Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/29/08
Prof. Augustine
Methods Exercise
I have been extremely excited to write this paragraph of how I plan to follow through with my research project because I can’t wait to receive your opinions and feedback on some things you recommend I do or should work on. For my project I plan on studying the topic of “Going Green,” and the effects it has on different companies and on the environment itself. Some of the qualitative methods I plan to use with my project are different documents which will include things such as journal entries, which I have found to be the most formative piece of work. I have also found different videos that I plan on using on my power point of how when people “Go Green, they Save Green.” I also have found videos on how different corporations are now deciding to go green because they too are not just saving the environment they are also saving money. One of these companies I found was Costco Wholesale, and how they have also decided to go green. This year they even estimated that they will recycle around 240,000 tons of cardboard and plastic wrap that they use to package their materials. This is clearly a lot of trash! I decided to use videos because it is a great way for people to see and hear how much money and energy we save as Americans when we choose to recycle things. I am really excited to get this project started because it is a topic that I have always wanted to get deeper into. I think a lot of other people will also think it is really interesting, and will hopefully take tips from some of the information I have found. I have so far found a lot of information on the topic but is there anything else you would recommend I do before I get started on it?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Journal Critique 3
Kayla Reed
7/27/08
Prof. Augustine
IDST 4114
Journal Critique 3
Finnex, Russell. (2008). Biodiesel Production: Going Green to improve productivity. Filtration & Separation, Volume 45, Issue 6, July-August 2008, Pages 24-25.
In this journal the author is talking about different ways in which different businesses and consumers are seeking out as many ways as they can to be more environmental friendly since environmental concerns are beginning to gain a large amount of attention worldwide. So they decided that they would begin to seek out different renewable fuel sources that could help better benefit our environment. With that said, businesses are now beginning to use Biodiesel, which is quickly being adopted as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel. Although, there is currently a global debate surrounding the agricultural and economic impact of large-scale biodiesel production, but despite this uncertainty, the benefits of biodiesel seem to be outweighing any disadvantages. Being biodegradable, non-toxic, and producing significantly less net lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel, biodiesel can be used on its own or blended with other fuels. It is now even becoming available by fuel stations worldwide and transportation companies are starting to use it as an additive to their fuel supply.
In this article the object that is being studied is Biodiesel, and it is being tested by different scientists through different experiments to make sure that the advantages of the fuel will always outweigh any disadvantages that the fuel may have. I was really happy to hear about this article because anything other than some of the fossil fuels we are currently using, like oil, would be better for our planet. The gas emissions these days are becoming very detrimental to our environment, and researchers really do need to try and find different ways in which driving a car would not be so harmful to our environment. I think that this article is interdisciplinary because although scientists are mainly just researching more about the advantages and disadvantages of biodiesel, they are also studying other objects and things that could help to make our environment more “eco-friendly.” I think because of that this article fits very well with my research project because scientists are helping to find different alternatives to the harmful things that are being released into the environment, which will help contribute to the process of more people “Going Green,” and sticking with it.
7/27/08
Prof. Augustine
IDST 4114
Journal Critique 3
Finnex, Russell. (2008). Biodiesel Production: Going Green to improve productivity. Filtration & Separation, Volume 45, Issue 6, July-August 2008, Pages 24-25.
In this journal the author is talking about different ways in which different businesses and consumers are seeking out as many ways as they can to be more environmental friendly since environmental concerns are beginning to gain a large amount of attention worldwide. So they decided that they would begin to seek out different renewable fuel sources that could help better benefit our environment. With that said, businesses are now beginning to use Biodiesel, which is quickly being adopted as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel. Although, there is currently a global debate surrounding the agricultural and economic impact of large-scale biodiesel production, but despite this uncertainty, the benefits of biodiesel seem to be outweighing any disadvantages. Being biodegradable, non-toxic, and producing significantly less net lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel, biodiesel can be used on its own or blended with other fuels. It is now even becoming available by fuel stations worldwide and transportation companies are starting to use it as an additive to their fuel supply.
In this article the object that is being studied is Biodiesel, and it is being tested by different scientists through different experiments to make sure that the advantages of the fuel will always outweigh any disadvantages that the fuel may have. I was really happy to hear about this article because anything other than some of the fossil fuels we are currently using, like oil, would be better for our planet. The gas emissions these days are becoming very detrimental to our environment, and researchers really do need to try and find different ways in which driving a car would not be so harmful to our environment. I think that this article is interdisciplinary because although scientists are mainly just researching more about the advantages and disadvantages of biodiesel, they are also studying other objects and things that could help to make our environment more “eco-friendly.” I think because of that this article fits very well with my research project because scientists are helping to find different alternatives to the harmful things that are being released into the environment, which will help contribute to the process of more people “Going Green,” and sticking with it.
Journal Critique II
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/27/08
Journal Critique II
Ausquith, Christina. (2007). Going Green Equals Good Business. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; v24 n6 p14-16 May 2007.
In this journal, around 1,000 Scientists concluded in February 2007 that humans are the ones who are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth’s climate and could eventually become huge problems by causing huge global weather changes. Throughout the rest of the article scientist urge people to take different actions in making our environment more eco-friendly. This article features the nonprofit American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which as of right now has 150 signatures, where people are pledging to help eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time and to integrate sustainability into their curriculums. In the future the group's goal is to have 1,000 or more presidents sign the commitment by 2009. By signing this contract and making such a commitment, companies must complete an emissions inventory and set a target date and milestone markers for becoming climate neutral within two years.
In this article greenhouse gas emissions were being studied by different scientists that eventually all came up with the same consensus. My reaction to this study was that I was not very shocked at all. In my geology class last semester, we were taught this exact same thing of how humans are the biggest contributors to the harmful effects of global warming on our planet. This study was not exactly interdisciplinary due to the fact that there was only one thing being studied and that was global warming and how and why it is caused each and every day. The only way it could be considered interdisciplinary is that there were many different scientists all working on one thing, but all working separately and doing there own studies on the topic. I think this article could be very helpful to my project because it clearly shows how if more people decide to take the steps and “Go Green,” our world maybe would not have as many problems as it currently does. If humans continue to harm the environment, global warming would still continue to take place, and if that continues to take place, our land and beaches will eventually be replaced with water.
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/27/08
Journal Critique II
Ausquith, Christina. (2007). Going Green Equals Good Business. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; v24 n6 p14-16 May 2007.
In this journal, around 1,000 Scientists concluded in February 2007 that humans are the ones who are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth’s climate and could eventually become huge problems by causing huge global weather changes. Throughout the rest of the article scientist urge people to take different actions in making our environment more eco-friendly. This article features the nonprofit American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which as of right now has 150 signatures, where people are pledging to help eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time and to integrate sustainability into their curriculums. In the future the group's goal is to have 1,000 or more presidents sign the commitment by 2009. By signing this contract and making such a commitment, companies must complete an emissions inventory and set a target date and milestone markers for becoming climate neutral within two years.
In this article greenhouse gas emissions were being studied by different scientists that eventually all came up with the same consensus. My reaction to this study was that I was not very shocked at all. In my geology class last semester, we were taught this exact same thing of how humans are the biggest contributors to the harmful effects of global warming on our planet. This study was not exactly interdisciplinary due to the fact that there was only one thing being studied and that was global warming and how and why it is caused each and every day. The only way it could be considered interdisciplinary is that there were many different scientists all working on one thing, but all working separately and doing there own studies on the topic. I think this article could be very helpful to my project because it clearly shows how if more people decide to take the steps and “Go Green,” our world maybe would not have as many problems as it currently does. If humans continue to harm the environment, global warming would still continue to take place, and if that continues to take place, our land and beaches will eventually be replaced with water.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Journal Critique I
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/23/08
“Going Green”
Going Green. (2008). Scholastic Choices; Apr/May2008, Vol. 23 Issue 6, p5-5, 0p.
In this article the author is trying to teach children the best way to help save our resources and enhance our environment by doing things to help better our environment and to stop destroying it like we most commonly do. In one part of the article the author gives its readers 100 different ways in which they could help to conserve the environment in which we live in either at home, work, school, and even their selves. Some examples of this include things such as getting a hybrid car, turning off the water when brushing their teeth, carpool for a whole week or as long as you possibly can, always carry a reusable water bottle, recycle glass, paper, plastic and metal for a whole week, or ask your school to have a waste-free lunch day! All of these examples are great ways to help better conserve and make our environment a healthier living place. In another part of the article the author also points out how at school, teachers should have plastic bins in their classrooms where children could recycle any paper; they might have, instead of just wasting the materials. So in this article the children were being studied by their teachers and parents to see how well they could do things for a whole week. My reaction to this article is that I think it is a great way for kids to get involved and actually do something great for the environment. Children love getting involved and thinking that they are doing something good for others, so what better way for them to do that than by recycling as much things as they can? I think this is a great way for children to also get involved in interdisciplinary work because they are getting involved in so many different things. They are not only concentrating on doing things such as recycling, but they will also even try to get their parents involved and encourage them to do more things such as carpooling, recycling plastics, metal glass, and paper, to not let the water run when brushing their teeth or washing their face, and to always use reusable water bottles every day. If they encourage the rest of their family members to just do those few things, they can really help out our environment. I think this article is very useful to my project because it helps give ways in which people (especially young children who will hopefully continue to do these things as they grow up) can help our environment by “Going Green.” It lists so many, simple easy steps that we can all take that will help lead our environment in a healthier direction. The only thing that the article does not talk about is how much recycling just one thing will help our environment. I think that is very important for people to know, so they will feel even better about doing the things that they should be doing (like recycling) to help better our environment.
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/23/08
“Going Green”
Going Green. (2008). Scholastic Choices; Apr/May2008, Vol. 23 Issue 6, p5-5, 0p.
In this article the author is trying to teach children the best way to help save our resources and enhance our environment by doing things to help better our environment and to stop destroying it like we most commonly do. In one part of the article the author gives its readers 100 different ways in which they could help to conserve the environment in which we live in either at home, work, school, and even their selves. Some examples of this include things such as getting a hybrid car, turning off the water when brushing their teeth, carpool for a whole week or as long as you possibly can, always carry a reusable water bottle, recycle glass, paper, plastic and metal for a whole week, or ask your school to have a waste-free lunch day! All of these examples are great ways to help better conserve and make our environment a healthier living place. In another part of the article the author also points out how at school, teachers should have plastic bins in their classrooms where children could recycle any paper; they might have, instead of just wasting the materials. So in this article the children were being studied by their teachers and parents to see how well they could do things for a whole week. My reaction to this article is that I think it is a great way for kids to get involved and actually do something great for the environment. Children love getting involved and thinking that they are doing something good for others, so what better way for them to do that than by recycling as much things as they can? I think this is a great way for children to also get involved in interdisciplinary work because they are getting involved in so many different things. They are not only concentrating on doing things such as recycling, but they will also even try to get their parents involved and encourage them to do more things such as carpooling, recycling plastics, metal glass, and paper, to not let the water run when brushing their teeth or washing their face, and to always use reusable water bottles every day. If they encourage the rest of their family members to just do those few things, they can really help out our environment. I think this article is very useful to my project because it helps give ways in which people (especially young children who will hopefully continue to do these things as they grow up) can help our environment by “Going Green.” It lists so many, simple easy steps that we can all take that will help lead our environment in a healthier direction. The only thing that the article does not talk about is how much recycling just one thing will help our environment. I think that is very important for people to know, so they will feel even better about doing the things that they should be doing (like recycling) to help better our environment.
Annotated Bibliography
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/20/08
Prof. Augustine
Annotated Bibliography
1.) Malone, Cynthia N. (2008). How to Get Greener Books. Chronicle of Higher Education; v54 n31 pA38 Apr 2008.
In this journal Cynthia Malone writes about how some professors in different colleges are beginning to pick textbooks, journals, handouts, and different texts that are more “eco-friendly.” Not only are they looking at the price of the book, or the ease at which students can use the books, they are now looking at the ways that the materials are being made and how it effects our environment. Now colleges and many other places are finding different ways in which they can help save trees and the damage that is being done each day to our forests, and making it to where people will have to use recycled paper when printing different things.
2.) The Earth Needs You! (2008). Curriculum Review; v47 n7 p6 Mar 2008.
This journal talks about how on Earth Day which is celebrated annually on April 22, is beginning to grow into a much bigger holiday. It persuades teachers and professors into wanting to become a part of Earth Day by joining to help the cause at http://network.earthday.net. Once teachers have joined the network, they can make their own webpage and promote their whole school or just themselves. The article also talks about the top ten recycling tip list that helps people make better choices when buying things, or making things.
3.) Ausquith, Christina. (2007). Going Green Equals Good Business. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; v24 n6 p14-16 May 2007.
In this journal, around 1,000 Scientists concluded in February 2007 that humans are the ones who are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth’s climate and could eventually become huge problems by causing huge global weather changes. Throughout the rest of the article scientist urge people to take different actions in making our environment more eco-friendly. This article features the nonprofit American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which as of right now has 150 signatures, where people are pledging to help eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time and to integrate sustainability into their curriculums. In the future the group's goal is to have 1,000 or more presidents sign the commitment by 2009.
4.) Spivey, Angels. (2004). Sustainable Development. Going Green Saves over Time. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, No. 5 (Apr., 2004), pp. A276-A276.
In this journal the author writes how these days people are worried about the costs of building any type of a building or house that is made up of products which are easy on the environment. She then goes on to say that according to a study by the Sustainable Building Task Force in October of 2003, that a building which incorporates any type of a “green,” feature costs on average about 2% more that a more convential home, but in the long run the 20 year life of the building with those features pay back the investment more than 10 times.
5.) Finnex, Russell. (2008). Biodiesel Production: Going Green to improve productivity. Filtration & Separation, Volume 45, Issue 6, July-August 2008, Pages 24-25.
In this journal the author is talking about different ways in which different businesses and consumers are seeking out as many ways as they can to be more environmental friendly since environmental concerns are beginning to gain a large amount of attention worldwide. So they decided that they would begin to seek out different renewable fuel sources that could help better benefit our environment. Businesses are now beginning to use Biodiesel, which is quickly being adopted as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel. Being biodegradable, non-toxic, and producing significantly less net lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel, biodiesel can be used on its own or blended with other fuels.
6.) Corum, Lyn. (2004). Reduce & Renew: Going green in Southern California.Refocus, Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2004, Pages 36-38.
In this journal the author, Lyn Corum writes about how renewable energy and high performance green buildings are increasing rapidly in California, especially now after so many politicians are beginning to endorse several different “going green” projects. In the Los Angeles basin, many of the projects are very eco- friendly because they combine renewable resources, sustainability and waste reduction. One of the many goals of the Los Angeles Basin’s district's building program said Larry Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning & Development, is to reduce campus energy use, include a teaching mission and to transform the marketplace through the District's $100-million procurement package concentrating on green and sustainable products. Eisenberg said that some buildings will be at least 20% more energy efficient than called for by California's Title 24 energy efficiency standards and the renewable power systems will provide about 10% of the building's power. In all, he said, the district's 45-Megawatt annual load will be reduced by 4.5 Megawatts - about $434,000/year in today's dollars.
7.) Corporations Going Green. (2006). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society; Apr2006, Vol. 87 Issue 4, p409-409, 0p
In this article the author discusses how different ecologically-friendly measures are now being taken more seriously by U.S. companies. Even Whole Foods Market purchased credits from wind farms to account for all of the electricity used in its stores, the first such major U.S. company to make such a huge change. After making the change, the company went on to say that the ecological impact of the move is the equivalent of taking 60,000 automobiles off the roads. Walgreens, a small convenience store/pharmacy has also announced ecologically-friendly measures, including putting solar electric systems in two of its distribution centers and many of its stores.
8.) Going Green in the Gulf. (1996). Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, No. 12 (Dec., 1996), pp. 1272-1273.
In this article the author talks about how the after years of oil production and the after the war, the Persian Gulf Region has become very polluted. Because of this, Bahrain, (a small country located on a group of 33 islands in the gulf), just recently passed a comprehensive legislation which will to stop the problem. The law stated that the Environmental Protection Agency must work with other government agencies to set standards to protect the environment and human health in areas such as the use of machinery, the use of pesticides, construction, and the production and use of hazardous materials. After this law was passed other countries have really looked upon it, and feel that it would be a great way for their countries to become more “eco-friendly.”
9.) California Bans Pesticides. (1996). Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, No. 11 (Nov., 1996), pp. 1146-1146.
In this article the author talks how California had just recently decided to ban 3 chemicals after doing tests on over 200 of them which were commonly used in many different pesticides. Officials at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) decided that out of the 200 chemicals they did not have enough information on 3 of them, so to be on the safe side, they banned them. The suspension will involve products containing the fungicide chloreneb, the wood preservative creosote, and aromatic petroleum dilates, which are commonly used in insecticides. I also found a quote in the article that I thought fit perfect with my topic and it was: “The Smart ones are going green, the dumb ones are not, and the foolish ones are pretending.” David Kerns quoted in Globe and Mail.
10.) Rugman, Alan M. and Alain Verbeke.(1998). Corporate Strategies and Environmental Regulations: An Organizing Framework. Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 19, No. 4, Special Issue: Editor's Choice (Apr., 1998), pp. 363-375
In this article the authors talk about how there are many societal concerns over the negative environmental impacts of commercial and manufacturing activities that have led to a sharp increase in environmental regulations throughout the world at institution levels. These corporations are now trying to come up with many different ways to protect the environment, through ways like recycling, and using products that are more “eco-friendly, and are not made using a lot of energy.” Bottles paper, and cans; they found are some of the easiest things for people to recycle, and help benefit the environment.
11.) Iwata, Edward. (2008). Companies discover going green pays off. USA Today: May 21, 2008.
In this article, the author talks about how companies are beginning to learn that “going green” is a very smart idea. It talks about how in San Francisco a growing wave of companies in all sectors including: technology, financial services, energy, retail, and manufacturing are all embracing environmentally safe practices and saving hundreds of millions of dollars. Some of these companies that are beginning to use green practices in the work sites, of product development and packaging are: SunPower, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Patagonia, Ikea, Nike, Hewlett-Packard, UPS, and Yahoo. The article also discusses how if they continue to uses green practices and really stick to it, they can inspire other companies to do the same thing.
12.) Conway Appel, Sherry. (2008). “How Cities are going Green. Nation's Cities Weekly; 4/21/2008, Vol. 31 Issue 16, p1-8, 2p
In this article the author writes about how there are beginning to be several different environmental programs that are aiming to build sustainable communities in several U.S. cities. Some of these programs include "The Climate Protection Plan," which aims to eliminate all carbon dioxide emissions from municipal activities by 2020 in Austin, Texas, "Partnership for a Green City," which promotes energy conservation in Louisville, Kentucky as well as "Clean and Green," which promotes the use of renewable energy in Riverside, California.
13.) Going Green. (2008). Scholastic Choices; Apr/May2008, Vol. 23 Issue 6, p5-5, 0p.
In this article the author is trying to teach children the best way to help save our resources and enhance our environment by doing things to help better our environment and not hurt it. There is also a section that helps teach people 100 different ways in which they could help to conserve our environment either at home, work, school, and even yourself. Some examples of this include things such as getting a hybrid car, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, carpool, always carry a reusable water bottle, or ask your school to have a waste-free lunch day! All of these examples are great ways to help better conserve our environment and make us live in a healthier place.
14.) 'Going green' can be good for business. (2008). Control Engineering; Jan2008, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p30-30, 0p
In this article the author makes a note on a report on the role of the industrial sector in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. One example of this was from the company known as, McKinsey & Co. where the author revealed that the industrial sector alone can reduce emissions by 620-770 megatons, and that the associated energy savings can outweigh the cost of making the necessary changes to meet these reduction goals. It also noted that the need for the sector to give a substantial investment in equipment upgrades and process changes to meet the companies different reduction goals.
15.) Armour, Stephanie.(2007). Job sites go green to please workers. USA Today; 11/27/2007.
In this article the author points out how a growing number of employers are going green, while putting greater emphasis on reducing their impact on the environment. This issue, people were finding was becoming very important to many employees. Statistics showed that thirty-three percent of employees would be more inclined to work for a company that is environmentally conscious, according to a survey this year by Adecco, (a Melville, N.Y.-based provider of workforce solutions). This meant that more than half of the respondents thought their company should be doing more. Some of the things that theses companies are doing are making more than 10% of the building use recycled materials, all materials must be low-volatile organic compounds to improve indoor air quality, and more than half of the wood that they use will come from renewable forests.
IDST 4114
7/20/08
Prof. Augustine
Annotated Bibliography
1.) Malone, Cynthia N. (2008). How to Get Greener Books. Chronicle of Higher Education; v54 n31 pA38 Apr 2008.
In this journal Cynthia Malone writes about how some professors in different colleges are beginning to pick textbooks, journals, handouts, and different texts that are more “eco-friendly.” Not only are they looking at the price of the book, or the ease at which students can use the books, they are now looking at the ways that the materials are being made and how it effects our environment. Now colleges and many other places are finding different ways in which they can help save trees and the damage that is being done each day to our forests, and making it to where people will have to use recycled paper when printing different things.
2.) The Earth Needs You! (2008). Curriculum Review; v47 n7 p6 Mar 2008.
This journal talks about how on Earth Day which is celebrated annually on April 22, is beginning to grow into a much bigger holiday. It persuades teachers and professors into wanting to become a part of Earth Day by joining to help the cause at http://network.earthday.net. Once teachers have joined the network, they can make their own webpage and promote their whole school or just themselves. The article also talks about the top ten recycling tip list that helps people make better choices when buying things, or making things.
3.) Ausquith, Christina. (2007). Going Green Equals Good Business. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education; v24 n6 p14-16 May 2007.
In this journal, around 1,000 Scientists concluded in February 2007 that humans are the ones who are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the earth’s climate and could eventually become huge problems by causing huge global weather changes. Throughout the rest of the article scientist urge people to take different actions in making our environment more eco-friendly. This article features the nonprofit American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which as of right now has 150 signatures, where people are pledging to help eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time and to integrate sustainability into their curriculums. In the future the group's goal is to have 1,000 or more presidents sign the commitment by 2009.
4.) Spivey, Angels. (2004). Sustainable Development. Going Green Saves over Time. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, No. 5 (Apr., 2004), pp. A276-A276.
In this journal the author writes how these days people are worried about the costs of building any type of a building or house that is made up of products which are easy on the environment. She then goes on to say that according to a study by the Sustainable Building Task Force in October of 2003, that a building which incorporates any type of a “green,” feature costs on average about 2% more that a more convential home, but in the long run the 20 year life of the building with those features pay back the investment more than 10 times.
5.) Finnex, Russell. (2008). Biodiesel Production: Going Green to improve productivity. Filtration & Separation, Volume 45, Issue 6, July-August 2008, Pages 24-25.
In this journal the author is talking about different ways in which different businesses and consumers are seeking out as many ways as they can to be more environmental friendly since environmental concerns are beginning to gain a large amount of attention worldwide. So they decided that they would begin to seek out different renewable fuel sources that could help better benefit our environment. Businesses are now beginning to use Biodiesel, which is quickly being adopted as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel. Being biodegradable, non-toxic, and producing significantly less net lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel, biodiesel can be used on its own or blended with other fuels.
6.) Corum, Lyn. (2004). Reduce & Renew: Going green in Southern California.Refocus, Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2004, Pages 36-38.
In this journal the author, Lyn Corum writes about how renewable energy and high performance green buildings are increasing rapidly in California, especially now after so many politicians are beginning to endorse several different “going green” projects. In the Los Angeles basin, many of the projects are very eco- friendly because they combine renewable resources, sustainability and waste reduction. One of the many goals of the Los Angeles Basin’s district's building program said Larry Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning & Development, is to reduce campus energy use, include a teaching mission and to transform the marketplace through the District's $100-million procurement package concentrating on green and sustainable products. Eisenberg said that some buildings will be at least 20% more energy efficient than called for by California's Title 24 energy efficiency standards and the renewable power systems will provide about 10% of the building's power. In all, he said, the district's 45-Megawatt annual load will be reduced by 4.5 Megawatts - about $434,000/year in today's dollars.
7.) Corporations Going Green. (2006). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society; Apr2006, Vol. 87 Issue 4, p409-409, 0p
In this article the author discusses how different ecologically-friendly measures are now being taken more seriously by U.S. companies. Even Whole Foods Market purchased credits from wind farms to account for all of the electricity used in its stores, the first such major U.S. company to make such a huge change. After making the change, the company went on to say that the ecological impact of the move is the equivalent of taking 60,000 automobiles off the roads. Walgreens, a small convenience store/pharmacy has also announced ecologically-friendly measures, including putting solar electric systems in two of its distribution centers and many of its stores.
8.) Going Green in the Gulf. (1996). Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, No. 12 (Dec., 1996), pp. 1272-1273.
In this article the author talks about how the after years of oil production and the after the war, the Persian Gulf Region has become very polluted. Because of this, Bahrain, (a small country located on a group of 33 islands in the gulf), just recently passed a comprehensive legislation which will to stop the problem. The law stated that the Environmental Protection Agency must work with other government agencies to set standards to protect the environment and human health in areas such as the use of machinery, the use of pesticides, construction, and the production and use of hazardous materials. After this law was passed other countries have really looked upon it, and feel that it would be a great way for their countries to become more “eco-friendly.”
9.) California Bans Pesticides. (1996). Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 104, No. 11 (Nov., 1996), pp. 1146-1146.
In this article the author talks how California had just recently decided to ban 3 chemicals after doing tests on over 200 of them which were commonly used in many different pesticides. Officials at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) decided that out of the 200 chemicals they did not have enough information on 3 of them, so to be on the safe side, they banned them. The suspension will involve products containing the fungicide chloreneb, the wood preservative creosote, and aromatic petroleum dilates, which are commonly used in insecticides. I also found a quote in the article that I thought fit perfect with my topic and it was: “The Smart ones are going green, the dumb ones are not, and the foolish ones are pretending.” David Kerns quoted in Globe and Mail.
10.) Rugman, Alan M. and Alain Verbeke.(1998). Corporate Strategies and Environmental Regulations: An Organizing Framework. Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 19, No. 4, Special Issue: Editor's Choice (Apr., 1998), pp. 363-375
In this article the authors talk about how there are many societal concerns over the negative environmental impacts of commercial and manufacturing activities that have led to a sharp increase in environmental regulations throughout the world at institution levels. These corporations are now trying to come up with many different ways to protect the environment, through ways like recycling, and using products that are more “eco-friendly, and are not made using a lot of energy.” Bottles paper, and cans; they found are some of the easiest things for people to recycle, and help benefit the environment.
11.) Iwata, Edward. (2008). Companies discover going green pays off. USA Today: May 21, 2008.
In this article, the author talks about how companies are beginning to learn that “going green” is a very smart idea. It talks about how in San Francisco a growing wave of companies in all sectors including: technology, financial services, energy, retail, and manufacturing are all embracing environmentally safe practices and saving hundreds of millions of dollars. Some of these companies that are beginning to use green practices in the work sites, of product development and packaging are: SunPower, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Patagonia, Ikea, Nike, Hewlett-Packard, UPS, and Yahoo. The article also discusses how if they continue to uses green practices and really stick to it, they can inspire other companies to do the same thing.
12.) Conway Appel, Sherry. (2008). “How Cities are going Green. Nation's Cities Weekly; 4/21/2008, Vol. 31 Issue 16, p1-8, 2p
In this article the author writes about how there are beginning to be several different environmental programs that are aiming to build sustainable communities in several U.S. cities. Some of these programs include "The Climate Protection Plan," which aims to eliminate all carbon dioxide emissions from municipal activities by 2020 in Austin, Texas, "Partnership for a Green City," which promotes energy conservation in Louisville, Kentucky as well as "Clean and Green," which promotes the use of renewable energy in Riverside, California.
13.) Going Green. (2008). Scholastic Choices; Apr/May2008, Vol. 23 Issue 6, p5-5, 0p.
In this article the author is trying to teach children the best way to help save our resources and enhance our environment by doing things to help better our environment and not hurt it. There is also a section that helps teach people 100 different ways in which they could help to conserve our environment either at home, work, school, and even yourself. Some examples of this include things such as getting a hybrid car, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, carpool, always carry a reusable water bottle, or ask your school to have a waste-free lunch day! All of these examples are great ways to help better conserve our environment and make us live in a healthier place.
14.) 'Going green' can be good for business. (2008). Control Engineering; Jan2008, Vol. 55 Issue 1, p30-30, 0p
In this article the author makes a note on a report on the role of the industrial sector in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. One example of this was from the company known as, McKinsey & Co. where the author revealed that the industrial sector alone can reduce emissions by 620-770 megatons, and that the associated energy savings can outweigh the cost of making the necessary changes to meet these reduction goals. It also noted that the need for the sector to give a substantial investment in equipment upgrades and process changes to meet the companies different reduction goals.
15.) Armour, Stephanie.(2007). Job sites go green to please workers. USA Today; 11/27/2007.
In this article the author points out how a growing number of employers are going green, while putting greater emphasis on reducing their impact on the environment. This issue, people were finding was becoming very important to many employees. Statistics showed that thirty-three percent of employees would be more inclined to work for a company that is environmentally conscious, according to a survey this year by Adecco, (a Melville, N.Y.-based provider of workforce solutions). This meant that more than half of the respondents thought their company should be doing more. Some of the things that theses companies are doing are making more than 10% of the building use recycled materials, all materials must be low-volatile organic compounds to improve indoor air quality, and more than half of the wood that they use will come from renewable forests.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Project Needs Assessment
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/19/08
Prof. Augustine
Project Needs Assessment
For the last couple of days I have been really trying to come up with a topic that I could possibly find a lot of information on and have a topic that would be really interesting to study more about. So, while I was watching the news the other day I saw how a high school decided that they wanted to “Go Green,” and how much money they saved by making this change. So not only did the school save around 100,000 dollars, but they were also helping to save the environment. This is why I have decided to study more on the topic or “Going Green,” and how much recycling can really help to save energy and our entire environment. I thought that this was a perfect topic considering it goes along with Science which is one of my minors, and I feel like I will be able to find a lot of information on the topic. I think that this is an extremely important topic because I don’t think people truly realize how much energy that they can save when they decided to recycle. Even if a person recycled one glass bottle, they will be recycling enough energy to power a television for 8 hours. I think that that is pretty amazing when you really think about it. Also I found where there has been an increase in companies deciding to embrace environmentally safe practices and are saving hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I also think that this topic is truly interdisciplinary because it involves so many different areas of study. It can involve schools, businesses, industries, and our environment. If more people in the world decided to “Go Green,” they will also be helping to fix more problems in all of those areas of study in our environment and help make it more “eco-friendly.”
IDST 4114
7/19/08
Prof. Augustine
Project Needs Assessment
For the last couple of days I have been really trying to come up with a topic that I could possibly find a lot of information on and have a topic that would be really interesting to study more about. So, while I was watching the news the other day I saw how a high school decided that they wanted to “Go Green,” and how much money they saved by making this change. So not only did the school save around 100,000 dollars, but they were also helping to save the environment. This is why I have decided to study more on the topic or “Going Green,” and how much recycling can really help to save energy and our entire environment. I thought that this was a perfect topic considering it goes along with Science which is one of my minors, and I feel like I will be able to find a lot of information on the topic. I think that this is an extremely important topic because I don’t think people truly realize how much energy that they can save when they decided to recycle. Even if a person recycled one glass bottle, they will be recycling enough energy to power a television for 8 hours. I think that that is pretty amazing when you really think about it. Also I found where there has been an increase in companies deciding to embrace environmentally safe practices and are saving hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I also think that this topic is truly interdisciplinary because it involves so many different areas of study. It can involve schools, businesses, industries, and our environment. If more people in the world decided to “Go Green,” they will also be helping to fix more problems in all of those areas of study in our environment and help make it more “eco-friendly.”
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Science
Kayla Reed
7/13/08
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
Worksheet for Researching Disciplines
Name of Discipline: __ General Science____________________________
Discipline Subject Matter: The Study of Science and its Relationship with the Field of Education
Definition of Discipline Science: is a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.
Sub-Fields within a Discipline:
Biology: The science of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. It includes botany and zoology and all their subdivisions.
Chemistry: The science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems.
Anatomy: The science of the shape and structure of organisms and their parts.
Physics: The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.
Research Methods: One research method that people who study Science are experiments.
Key Concepts:
· Key Concept #1: One Key Concept of Science is that scientific knowledge is subject to observational or experimental test
· Key Concept #2: Another Key Concept in Science is the theory of motion presented by Sir Isaac Newton It consists of a set of mathematical laws describing the rigidly deterministic motion of objects under the action of forces against the backdrop of an absolute space and absolute time. Newtonian mechanics governed the way in which scientists described the physical world for more than two centuries, until it was overthrown by experimental and theoretical developments in the early part of the 20th Century.
· Key Concept #3: Quantum theory describes the behavior of matter on very small scales. The quantum world essentially comprises two distinct notions. One of these is that matter and energy are not smoothly distributed but are to be found in discrete packets called quanta. The other is that the behavior of these quanta is not predictable as in Newton's theory, but that only probabilities can be calculated.
Leading Theories:
· Leading Theory #1: The Theory of evolution says that all living things are related to one another through common ancestry from earlier forms that differed from the present forms. Exactly how evolution occurs is still a matter of debate, but that it occurs is a scientific fact. Biologists agree that all living things arose through a long history of changes shaped by physical and chemical processes that are still taking place. According to the theory, variability among individuals in a population of sexually reproducing organisms is produced by mutation and genetic recombination. The resulting genetic variability is subject to natural selection in the environment.
· Leading Theory #2: The Kinetic-Molecular Theory (KMT) states that matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion. Through KMT, the processes of osmosis, diffusion and the concept of temperature can be explained. KMT is the basis of our knowledge of the movement of matter on a macroscopic level. The theory allows scientists to explain the behavior of matter in the different physical states that matter can exist. The theory also provides a thorough means of understanding the process of energy transfer between particles of matter.
· Leading Theory #3: Big bang theory assumes that the universe began from a singular state of infinite density and expanding from an explosive moment of creation. Fred Hoyle coined the term Big Bang. The Big Bang Theory is the dominant scientific theory about the origin of the universe. According to the Big Bang, the universe was created sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from a cosmic explosion that hurled matter and in all directions.
Key Books/Seminal Texts:
· Key Book/Seminal Text #1: “The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing” by: Richard Dawkins
Why is it important? The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing is important because it takes its readers through a breathtaking celebration of the finest writing by scientists, that includes new discoveries and experiments
· Key Book/Seminal Text #2: Life, the Science of Biology” by: David E. Sadava
Why is it important? The Science of Biology is important because it is the first introductory text to present biological concepts through the research that revealed them, Life covers the full range of topics with an integrated experimental focus that flows naturally from the narrative. This approach helps to bring the drama of classic and cutting-edge research to the classroom—but always in the context of reinforcing core ideas and the innovative scientific thinking behind them. Students will experience biology not just as a litany of facts or a highlight reel of experiments, but as a rich, coherent discipline.
· Key Book/Seminal Text #3: “Conceptual Physical Science” by: Paul G. Hewitt, John Suchocki, Leslie A. Hewitt
Why is it important? This book is important because provides a overview of the basics of science including: essential topics in physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy with optional quantitative analyses. Equilibrium and Linear Motion, Newton's Laws of Motion, Momentum and Energy,Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites, Projectile and Satellite Motion,Temperature, Heat, and Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Change of Phase, Electrostatics and Electric Current, Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction, Waves and Sound, Light, Atoms and the Periodic Table, The Atomic Nucleus, Elements of Chemistry, How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract, Mixtures, How Chemicals React ,Two Types of Chemical Reactions, Organic Compounds, Rocks and Minerals, Geologic Time–Reading the Rock Record, Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Interior, Shaping Earth’s Surface, The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects, Driving Forces of Weather, The Solar System, The Stars, Cosmology
Key Thinkers and Practitioners:
Key Thinker #1: Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist, eminent as a collector and geologist, who proposed and provided scientific evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors through the process he called natural selection
Key Thinker #2: Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) profoundly changed astronomers' understanding of the nature of the universe by demonstrating the existence of other galaxies besides the Milky Way. He also discovered that the degree of redshift observed in light coming from a galaxy increased in proportion to the distance of that galaxy from the Milky Way. This became known as Hubble's law, and would help establish that the universe is expanding.
Key Thinker #3: Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist. He is best known for his theory of relativity and specifically mass–energy equivalence, E = mc 2.
Key Practitioner #1: : Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) was an Italian physicist most noted for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics.
Key Practitioner#2: Jonas Salk (1914-1995) was an American biologist and physician best known for the research and development of a killed-virus polio vaccine, the eponymous Salk vaccine.
Key Practitioner #3: Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. Fleming published many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy. His best-known achievements are the discovery of the enzyme lysozyme in 1922 and the discovery of the antibiotic substance penicillin from the fungus Penicillium notatum in 1928
Professional Academic Journals:
Academic Journal #1: Science: is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. The peer-reviewed journal, first published in 1880 is circulated weekly and has a print subscriber base of around 130,000
Academic Journal #2: The American Political Science Review: (APSR) presents peer-reviewed research articles by political scientists of all subfields. APSR continues to be the foremost scholarly research journal of political science
Professional Academic Associations:
· Professional Academic Association #1: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (or AAAS) is an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists, defends scientific freedom, encourages scientific responsibility and supports scientific education and science outreach for the betterment of all humanity. It is the world's largest general scientific society, with nearly 120,000 individual and institutional members in 2007, and publisher of the well-known scientific journal Science. (http://www.aaas.org/)
· Professional Academic Association #2: The American Political Science Association: founded in 1903, is the leading professional organization for the study of political science and serves more than 15,000 members in over 80 countries. With a range of programs and services for individuals, departments and institutions, APSA brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions, and occupational endeavors within and outside academe in order to expand awareness and understanding of politics. (http://www.apsanet.org/)
7/13/08
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
Worksheet for Researching Disciplines
Name of Discipline: __ General Science____________________________
Discipline Subject Matter: The Study of Science and its Relationship with the Field of Education
Definition of Discipline Science: is a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.
Sub-Fields within a Discipline:
Biology: The science of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. It includes botany and zoology and all their subdivisions.
Chemistry: The science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems.
Anatomy: The science of the shape and structure of organisms and their parts.
Physics: The science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two, grouped in traditional fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as in modern extensions including atomic and nuclear physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle physics, and plasma physics.
Research Methods: One research method that people who study Science are experiments.
Key Concepts:
· Key Concept #1: One Key Concept of Science is that scientific knowledge is subject to observational or experimental test
· Key Concept #2: Another Key Concept in Science is the theory of motion presented by Sir Isaac Newton It consists of a set of mathematical laws describing the rigidly deterministic motion of objects under the action of forces against the backdrop of an absolute space and absolute time. Newtonian mechanics governed the way in which scientists described the physical world for more than two centuries, until it was overthrown by experimental and theoretical developments in the early part of the 20th Century.
· Key Concept #3: Quantum theory describes the behavior of matter on very small scales. The quantum world essentially comprises two distinct notions. One of these is that matter and energy are not smoothly distributed but are to be found in discrete packets called quanta. The other is that the behavior of these quanta is not predictable as in Newton's theory, but that only probabilities can be calculated.
Leading Theories:
· Leading Theory #1: The Theory of evolution says that all living things are related to one another through common ancestry from earlier forms that differed from the present forms. Exactly how evolution occurs is still a matter of debate, but that it occurs is a scientific fact. Biologists agree that all living things arose through a long history of changes shaped by physical and chemical processes that are still taking place. According to the theory, variability among individuals in a population of sexually reproducing organisms is produced by mutation and genetic recombination. The resulting genetic variability is subject to natural selection in the environment.
· Leading Theory #2: The Kinetic-Molecular Theory (KMT) states that matter is composed of tiny particles in constant motion. Through KMT, the processes of osmosis, diffusion and the concept of temperature can be explained. KMT is the basis of our knowledge of the movement of matter on a macroscopic level. The theory allows scientists to explain the behavior of matter in the different physical states that matter can exist. The theory also provides a thorough means of understanding the process of energy transfer between particles of matter.
· Leading Theory #3: Big bang theory assumes that the universe began from a singular state of infinite density and expanding from an explosive moment of creation. Fred Hoyle coined the term Big Bang. The Big Bang Theory is the dominant scientific theory about the origin of the universe. According to the Big Bang, the universe was created sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from a cosmic explosion that hurled matter and in all directions.
Key Books/Seminal Texts:
· Key Book/Seminal Text #1: “The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing” by: Richard Dawkins
Why is it important? The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing is important because it takes its readers through a breathtaking celebration of the finest writing by scientists, that includes new discoveries and experiments
· Key Book/Seminal Text #2: Life, the Science of Biology” by: David E. Sadava
Why is it important? The Science of Biology is important because it is the first introductory text to present biological concepts through the research that revealed them, Life covers the full range of topics with an integrated experimental focus that flows naturally from the narrative. This approach helps to bring the drama of classic and cutting-edge research to the classroom—but always in the context of reinforcing core ideas and the innovative scientific thinking behind them. Students will experience biology not just as a litany of facts or a highlight reel of experiments, but as a rich, coherent discipline.
· Key Book/Seminal Text #3: “Conceptual Physical Science” by: Paul G. Hewitt, John Suchocki, Leslie A. Hewitt
Why is it important? This book is important because provides a overview of the basics of science including: essential topics in physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy with optional quantitative analyses. Equilibrium and Linear Motion, Newton's Laws of Motion, Momentum and Energy,Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites, Projectile and Satellite Motion,Temperature, Heat, and Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Change of Phase, Electrostatics and Electric Current, Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction, Waves and Sound, Light, Atoms and the Periodic Table, The Atomic Nucleus, Elements of Chemistry, How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract, Mixtures, How Chemicals React ,Two Types of Chemical Reactions, Organic Compounds, Rocks and Minerals, Geologic Time–Reading the Rock Record, Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Interior, Shaping Earth’s Surface, The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects, Driving Forces of Weather, The Solar System, The Stars, Cosmology
Key Thinkers and Practitioners:
Key Thinker #1: Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was an English naturalist, eminent as a collector and geologist, who proposed and provided scientific evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors through the process he called natural selection
Key Thinker #2: Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) profoundly changed astronomers' understanding of the nature of the universe by demonstrating the existence of other galaxies besides the Milky Way. He also discovered that the degree of redshift observed in light coming from a galaxy increased in proportion to the distance of that galaxy from the Milky Way. This became known as Hubble's law, and would help establish that the universe is expanding.
Key Thinker #3: Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist. He is best known for his theory of relativity and specifically mass–energy equivalence, E = mc 2.
Key Practitioner #1: : Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) was an Italian physicist most noted for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics.
Key Practitioner#2: Jonas Salk (1914-1995) was an American biologist and physician best known for the research and development of a killed-virus polio vaccine, the eponymous Salk vaccine.
Key Practitioner #3: Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. Fleming published many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy. His best-known achievements are the discovery of the enzyme lysozyme in 1922 and the discovery of the antibiotic substance penicillin from the fungus Penicillium notatum in 1928
Professional Academic Journals:
Academic Journal #1: Science: is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. The peer-reviewed journal, first published in 1880 is circulated weekly and has a print subscriber base of around 130,000
Academic Journal #2: The American Political Science Review: (APSR) presents peer-reviewed research articles by political scientists of all subfields. APSR continues to be the foremost scholarly research journal of political science
Professional Academic Associations:
· Professional Academic Association #1: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (or AAAS) is an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists, defends scientific freedom, encourages scientific responsibility and supports scientific education and science outreach for the betterment of all humanity. It is the world's largest general scientific society, with nearly 120,000 individual and institutional members in 2007, and publisher of the well-known scientific journal Science. (http://www.aaas.org/)
· Professional Academic Association #2: The American Political Science Association: founded in 1903, is the leading professional organization for the study of political science and serves more than 15,000 members in over 80 countries. With a range of programs and services for individuals, departments and institutions, APSA brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions, and occupational endeavors within and outside academe in order to expand awareness and understanding of politics. (http://www.apsanet.org/)
Mathematics
Kayla Reed
7/13/08
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
Worksheet for Researching Disciplines
Name of Discipline: __ Mathematics____________________________
Discipline Subject Matter: The Study of Mathematics and its Relationship with the Field of Education
Definition of Discipline Mathematics: is the body of knowledge centered on such concepts as quantity, structure, space, and change, and also the academic discipline that studies them.
Sub-Fields within a Discipline:
Algebra: A branch of mathematics in which symbols, usually letters of the alphabet, represent numbers or members of a specified set and are used to represent quantities and to express general relationships that hold for all members of the set.
Geometry: The mathematics of the properties, measurement, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.
Calculus: The branch of mathematics that deals with limits and the differentiation and integration of functions of one or more variables.
Trigonometry: The branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and the angles of triangles and the calculations based on them, particularly the trigonometric functions.
Research Methods: A research method that people who study Mathematics are Standardized Tests and Assessments. These help teachers determine their effectiveness in conveying the information to the students.
Key Concepts:
· Key Concept #1: Education enlarges your possibilities. Education gives you a base of choices and increased power, as shown in Figure 1-3. First, through different courses of study, it introduces you to more choices of career and life goals. Second, through the training you receive, it gives you more power to achieve the goals you choose. For example, while taking a writing class, you may learn about careers in journalism. This experience may lead you to take a class in journalistic writing that teaches you about reporting. Down the road, you may decide to work on a newspaper and to make journalism your career. Looking back, you realize that two classes you took in college changed the course of your life. (2)
· Key Concept #2: Education gives you tools for lifelong learning. You learn facts while you are in school, but more importantly, you learn how to think. While some of the facts and figures you learn today may not apply to the world of tomorrow, your ability to think will be useful always, in everything you do. (2)
· Key Concept #3: Education improves your employability and earning potential. Learning additional skills raises your competency so you can fulfill the requirements of higher-level jobs. In addition, having a college degree makes an impression on potential employers and makes you eligible for higher-salaried positions. (2)
Leading Theories:
Leading Theory #1: Behaviorism: Behaviorism is a theory of animal and human learning that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors and discounts mental activities. Behavior theorists define learning as nothing more than the acquisition of new behavior (3)
Leading Theory #2: Social Cognition: The social cognition learning model asserts that culture is the prime determinant of individual development. Humans are the only species to have created culture, and every human child develops in the context of a culture. (1)
Leading Theory #3: Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember, and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics. The core focus of cognitive psychology is on how people acquire, process, and store information. There are numerous practical applications for cognitive research, such as ways to improve memory, how to increase decision-making accuracy, and how to structure educational curriculums to enhance learning. (1)
Key Books/Seminal Texts:
Key Book/Seminal Text #1: “101+ Great Ideas for Introducing Key Concepts in Mathematics: A Resource for School Teachers” by: Alfred S. Posamentier and Herbert A. Hauptman
Why is it important? This book is important because it engages students with the great ideas in Mathematics compiled by two of the greatest minds in mathematics. From commonly taught topics in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics, to more advanced explorations into indirect proofs, binomial theorem, irrationality, relativity, and more, this guide outlines concepts and techniques that will inspire veteran and new educators alike.
Key Book/Seminal Text #2: “Teaching Mathematics: A Sourcebook of Aids, Activities, and Strategies” by Max A. Sobel and Evan M. Maletsky
Why is it important? This book is important because it addresses the art of teaching mathematics while also providing specific aids and activities in arithmetic, geometry, algebra and probability and statistics for use in the classroom.
Key Book/Seminal Text #3: “The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible” by Keith Devlin
Why is it important? This book is important because it reveals the vital role mathematics plays in our life to understand who we are and the world we live in. It shows how mathematics is more that just numbers by providing us with the eyes to recognize and describe the hidden patterns of life that exist in the physical, biological, and social worlds without, and the realm of ideas and thoughts within.
Key Thinkers and Practitioners:
Key Thinker #1: Kurt Gödel (1906-1978) turned the lens of mathematics on itself and hit upon his famous "incompleteness theorem" — driving a stake through the heart of formalism
Key Thinker #2: Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in the foundations of logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. His influence has been wide-ranging and he is generally regarded as one of the twentieth century's most important philosophers.
Key Thinker #3: Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954) was an English mathematician, logican and cryptographer and provided an influential formalisation of the concept of the algorithm and computation with the Turing machine.
Key Practitioner #1: Pythagoras, (580-500 B.C) whose name was bestowed upon the famous Pythagorean Theorem, was both a philosopher and a mathematician. Although he was not the first to discover the basic properties of right triangles, he founded a branch of philosophy and mathematics that effected Greek society long after his death. They believed that the basic properties of number theory (whole numbers, perfect numbers, ratios, etc.) reflected the true nature of the universeKey Practitioner#2: Euclid, (300 B.C) one of the greatest geometers ever. Euclidian geometry bears his name, and he is responsible for compiling its fundamental list of postulates.
Key Practitioner #3: Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and the explanation of the principle of the lever. He is credited with designing innovative machines, including siege engines and the screw pump that bears his name.
Professional Academic Journals:
Academic Journal #1: Global Journal of Mathematical Sciences: Theory and Practical: This is an international journal of high quality devoted to the publication of original research papers from pure and applied mathematics with some emphasis on all areas and subareas of mathematical analysis and their broad range of applications. Areas and subareas of interest include (but are not limited to) approximation theory; statistics; probability; fluid mechanics; Fuzzy mathematics; transport theory; mathematical biology, including population dynamics; wave propagation; special functions; algebra and applications; combinatorics; coding theory; fractional analysis; solid mechanics; variational methods; financial mathematics; asymptotic methods; graph theory; fractals; moment theory; scattering theory; number theory and applications; geometry of Banach spaces; topology and applications; complex analysis; stochastic process; bifurcation theory; differential equations; difference equations; dynamical systems; functional differential equations; numerical analysis; partial differential equations; integral equations; operator theory; Fourier analysis; matrix theory; semigroups of operators; mathematical physics; convex analysis; applied harmonic analysis; optimization; wavelets; signal theory; ultrametric analysis; optimal control; fixed-point theory and applications; reaction-diffusion problems, discrete mathematics; automata theory
Academic Journal #2: Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences: a journal of applied mathematics reporting research on the information science structures that describe fundamental processes of computational and numerical methods for exploring these structures.
Professional Academic Associations:
Professional Academic Association #1: American Mathematical Society:
The AMS provides information to further mathematical research and scholarship. Included on this server is a preprint archives with links to other preprint archives, information on publications published by the AMS, carrer development resources for mathematicians, searchable Combined Membership List, information on meetings and conferences and links to other Mathematics Information Servers. (http://e-math.ams.org/)
Professional Academic Association #2: The Mathematical Association: The Association exists to bring about improvements in the teaching of mathematics and its applications, and to provide a means of communication among students and teachers of mathematics. (http://www.m-a.org.uk/)
7/13/08
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
Worksheet for Researching Disciplines
Name of Discipline: __ Mathematics____________________________
Discipline Subject Matter: The Study of Mathematics and its Relationship with the Field of Education
Definition of Discipline Mathematics: is the body of knowledge centered on such concepts as quantity, structure, space, and change, and also the academic discipline that studies them.
Sub-Fields within a Discipline:
Algebra: A branch of mathematics in which symbols, usually letters of the alphabet, represent numbers or members of a specified set and are used to represent quantities and to express general relationships that hold for all members of the set.
Geometry: The mathematics of the properties, measurement, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.
Calculus: The branch of mathematics that deals with limits and the differentiation and integration of functions of one or more variables.
Trigonometry: The branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and the angles of triangles and the calculations based on them, particularly the trigonometric functions.
Research Methods: A research method that people who study Mathematics are Standardized Tests and Assessments. These help teachers determine their effectiveness in conveying the information to the students.
Key Concepts:
· Key Concept #1: Education enlarges your possibilities. Education gives you a base of choices and increased power, as shown in Figure 1-3. First, through different courses of study, it introduces you to more choices of career and life goals. Second, through the training you receive, it gives you more power to achieve the goals you choose. For example, while taking a writing class, you may learn about careers in journalism. This experience may lead you to take a class in journalistic writing that teaches you about reporting. Down the road, you may decide to work on a newspaper and to make journalism your career. Looking back, you realize that two classes you took in college changed the course of your life. (2)
· Key Concept #2: Education gives you tools for lifelong learning. You learn facts while you are in school, but more importantly, you learn how to think. While some of the facts and figures you learn today may not apply to the world of tomorrow, your ability to think will be useful always, in everything you do. (2)
· Key Concept #3: Education improves your employability and earning potential. Learning additional skills raises your competency so you can fulfill the requirements of higher-level jobs. In addition, having a college degree makes an impression on potential employers and makes you eligible for higher-salaried positions. (2)
Leading Theories:
Leading Theory #1: Behaviorism: Behaviorism is a theory of animal and human learning that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors and discounts mental activities. Behavior theorists define learning as nothing more than the acquisition of new behavior (3)
Leading Theory #2: Social Cognition: The social cognition learning model asserts that culture is the prime determinant of individual development. Humans are the only species to have created culture, and every human child develops in the context of a culture. (1)
Leading Theory #3: Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember, and learn. As part of the larger field of cognitive science, this branch of psychology is related to other disciplines including neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics. The core focus of cognitive psychology is on how people acquire, process, and store information. There are numerous practical applications for cognitive research, such as ways to improve memory, how to increase decision-making accuracy, and how to structure educational curriculums to enhance learning. (1)
Key Books/Seminal Texts:
Key Book/Seminal Text #1: “101+ Great Ideas for Introducing Key Concepts in Mathematics: A Resource for School Teachers” by: Alfred S. Posamentier and Herbert A. Hauptman
Why is it important? This book is important because it engages students with the great ideas in Mathematics compiled by two of the greatest minds in mathematics. From commonly taught topics in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics, to more advanced explorations into indirect proofs, binomial theorem, irrationality, relativity, and more, this guide outlines concepts and techniques that will inspire veteran and new educators alike.
Key Book/Seminal Text #2: “Teaching Mathematics: A Sourcebook of Aids, Activities, and Strategies” by Max A. Sobel and Evan M. Maletsky
Why is it important? This book is important because it addresses the art of teaching mathematics while also providing specific aids and activities in arithmetic, geometry, algebra and probability and statistics for use in the classroom.
Key Book/Seminal Text #3: “The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible” by Keith Devlin
Why is it important? This book is important because it reveals the vital role mathematics plays in our life to understand who we are and the world we live in. It shows how mathematics is more that just numbers by providing us with the eyes to recognize and describe the hidden patterns of life that exist in the physical, biological, and social worlds without, and the realm of ideas and thoughts within.
Key Thinkers and Practitioners:
Key Thinker #1: Kurt Gödel (1906-1978) turned the lens of mathematics on itself and hit upon his famous "incompleteness theorem" — driving a stake through the heart of formalism
Key Thinker #2: Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in the foundations of logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. His influence has been wide-ranging and he is generally regarded as one of the twentieth century's most important philosophers.
Key Thinker #3: Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954) was an English mathematician, logican and cryptographer and provided an influential formalisation of the concept of the algorithm and computation with the Turing machine.
Key Practitioner #1: Pythagoras, (580-500 B.C) whose name was bestowed upon the famous Pythagorean Theorem, was both a philosopher and a mathematician. Although he was not the first to discover the basic properties of right triangles, he founded a branch of philosophy and mathematics that effected Greek society long after his death. They believed that the basic properties of number theory (whole numbers, perfect numbers, ratios, etc.) reflected the true nature of the universeKey Practitioner#2: Euclid, (300 B.C) one of the greatest geometers ever. Euclidian geometry bears his name, and he is responsible for compiling its fundamental list of postulates.
Key Practitioner #3: Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and the explanation of the principle of the lever. He is credited with designing innovative machines, including siege engines and the screw pump that bears his name.
Professional Academic Journals:
Academic Journal #1: Global Journal of Mathematical Sciences: Theory and Practical: This is an international journal of high quality devoted to the publication of original research papers from pure and applied mathematics with some emphasis on all areas and subareas of mathematical analysis and their broad range of applications. Areas and subareas of interest include (but are not limited to) approximation theory; statistics; probability; fluid mechanics; Fuzzy mathematics; transport theory; mathematical biology, including population dynamics; wave propagation; special functions; algebra and applications; combinatorics; coding theory; fractional analysis; solid mechanics; variational methods; financial mathematics; asymptotic methods; graph theory; fractals; moment theory; scattering theory; number theory and applications; geometry of Banach spaces; topology and applications; complex analysis; stochastic process; bifurcation theory; differential equations; difference equations; dynamical systems; functional differential equations; numerical analysis; partial differential equations; integral equations; operator theory; Fourier analysis; matrix theory; semigroups of operators; mathematical physics; convex analysis; applied harmonic analysis; optimization; wavelets; signal theory; ultrametric analysis; optimal control; fixed-point theory and applications; reaction-diffusion problems, discrete mathematics; automata theory
Academic Journal #2: Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences: a journal of applied mathematics reporting research on the information science structures that describe fundamental processes of computational and numerical methods for exploring these structures.
Professional Academic Associations:
Professional Academic Association #1: American Mathematical Society:
The AMS provides information to further mathematical research and scholarship. Included on this server is a preprint archives with links to other preprint archives, information on publications published by the AMS, carrer development resources for mathematicians, searchable Combined Membership List, information on meetings and conferences and links to other Mathematics Information Servers. (http://e-math.ams.org/)
Professional Academic Association #2: The Mathematical Association: The Association exists to bring about improvements in the teaching of mathematics and its applications, and to provide a means of communication among students and teachers of mathematics. (http://www.m-a.org.uk/)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Arguement for Interdisciplinary Studies
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/8/09
Prof. Augustine
Arguments for Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary studies rest upon serious conceptual confusion (Benson).
Although studying and learning about one subject does allow a student to excel better in that subject, Interdisciplinary students are better well-rounded than they are because they learn about many different subjects and not just one. They are more apt to gain more knowledge not just in things dealing with school but with things that we have to deal with and face in our everyday lives. Interdisciplinary students take can take a problem and solve it by thinking of all the different ways that you could solve the problem through different disciplines. In the end more companies and businesses would much rather hire a person who was skilled in many different things, and is a better-rounded person than someone who only knows a lot about one subject.
Interdisciplinary Studies students lack a mature base in any discipline (Benson).
As interdisciplinary students we do not only have a firm hand on one subject we have a firm hand on two or more. We have a lot of knowledge in subjects that will best benefit us in the future and our everyday lives, and not just when we need it in school. Benson argues that in order to be ready for a career after college is done; the student needs to have increasing amounts of course work in the major program. Well, as interdisciplinary students we spend just as much time as other students in different majors do, only we broaden our ideas, theories, and thoughts. We want to feel like we are better at more things than other students which will one day really benefit us as people when we begin our careers.
The commitment to undergraduate interdisciplinary studies programs impeded students’ development of disciplinary competence (Benson). Interdisciplinary studies is a dumping ground for the less than disciplinary competent (Petrie).
Like I argued before, we as interdisciplinary students always have enough time to do all of the educational things our major suggests we do. There are much more jobs in our society who would rather have highly trained professionals in many different things, instead of being just highly trained in one thing. An engineer for example might be good working for an engineer company but if they are not skilled in other things, and are well-rounded people than they will not succeed at their job. A company probably feels like they can train them how to be a good engineer, but they can not train them in how to be good at more than one thing or be a well-rounded person.
Interdisciplinary studies courses are shallow and lack intellectual rigor (Benson).
Since all the other majors only teach one subject to their students, faculty probably find themselves feeling like they are preaching to their students the information instead of just showing them or putting them in real life situations. As interdisciplinarians we are taught more ideas, concepts, and different ways to think which will in turn greater benefit us in the future when we go out into the real world and each begin our own careers. In our major we are taught to think outside of the box whereas other majors are taught only what they have to know to succeed. We learn what we need to know and much more to help us succeed.
The level of scholarship seldom exceeds that of a “glorified bull session” (Petrie).
This is by far the most argumentative topic that has been brought up so far. Interdisciplinary student’s way of thinking is on a much higher level and is more open than any other student in a different major. We think more outside of the box and are open to much more things than other students because we are taught more things and are taught to be open and think differently. Just because other students spend more time on one subject than interdisciplinary students doesn’t exactly make them smarter it just shows that they are only open to one subject and are not very well-rounded people.
IDST 4114
7/8/09
Prof. Augustine
Arguments for Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary studies rest upon serious conceptual confusion (Benson).
Although studying and learning about one subject does allow a student to excel better in that subject, Interdisciplinary students are better well-rounded than they are because they learn about many different subjects and not just one. They are more apt to gain more knowledge not just in things dealing with school but with things that we have to deal with and face in our everyday lives. Interdisciplinary students take can take a problem and solve it by thinking of all the different ways that you could solve the problem through different disciplines. In the end more companies and businesses would much rather hire a person who was skilled in many different things, and is a better-rounded person than someone who only knows a lot about one subject.
Interdisciplinary Studies students lack a mature base in any discipline (Benson).
As interdisciplinary students we do not only have a firm hand on one subject we have a firm hand on two or more. We have a lot of knowledge in subjects that will best benefit us in the future and our everyday lives, and not just when we need it in school. Benson argues that in order to be ready for a career after college is done; the student needs to have increasing amounts of course work in the major program. Well, as interdisciplinary students we spend just as much time as other students in different majors do, only we broaden our ideas, theories, and thoughts. We want to feel like we are better at more things than other students which will one day really benefit us as people when we begin our careers.
The commitment to undergraduate interdisciplinary studies programs impeded students’ development of disciplinary competence (Benson). Interdisciplinary studies is a dumping ground for the less than disciplinary competent (Petrie).
Like I argued before, we as interdisciplinary students always have enough time to do all of the educational things our major suggests we do. There are much more jobs in our society who would rather have highly trained professionals in many different things, instead of being just highly trained in one thing. An engineer for example might be good working for an engineer company but if they are not skilled in other things, and are well-rounded people than they will not succeed at their job. A company probably feels like they can train them how to be a good engineer, but they can not train them in how to be good at more than one thing or be a well-rounded person.
Interdisciplinary studies courses are shallow and lack intellectual rigor (Benson).
Since all the other majors only teach one subject to their students, faculty probably find themselves feeling like they are preaching to their students the information instead of just showing them or putting them in real life situations. As interdisciplinarians we are taught more ideas, concepts, and different ways to think which will in turn greater benefit us in the future when we go out into the real world and each begin our own careers. In our major we are taught to think outside of the box whereas other majors are taught only what they have to know to succeed. We learn what we need to know and much more to help us succeed.
The level of scholarship seldom exceeds that of a “glorified bull session” (Petrie).
This is by far the most argumentative topic that has been brought up so far. Interdisciplinary student’s way of thinking is on a much higher level and is more open than any other student in a different major. We think more outside of the box and are open to much more things than other students because we are taught more things and are taught to be open and think differently. Just because other students spend more time on one subject than interdisciplinary students doesn’t exactly make them smarter it just shows that they are only open to one subject and are not very well-rounded people.
My Autobiogrpahy
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/9/08
Prof. Augustine
My Autobiography
Throughout my entire life I have always wanted to one day become a teacher. My next door neighbor was a teacher and would always bring over different crafts, and worksheets that she would do with her kids that I too could work on with my students when I would pretend to play school down in my basement. Then as I grew older, and after working at daycares, and being around small children, I decided that being an elementary school teacher would be the best fit for me. For this reason when I enrolled at Virginia Tech I decided to major in Interdisciplinary Studies where I would be able to minor in two subjects that both have really interested me in my life. Throughout school mathematics was always my favorite subject and science was always a very close second. I loved how Math was always a challenge for me and I always had to put a lot of thought into completely solving a problem before ever getting the right answer. I also thought it was neat how in Math you always had to have the correct answer by solving the problem on your own. You could never really just guess and get the answer right, especially on problems that are really long, and seem to take you forever to finish. Algebra was always my favorite subject in math, and it was the a perfect subject for making students have to think and not just guess, which like I said before, I really enjoyed. As far as Science is concerned I really just loved studying about the earth, animals, rocks, minerals, and everything that we see and hear in our everyday lives. Biology was always my favorite science because it involved mostly everything we needed to know and hear about the earth and everything that is in it, which really caught my attention. That is why I really wanted to study more than one discipline and minor in both PK-6 Mathematics and General Science, which were both perfect fits for me. So far, Interdisciplinary studies has taught me a lot of great things and allowed me to broaden my ideas, theories, and thoughts not only just in school but throughout my everyday life at home, and at work. It has opened me up to so many different things and allowed me to not only look inside of the box, but also outside of the box too. Another characteristic I have retained as an interdisciplinary student is how I now come up with many different answers to everyday questions instead of just coming up with one solution to all my questions or problems.
Some of my strengths and skills as an interdisciplinary student are that I am a very hard worker and I like the fact that I am able to study two different subjects and be good at both of them instead of just excelling in one subject. I feel like now I am also more open to all sorts of different things, and will not just always do the things I am used to or feel comfortable with doing. Whereas before I only did what I had to do, and would never do anything that I did not feel at ease with. When I do finally graduate next year, and become and elementary school teacher I plan to use my interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in many different ways. First I would like to teach them how to broaden their interests and be involved in many different things growing up until one day they realize what it is they really want to be involved in or do for the rest of their lives. Second I would like to teach them how there are at times many different answers to some problems that at first we might not even think about. That it is very important for them to look outside of the box, and not just pay attention to the things they are used to and know.
IDST 4114
7/9/08
Prof. Augustine
My Autobiography
Throughout my entire life I have always wanted to one day become a teacher. My next door neighbor was a teacher and would always bring over different crafts, and worksheets that she would do with her kids that I too could work on with my students when I would pretend to play school down in my basement. Then as I grew older, and after working at daycares, and being around small children, I decided that being an elementary school teacher would be the best fit for me. For this reason when I enrolled at Virginia Tech I decided to major in Interdisciplinary Studies where I would be able to minor in two subjects that both have really interested me in my life. Throughout school mathematics was always my favorite subject and science was always a very close second. I loved how Math was always a challenge for me and I always had to put a lot of thought into completely solving a problem before ever getting the right answer. I also thought it was neat how in Math you always had to have the correct answer by solving the problem on your own. You could never really just guess and get the answer right, especially on problems that are really long, and seem to take you forever to finish. Algebra was always my favorite subject in math, and it was the a perfect subject for making students have to think and not just guess, which like I said before, I really enjoyed. As far as Science is concerned I really just loved studying about the earth, animals, rocks, minerals, and everything that we see and hear in our everyday lives. Biology was always my favorite science because it involved mostly everything we needed to know and hear about the earth and everything that is in it, which really caught my attention. That is why I really wanted to study more than one discipline and minor in both PK-6 Mathematics and General Science, which were both perfect fits for me. So far, Interdisciplinary studies has taught me a lot of great things and allowed me to broaden my ideas, theories, and thoughts not only just in school but throughout my everyday life at home, and at work. It has opened me up to so many different things and allowed me to not only look inside of the box, but also outside of the box too. Another characteristic I have retained as an interdisciplinary student is how I now come up with many different answers to everyday questions instead of just coming up with one solution to all my questions or problems.
Some of my strengths and skills as an interdisciplinary student are that I am a very hard worker and I like the fact that I am able to study two different subjects and be good at both of them instead of just excelling in one subject. I feel like now I am also more open to all sorts of different things, and will not just always do the things I am used to or feel comfortable with doing. Whereas before I only did what I had to do, and would never do anything that I did not feel at ease with. When I do finally graduate next year, and become and elementary school teacher I plan to use my interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in many different ways. First I would like to teach them how to broaden their interests and be involved in many different things growing up until one day they realize what it is they really want to be involved in or do for the rest of their lives. Second I would like to teach them how there are at times many different answers to some problems that at first we might not even think about. That it is very important for them to look outside of the box, and not just pay attention to the things they are used to and know.
Personal Statement
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/9/08
Personal Statement on Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies is the practice of combining different subjects all into one solid subject. It can also be used when a person is trying to create a business with many different departments, professions, technologies, and tools that all together form one company. When it comes to my life right now as a college student, I do interdisciplinary work everyday. I am an Interdisciplinary Studies major with minors in PK-6 Mathematics and General Science which come together all as one solid degree. This way I can look into different subjects that I am interested in, like Mathematics and Science and study both, instead of just focusing on one subject. This amount of knowledge I have gained from the two different subjects will greatly benefit me in the future after I graduate from college next year. This is because I plan to become an elementary school teacher who knows a lot about many different subjects and will want to teach my students everything I know and not just one subject. In my opinion a student who gets a degree in Interdisciplinary studies will greatly benefit more from their degree as far as knowing more things and being open to mire things, than a student who is only getting a degree in one subject such as Math, Science, or History. As an interdisciplinary student I have to use many different perspectives everyday in order to come up with one idea that everyone can benefit from. In my IDST 1114 class, four people and I as a group had to come up with a complex phenomenon and research the different disciplines that could go into it. Our group decided that our phenomenon is why Americans are growing up so financially illiterate. Together we came up with four different disciplines which were History, Education, Economics, Finance and thoroughly researched each topic into how each one could help solve our problem of how our generation more than others are so financial illiterate. We found out things like how other countries actually have higher percentages as far as finances are concerned. One complex phenomenon that I would be trying to solve is why Virginia Tech took out the five year education program where you could graduate with a Bachelors and Masters degree all in five years. I thought that the University had a great education program and should have never taken it away from the school. This I heard created a lot of controversy throughout the past couple of years and it really aggravated many students and their parents, including mine. So in my opinion I would like to research all of the different disciplines that are involved in the Education program here at Tech including things like the history of it, and the finances that go along with it.
In conclusion Interdisciplinary Studies has greatly helped me in many ways because it has helped me to broaden my interests, ideas and theories, instead of just coming up with one theory or explanation for a question. Being an Interdisciplinary student you can study almost anything you want, and as many subjects as want. It is a way for students to research and study many different topics and subjects and incorporate them into one idea, project or degree, like I have done with my degree.
IDST 4114
Prof. Augustine
7/9/08
Personal Statement on Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies is the practice of combining different subjects all into one solid subject. It can also be used when a person is trying to create a business with many different departments, professions, technologies, and tools that all together form one company. When it comes to my life right now as a college student, I do interdisciplinary work everyday. I am an Interdisciplinary Studies major with minors in PK-6 Mathematics and General Science which come together all as one solid degree. This way I can look into different subjects that I am interested in, like Mathematics and Science and study both, instead of just focusing on one subject. This amount of knowledge I have gained from the two different subjects will greatly benefit me in the future after I graduate from college next year. This is because I plan to become an elementary school teacher who knows a lot about many different subjects and will want to teach my students everything I know and not just one subject. In my opinion a student who gets a degree in Interdisciplinary studies will greatly benefit more from their degree as far as knowing more things and being open to mire things, than a student who is only getting a degree in one subject such as Math, Science, or History. As an interdisciplinary student I have to use many different perspectives everyday in order to come up with one idea that everyone can benefit from. In my IDST 1114 class, four people and I as a group had to come up with a complex phenomenon and research the different disciplines that could go into it. Our group decided that our phenomenon is why Americans are growing up so financially illiterate. Together we came up with four different disciplines which were History, Education, Economics, Finance and thoroughly researched each topic into how each one could help solve our problem of how our generation more than others are so financial illiterate. We found out things like how other countries actually have higher percentages as far as finances are concerned. One complex phenomenon that I would be trying to solve is why Virginia Tech took out the five year education program where you could graduate with a Bachelors and Masters degree all in five years. I thought that the University had a great education program and should have never taken it away from the school. This I heard created a lot of controversy throughout the past couple of years and it really aggravated many students and their parents, including mine. So in my opinion I would like to research all of the different disciplines that are involved in the Education program here at Tech including things like the history of it, and the finances that go along with it.
In conclusion Interdisciplinary Studies has greatly helped me in many ways because it has helped me to broaden my interests, ideas and theories, instead of just coming up with one theory or explanation for a question. Being an Interdisciplinary student you can study almost anything you want, and as many subjects as want. It is a way for students to research and study many different topics and subjects and incorporate them into one idea, project or degree, like I have done with my degree.
Interdisciplinary Studies-Key Terms
Kayla Reed
IDST 4114
7/9/08
Interdisciplinary Studies-Key Terms
Disciplinarity: All of the different tools used when forming a subject. In other words it’s the work that is created from everyone’s different opinions and ideas all put together.
Interdisciplinary: This is used when people are trying to solve problems that can not be solved or completed without many different approaches.
Multidisciplinary: Multidisciplinary work requires everyone to do their own thing together without relying on one another’s work or opinions.
Transdisciplinarity: Is the work that is created from many different disciplines all put together. The knowledge which is used in the work can never be singularly subject or belong to one discipline.
Cross-disciplinarity: This is used when a person wants to view someone else’s perspective of a discipline. It is when different disciplines cross one another to create a project.
1.) When terms are labeled as “essentially contested concepts,” it means that they “essentially involve endless disputes about their proper uses on the part of their users.”
2.) During the 1930’s the first American studies programs appeared which was at first only intended to involve literature and history but quickly expanded to include many different aspects of American culture and society. The American studies began as a way to provide students with “comprehensive, integrated knowledge about other geographical areas.”
3.) Some criticisms that interdisciplinarians have to face about different disciplines are that they are very broad and that when taking interdisciplinary classes a person can not excel in one thing, they learn about many different things.
4.) The framework of interdisciplinary studies helps to overcome limitations of disciplinary practice because it involves some many different ideas, theories, concepts all put together by different people to form project. The subject is very open to everyone’s thoughts and opinions.
5.) One example of an interdisciplinary metaphor is a quilt or a blanket. For Christmas last year I made a Virginia Tech fleece blanket that had a lot of different parts and sections to it, but when put together it all formed a blanket, with a huge VT on both sides!
IDST 4114
7/9/08
Interdisciplinary Studies-Key Terms
Disciplinarity: All of the different tools used when forming a subject. In other words it’s the work that is created from everyone’s different opinions and ideas all put together.
Interdisciplinary: This is used when people are trying to solve problems that can not be solved or completed without many different approaches.
Multidisciplinary: Multidisciplinary work requires everyone to do their own thing together without relying on one another’s work or opinions.
Transdisciplinarity: Is the work that is created from many different disciplines all put together. The knowledge which is used in the work can never be singularly subject or belong to one discipline.
Cross-disciplinarity: This is used when a person wants to view someone else’s perspective of a discipline. It is when different disciplines cross one another to create a project.
1.) When terms are labeled as “essentially contested concepts,” it means that they “essentially involve endless disputes about their proper uses on the part of their users.”
2.) During the 1930’s the first American studies programs appeared which was at first only intended to involve literature and history but quickly expanded to include many different aspects of American culture and society. The American studies began as a way to provide students with “comprehensive, integrated knowledge about other geographical areas.”
3.) Some criticisms that interdisciplinarians have to face about different disciplines are that they are very broad and that when taking interdisciplinary classes a person can not excel in one thing, they learn about many different things.
4.) The framework of interdisciplinary studies helps to overcome limitations of disciplinary practice because it involves some many different ideas, theories, concepts all put together by different people to form project. The subject is very open to everyone’s thoughts and opinions.
5.) One example of an interdisciplinary metaphor is a quilt or a blanket. For Christmas last year I made a Virginia Tech fleece blanket that had a lot of different parts and sections to it, but when put together it all formed a blanket, with a huge VT on both sides!
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