."

Hmmm... okay,  I think that  Mr. Holmes's case was just a glitch.  I will always believe that a "happy marriage" between pop culture and the academe is possible, and when they march out of the church - happily united at last, it should be celebrated!  And yes, God must be present... it is His presence that makes this "happy marriage" possible really... and it is the educators' job to try and stand at the "interface" where the mind and the soul meet for these kids to recognize that those two exist on the same plane.  The pop culture is the mirror of a society's soul, and what we do when we "learn learning" in school is to keep finding the best possible way to keep feeding and sustaining the soul with the incredible mysteries - God himself - through the daily enlightenment of our open minds.   

Alright... I'm feeling better now.  I'm going shopping! :)

***
Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.  
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Save a prayer...

...'til the mornin' after.
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by PAM


It's my late mother's birthday today, and this is for her...

"...take a chance like all dreamers can't find another way.

You don't have to dream it all... just live a day." 

..."Save a Prayer" - one of Duran Duran's biggest hits back in the '80s.  I remember how an older sister and I had to "wrestle with wits" to reason with our mother over decorating our room with Duran Duran's colorful posters (in addition to our Star Trek posters), which my sister "smuggled" through our mail from her friend in Hawaii, who, in turn, "sneaked out" on her own mother to buy and send the posters to us. Aaah-hahaha... the things "silly teenagers" do to fight for a "worthy cause".  I don't remember how we reached a compromise... 'cause, ya bet, we did have those posters put up on our walls alright. O, yah!  :)


Oh, oh, oh... I think Mama sneaked on me and my sister one time in one of our hard-earned VH1 TV time allotments (wash dishes for five days = 30 minutes per week of VH1) and saw this video...

"The Reflex... buy time, don't lose it."

...and maybe, aside from digging the incredible bass tracks by JT, she thought he was cute, that's why she softened a bit on our "Duran Duran issue".  Aaawww!  :)  But, yeah, that's exactly how she was though... always acting "tough" on us, but the truth is... she was "easy".  And, I miss her.

***   
Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.


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On teaching, Part 1: The internet, pop culture and teaching "big kids" these days

An observation from an '80s person who "hangs out" in University lecture rooms and labs.
================================================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


Disclaimer, er, Intro 


This is something I wrote sometime in November 2011 while taking a break from work, quite sick again, of course... and I've forgotten about it since.  Now that I'm taking a big break (from life, in general!  Haha...), this suddenly came to mind, particularly after reading these NY Times articles that found their way into my inbox: "Top Universities Test the On-line Appeal of Free" and "Universities Reshaping Education on the Web", both of which seem to suggest that the way to the future of education is via the cyber highway.  Luckily, this old piece that never got posted here (until now, that is) is still in my little "cyberspace external thought storage".  Ah, the wonders of technology - takes my breath away everytime! :)


So, I gave my old "rant" a little facelift for some "critical update".  Hopefully, it makes a little sense.

***
Rewind...

Okay, first, let me entice you with this old video...

No, it's not by coincidence that this video features John Taylor of Duran Duran - the iconic "New Romantic" idol of the '80s. I have been waiting for an opportunity to put this up here 'cause this is another "justification" why this man remains to be (one of) the biggest crush(es) of this life of mine - excellent artist, brilliant thinker and absolutely charming (that's the surviving teenager in me talking, obviously)... and very good looking, too (there... I said it!  I'm that shallow - then and now.).  Not that you care, right?  Right! =)  


But, yeah, admittedly a chunk of my teenage life was sweetly anchored on Duran Duran - their music and poetry, unique and glamorous style, youthful wisdom and daring... anchored mostly on JT, mainly on JT. :)  And that's how the "pop culture" then was a large "part" of my College education... it provided the soundtrack for my College life, and JT was the best part of it all.  At some point though, when he's fallen in that notorious show business moral abyss, it kinda broke my heart.  But he came around, has evolved... and now, that gorgeous British young man who glamorize playing bass and who has always been a big inspiration for me for years is now giving talks in Engineering events... in the academic world, too - my supposed world!  Wow!  :)   Makes me think about how far I've gone, too, in my own path, and how much I've evolved as an individual... after all these years.  See, JT - the prince of the "pop culture" of my teenage and young adult life - has that effect on me... until now.  And, I don't mind.  :)


As delicious as the idea might be, this post is not about JT though... it's about something else. Boooo! Hey, I'm on a crusade here (ahem, if you must know, I'm trying - very hard - not to laugh), so bear with me, okay? ;)


Alright, folks, ahem, I demand seriousness now... please?  Thank you. :) 


***
What's up in the classroom these days?

"Ordinary 18-year-olds love digital technology because it allows them to construct a reflexive surrounding. The part-time job tires them and the classroom irks them to death, but the blogs, games, shows, videos, music, messages, updates, phone calls... they mirror their woes and fantasies. It's a pre-packaged representation of the world, a "Daily Me," a rendition of things filtered by the disposition of young users. All of them groove the input, and the screen becomes not a vein of truth but a mirror of desire."

- Mark Bauerlein
  Author of "The Dumbest Generation"

"The classroom irks them to death"???  Really?  Wow!  What a scary thought - for an academic!


While the book was written based on observations on American young people, still, reading the book by Mark Bauerlein back in 2010 caused some panic for me.  Therefore, I have been trying to understand how so many internet-savvy, pop culture-worshipping University kids these days behave, at least, in this developing country where I am from. It's a bothersome activity that a University professor with more than 20 years of experience can get sucked into these days.And it's proving to be dangerously close to an activity in futility, too. So, why bother? Well, because it's worth it, our students - our future - are worth it. 


All the "trouble" is worth it... 


(1) ...because there is such a huge change in the "knowledge traffic" in the classrooms and lecture halls these days. It used to be a predominantly easy one-way stream, where the source is the professor and the receivers are the students, and switched to a two-way conversation as the traffic cruised to perfect times. Lately, however, the traffic has been building up to a jarring congestion - mostly, in the minds of the students.  But the change, methinks, can be managed into a platform of high productivity. 


(2) There are frustrating barriers between the source and the receivers these days that a one-way traffic, where it survives to an aching wreck, has become a robotic sort of activity - devoid of real involvement. And that conjuring a "true" two-way traffic has become close to impossibility. However, I seem to have found another route to reach out to kids on the other side of the conventional learning realm where they hang out mentally... and that's exciting! 


(3) Most kids these days care more about their physical image rather than cultivating a culture of brilliance in their personalities - symptoms of overdose of that venomous Hollywood concoction, also known as "pop culture v. 2k" - that version that is mostly the frustratingly shallow and sex-crazed spin-off of the old ones, and it's so potent and far-reaching that it can invade many societies via a mere click - of the mouse, that is!  But an overdose can be fixed... if we do the right thing - quickly.


No, I'm not complaining nor am I criticizing. I'm just talking about an honest observation, which, for all I know, could be downright idiotic and misinformed - so forgive me - and finding a way to contribute in dealing with it, so the University does not become irrelevant in educating kids these days. Heavens forbid!


***
Is there a way out of this... or around this knowledge traffic congestion?


It might be worthwhile for "old" University pillars to realize some of the benefits of "web reading", the most important of which, is that it "permits non-linear strategies of thinking" (Sutherland-Smith, The Reading Teacher, 2002).


For the serious academics, that should sound exciting - an unknown territory to be explored and conquered. Alas, one-way and two-way traffic is no longer the route of
Generation Y: exciting, challenging generation.choice by this internet-savvy, wired generation. They are the "here and now - right now!" generation.  They prefer the "randomness" of things... the swift and constant movement, and turning about of discussion - on the internet... and in the classroom! They want greater participation, in fact - in their own terms - in the classroom, the way they get to conduct their activities in the internet independently - with considerable freedom. The taste of independence on-line is like taking a bite of the proverbial apple... the effect is permanent and irreversible. The "biter" can only be "saved" from "eternal damnation" by a "legitimate redeemer". The question is, are University educators willing to play the role of "redeemers"?  How does one redeem this generation, in the first place?  Do they need redeeming at all... especially when their world - hooked up mostly to the world wide web - is now the "real world"?  Perhaps, it is us, educators, and our "antiquated" methods of teaching that needed redeeming?  Perhaps, it is the educational institution on this side of the planet, as a whole, that needed some sprucing up?  Tough!


While granting these kids the "permission" to take the helm of dicussion in the classroom may not be wise, and in fact, spells all sorts of danger for "chaos", it might be worthwhile for the professors to try stepping back and let the kids weave their own thread of intelligent spell. Of course, much of the success of that depends on the educator's ability to moderate the "weaving" of thoughts in the "random traffic"... and that requires an extensive know-how and massive updating in one's field of expertise. The
Dedicated and committed faculty: key to
addressing the issue.question is, are educators willing to do that? And the even bigger questions are: Is the University willing to allot a big chunk of its resources to assist its faculty members along this line to ensure long-term impact towards excellent education? Are University administrators willing to dedicate their energies to explore these areas of "new approaches" that will turn this massive internet influence and internet-inspired behavior as vehicle for success rather than obstacle? Are Universities willing to acknowledge the end of the "traditional" one-way and two-way approaches in the classroom? While, I admit, that these are not easy questions to answer, especially for some universities where faculty members view the Academic profession as a mere 8-h a day job, they need to be answered nevertheless - and quickly, too!


In the hope of making students feel at home, rather than "irked to death", in the classroom as they do in their personal "cyber spaces", I tried a few things to give a sense of "randomness in the classroom". I tried to provide the "we're in charge here" feeling to the students as well, while we all managed to stick to the contents of the syllabus.


(1) Injecting the lectures with interesting here-and-now goings on in the specific
Multi-media-enhanced lectures.topic - providing multi-media illustrations via Powerpoint slides in a lecture so designed that all components appeared random, unplanned and unexpected... they "just came up" - 'cause the topic is that cool, practical and very relevant to what they do everyday, and what they hope to do later professionally... and that is true, too! Most of the materials are a mix of those from on-line scientific resources and pop media centers that I enroll in, which provide updated materials relevant to courses I'm teaching, be it, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics or Membrane Technology. The key is blending "serious science" with "pop culture" in a formula that inspires curiousity. I found that it's very effective to put these blends in front of the lecture because that stirs students' interests and compels them to willingly "commit" themselves to the topic on hand.  Why?  Because the lecture was set on a backdrop that's familiar to them, a fabric they consider "non-allergenic" - their beloved www. 


(2) Giving students their sure "five-minute shot to fame" in the classroom through Problem Set discussions, and paper presentations that are relevant to the subject matter in the syllabus. It's amazing how that turns out each time!
Group presentation/thesis
defense.Many of those who first struck me as shy or aloof take the helm of discussion with inspired gusto... unleashing highly insightful ideas that astonish me to speechlessness - in a very good way, I assure you! Obviously, their hours and hours of "practice" in their very own cyberspace give them all that "raw intellectual ammunition"... all educators have to do is point them to the target so they get their shot to fame right.  Once their "fame" is established, the students become more confident in actively participating in the "randomness" environment... and they move on to the next semester owning a part in their class's collective brilliance. None of that can be achieved in the "traditional one-way going two-way" approach where only the "most confident" and born-to-privileged-life people shine and the "shy ones" are constantly pushed to the rear and stay in the shadows until the end of their stay in the University... their potentials never tapped and groomed to perfect bloom.


(3) Using laboratory courses as a platform for "innovation" where the students are largely in-charge. "Boring" lab courses where "recipe-type" experiments are followed in activities that effectively box intelligent thinking to coma-like sleep can be resuscitated
Innovation Challenge.to life by dangling a huge challenge on your students faces! This "internet kids" are highly competitive... that's why they spend sleepless nights trying to win on-line games, or best their peers in their blogs' design and contents, or outdo everyone else with the most witty tweet. Their competitive nature could be channeled to productivity in the classroom. Discuss the basics... and then have them work on their own projects where you discreetly see to it that the basic lab skills are incorporated. They work to perfect their prototypes, competing for the prize of the most innovative project... not realizing how skilled and creative they have become once their prototypes are perfected. And they only have themselves to thank for it... they are in-charge, right? :)


***
Is there a way to reach these kids in their hangout?


They hang out in the cyberspace... and professors need to figure out how to gain access into their "strong passworded" psyches.  And I'm not talking about faculty members (ahem, especially administrators!) hanging out on Facebook and Twitter (and blogs!  hehe...) 24/7 with no worthwhile intention... they just want to be considered "in" and "cool", and be popular with students!  My friends, there are better things to laser point our energies to - seriously!  I should know... right?! ;)


Kids these days seem reluctant to accept an "invitation" to go deeper into the heart of a subject matter presented to them. They want a "personalized" approach... like the "invite" was exclusively for them.
Peer-assisted activities in
the lab and in the classroom. They need to identify themselves with the subject matter before they let themselves engage with it. This is why, the subject matter, no matter how technical, say vena contracta effect or pump cavitation, has to be "spinned" to a pop culture ("the culture of now") language when the invite is issued to them.  Sometimes, it helps to solicit the assistance of their more "learned" peers whom they look up to as well, to issue the invitation.  And when they accept, guide them in by talking in a more "experiential language" until they become interested and decide to try things out for themselves. And then when they're involved already, and have reached the point-of-no-return, "pull a trick on them" with learned subtlety - without them knowing it - and bathe them with pieces of new knowledge, using technical language this time.    


Later, when they leave the classroom or the lab with new information gained, they had the feeling that whatever new things they know now, they discovered on their own - via their own decision to learn, too - and it's cool! Once again, that feeling of being in-charge, of being given the free reins to steer their learning experience in a way that is meaningful to them.


Sure, I admit, none of these is an easy task. It can be physically, emotionally and mentally taxing... why do you think do I get sick so often these days??!  It's hard!  This is why it is imperative that Universities must be very careful in recruiting faculty members... while absolutely necessary, it is not enough for a prospective faculty to just have a scholarly track record and/or stellar industry experience because teaching is more about the ability, willingness, passion and the humility to keep working hard to convince these kids that learning is an integral part of their personal development - the most fun part, in fact!  It is through learning that they could continuously evolve as individuals... and they learn learning best in the campus. Faculty members should be willing to demonstrate this by seizing every opportunity to learn new things themselves as well...  because how do they teach about learning and the positive and joyful impact of sustained learning, not only in the personal level, but in the societal level as well, when they've stopped learning a long time ago?  That is why, it makes sense that: (1) generally, PhD - the ultimate test to withstand the initially enormous pressure of systematic learning, that later empowers one to conjure up and acquire that "sixth sense" to enjoy and share the true beauty and bliss of learning - is the minimum requirement for University professors, and that (2) sustained research - the "direct line" to learning - must be a part of the faculty's work program.  


Uh-oh... I think I just drove right into the parade of those who believe otherwise.  Oh, well... we all choose our battles, and I choose this!     


***
Physical image vs. personal image is decided via role models


It is a pity that kids these days have to live in a culture of shallowness - the kind of culture conjured up irresponsibly by the Hollywood media... and annoyingly being "championed" by local TV/Cinema outfits through their own Programs/movies. Gah! From Paris Hilton to the out-of-control Lindsay Lohan - why the media has to exploit and exaggerate reports on their misconduct and sad down spiral is appalling. Why the media won't focus on what ever talent Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna or Madonna had rather than their eccentric ways and/or their penchant for exposing their underwear (and what's beneath it) is not helping either.  Ugh, and don't get me started with the Kardashians - please!!  Local media and local TV/Cinema outfits follow suit, of course - all for the love of money!  Tsk!  The media influence is so freakishly huge and hard to avoid, even when parents cut-off TV/cable services, because of the limitless accessibility to just about everything through the internet.  And the poor misguided kids tend to confuse the message with the physical image they see, and follow those sick images instead rather than striving to polish their own talents and be good at what they do.


But vanguards of the "old pop culture" can provide a bridge between the "then and now" divide, and bring back the idea that pop culture is not necessarily a dumbed down, sex-crazed collage of real artistry, and intellectual and scientific adventures! Fortunately, most professors these days lived back in the days when pop culture was still highly respectable.  Therefore, once in a while, Sting gets into the discussion of sound waves in Physics, or the film "The Hunt for Red October" in discussions on sonic, subsonic and supersonic flows in Fluid Mechanics, or even "The Real Genius" when discussing the ethics of research. :)


Being there when confusion creeps in will help these kids significantly.  Educators must not be afraid to lose "popularity" with their students by pointing out the good message behind the confusing images that assault their impressionable minds... because that's what they're there for in the first place.


***
So what now?

As JT pointed out, pursuing a passion at an early age, was a test of manhood for him, and it was through the constant and ardent pursuit of this passion that he followed his dream... and succeed, too! Kids these days, while highly competitive, have everything at the tip of their fingers - via internet. Very little challenge, and therefore, they rarely experience the truly exhilarating joy of success. Therefore, educatorss must strive to make them feel that exhilaration... because that can be "addicting", too - in a very good way. 

With my research students, I usually create a huge challenge to them... by "using myself" as the biggest "obstacle" to their success... and yet, might hold the "key" to
The excitement and fulfillment
of working hard in the lab.their success, too, at the same time.  Therefore, they have no choice but to figure out this obstacle while keeping the key within their reach.  Without being obvious, I steer the "project ship" to safe waters... while they see me as a perilous iceberg!  And because, they want to steer clear from the peril, they try to work out a plan and execute it, trying desperately to avoid mistakes by the painstaking attention to details, all the while keeping their eyes on the key... not realizing the tremendous training and discipline they are getting as they go along.  Once the research project becomes successful, I let them bask in the glory of success, so they experience the wonderful feeling, and get convinced that the struggle to reach it is just a small price to pay.  And then, that realization becomes a learning experience, which firms up their character, a constant reservoir of energy and inspiration when the going gets tough, and it becomes a part of themselves... a transformation, which is what education is really all about.


Care must be taken when this approach is employed though... there is no one-size-fits-all to this.  Students have different characters.  Others can take the heat, others breakdown at the slightest pressure.  Therefore, the balance between the obstacle and key to success must be calibrated and re-calibrated to obtain the same outcome each time.  There is a simple technique: sincere and deep caring.  Therefore, this approach is strictly not recommended for the educator with unhealthy ego and prone to power tripping... it can ruin both the educator and the student... and, perhaps, the learning institution.  That could be tragic.      

***

Another note:  I originally planned to write this in a three-part series of posts, and this is the first, but things changed.  So, this might just be the first and the last post on this topic... but things are in a flux these days, so we'll see....

***

Break!

I need a break... from this break!
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by PAM


Music, please!  So I randomly pulled one out from my CD tower... and what I got was the soundtrack from the 1994 MTV-ish film, "Reality Bites", starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller.  It was directed by Ben Stiller and partly produced by Danny DeVito!  The first track in the CD was...

..."My Sharona" by The Knack, which was re-mixed for the film.  It was one of the biggest "slam dancing" anthem of the 1980s together with "C'mon feel the noise" by Quiet Riot. Man, those were the days.... :)

And, still from the soundtrack, this was fun, too...

..."Baby, I love your way" - a Peter Frampton classic, which was re-made by Big Mountain for the film.  

Alright, back to work, er, break... "working break", "semi-break"?  This is confusing!  :)

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube!

.

Saturday photo

S&T junkies' field day!

We had a great time joining the Department of Science and Technology's "2012 National Science and Technology Week" at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.  The activity's theme was: "Science, Technology and Innovation: Working Together for Growth and Development".  


I was fortunate enough to get a "duty" at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) booth on the event's fifth day. Don't let the photos above fool you, I took those when the day was ending, the huge crowd was already gone.  Considering it was already the fifth day, it is very reassuring to know that "S&T junkiness" is alive and well in the Philippines!  The exhibits were fantastic, from hi-tech electronic stuff to green building models, to agri-related innovation, to process technology whoa-inducing stuff, to biotech huh?-come-again wonders, to food and food-related things - all from different parts of the country.  Oh, and I bought cheese making stuff. Hurrah!  :)  


It rained like mad after we left SMX yesterday evening - Friday the 13th.  The streets were all heaving desperately to contain the wild downpour... and the usually 15-20 minute travel time from SMX to the UST Research Center became a three-hour fun exchange of stories between old and new friends!  I never thought getting stuck in heavy traffic in flooded streets can be that enjoyable though... I guess it's all about who you're stuck with. :) I thought I'd post something here to remember it by later, and remind myself to join again next time... floods and traffic notwithstanding. :)


*** 

If I die young...

...I wouldn't complain, 'cause I dig The Band Perry's gig.
==================================================
by PAM

"I've had just enough time..."

Wow, wouldn't it be great to be able to say that?  That we've "had just enough time"?  Enough time to have done all that we had dreamt of, that we had envisioned doing, that we had set out to do... all that we had been sent to do - the things that matter the most?  I'm not sure if the song is all about death per se...  I think it's all about life in general.  That we should all take up life with passion, live life as if it can be taken from us by "the sharp knife of a short life" in one swift stroke... live each day like we only had "just enough time" to live a meaningful life, and therefore we celebrate life whenever we can, we make the most of it, we make the most of every opportunity that comes our way - to laugh, love, serve God. 


Funny... because, as most of my closest friends may know, boring as I am, I've sat to immobility as opportunity after breathtaking opportunity came... and went.  I offer no excuses... just a resolution that, next time, I'll keep it together, stand gracefully and shake opportunity's hand... and maybe go to dinner with it! ;)

***

Speaking of life, death... and missed opportunities

I meant to talk about the passing away of the Philippine Cinema's undisputed "King of Comedy", Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon, Sr. a couple of days ago.  But I am still too sad and angry to be sure that I won't sound offensive to the people who man the helm of the "Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas" (National Artist of the Philippines) selection committee.  His passing, to me, feels like a little
Tenkyu po, Mang Dolphy!but good part of my fun memories as a child and young adult was punched out, and the little round shaving went flying away, leaving a gaping hole. :(    

The whole nation mourns the passing of the man who touched every Filipino's heart... okay, maybe not everyone's, maybe Dolphy didn't even get a few miles close to the collective heart of the snub people at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) who determine the National Artists... if they had heart at all that is.  But shouldn't "art" and "culture" mirror the nation's heart and soul?  Maybe not, 'cause the National Artist committee seem "too cultured" that they have become too stiff to have the "proper heart" to acknowledge the phenomenal impact to the Filipino of the man who spent his life figuring out the Filipino's comedic psyche and hitting it - spot on!   It was this sincere effort to understand and staying faithful to what the Filipino audience revealed to him that endeared him to them - us. And this is how he became an icon for humor, laughter, happiness... and celebration of life for the Pinoys. And this is how Dolphy touched the lives of a multitude of Pinoys and resided in the nation's heart for more than six decades.  With the outpouring of prayers, sympathy and kind, touching words for Dolphy from Filipinos coming from different walks of life, it is obvious that he will continue to live in the Filipino's heart long after the lowering of the curtain in this stage of borrowed time.

But did any of this matter to them "cultured" royal highnesses of the National Artist committee? Obviously not! His efforts were put down, belittled and reduced to "just slapstick".  Ugh!  Do you, people, even know "Filipino humor"???? Apparently not! Dolphy, on the other hand, had a deep understanding of and reverence for the Filipino humor that he only had to make coffee as John Puruntong in "John en Marsha", without saying a single word, and we laughed so hard, we could cry!  Therefore, a snub to Dolphy is just about the same as failure to recognize and honor the Filipino and his/her unique view of humor and his/her preference of how this view is depicted in artistic medium. These "cultural royalty" people insist on "defining" the artistic preference and humor of the Filipino, and forcing their definition into everyone's throat. Gah!


Alas, National Artist selection committee people, you and your "artistic and cultured" stance on Filipino humor are not funny... but Dolphy was! And, we love him! Not naming Dolphy a National Artist when he was still alive was indeed a "missed opportunity"... certainly not for him but for our "cultural royalty" - they missed to seize the very essence of their existence as an entity.  How sad.  Then again, how many of our National Artists got the recognition posthumously?  It is indeed "funny, when you're dead, how people started listening."  


So, here's a national gag for you, "cultured people"!  Enjoy... if you can!

Okay, I should stop... I told ya, it is not a good idea to do this now. Later.....

***

Video credit:  Thanks, TheBandPerryVEVO on YouTube!
Photo credit:  Dolphy's photo was borrowed from Wiki - thanks!

QOTD

QOTD #4
======================================================
by PAM

Following the alleged racist abuse by the Chelsea FC captain and former English National Team captain, John Terry, on Anton Ferdinand of QPR during a heated argument on the pitch in their London derby sometime back, England (and the world) was forced to ponder the stark contrast between the implication of JT's trial at the Westminster Magistrates' Court last Monday to English Football, and the beautiful game, as a whole, and the glorious Roger Federer-Andy Murray Wimbledon Gentlemen's Final at the SW19 Centre Court the day before and its implication to the Gentlemen's sport:    

"The Wimbledon men's final is a perfect distillation of the human qualities that come our way packaged as sport."

          - Paul Hayward
            The Telegraph, UK

Fairly accurate statement indeed
Federer and Murray: hurrah for gallantry!about last Sunday's Centre Court action and the emotional trophies presentation ceremony that followed.  Needless to say, I couldn't agree more... Federer and Murray played the "gentlemen's sport" and accepted their prizes exactly the way tennis should be played and the way classy players should behave after the match - as true gentlemen!  It makes one think... and believes that, wow, gallantry is alive and well, and it isn't just wishful thinking either!  Really heartwarming... precisely why tennis is a worthy sport to follow.  

And yes, I agree with most of the criticisms on English football as well.  It really is unfortunate how
JT, on the wrong
side of history.the beautiful game and the incredible talent of most men playing it is marred by the behavior of a few players so obsessed with self-importance and macho mentality, which can push them into the dangerous grounds of disrespect and racism.  Then again, it's probably because many greedy people, including women (shallow, gold-digging WAGs et al.), join malicious forces to corrupt these men. Tsk!  At the end of the day though, with all that glory and with all that mind-boggling compensation that could easily bailout a financially strapped nation just to recognize their exceptional talents, they should be intelligent, or at very least, grateful, enough to know what is good, idiotic... and beyond idiotic! Gah!  

Even the Spanish football, specifically on the arrival of José Mourinho at Real Madrid, had been suffering from a similar problem, specifically during those El Clásico matches.  Good thing Vicente del Bosque was able to
La Roja: hopeful cheers for the beautiful game.unite the National Team into a cohesive force that wanted to play football the way it should be played - beautifully.  With their undisputed success and joyful display of camaraderie and teamwork on the pitch (and out of it, too) despite previous bitter competition in their National League, the present Spanish side is now arguably the best National Team ever assembled.  Hopefully, Roy Hodgson would find the same success in the English National Team because Englisb football and those who believe in the game deserve as much.   

***