Lesson strategy

For this post, I am to describe a lesson planning strategy that incorporates the different learning styles of the students as well as the concepts of "single loop" and "double loop learning". For those unfamiliar with the topics, single loop learning is akin to a thermostat that attempts to keep the air at a constant temperature, while double loop learning is like a thermostat that not only attempts to keep a constant temperature, but makes a judgment as to why any given temperature setting is appropriate. As a biostatistician, I will stay within my discipline in describing a hypothetical lesson. As such, it is important to realize that most students fall into two categories: those who are better at theory than applied methods or vice versa.

An introduction to any lesson will begin with a motivation into why the topic is being presented. A theoretic (mathematical) framework will be constructed and the theory to a particular statistical method will be described. However, the proofs or theoretical framework will not be exhaustive as the missing pieces will be assigned for homework. Starting with a mathematical framework will ensure that all of the students are on the same page notation-wise and know generally the steps needed to complete their homework.

After the theory is presented, an applied problem using the recommended software will be undertaken in the class. This is enables the students who are better in theory to understand and learn how to run the analysis with real data.

Depending on the structure and level of the course, limitations and other issues regarding the analysis will be touched upon. Optimally, this will be done in groups, but a quick presentation and a homework problem or two could be assigned in place of a group discussion.

This framework benefits both the theory and applied orientated students in that both get a solid background of the topic and an appreciation of both the theory and applied nuances of the topic. It benefits the students who are passive learners in that a lot of material is presented to them while satisfying the active learners since many advanced topics need to be completed as homework assignments. If group work is assigned, those students who learn better in groups are satisfied, however group work would be encouraged on all assignments. Further more, a combination of oral presentations and thorough notes on a whiteboard will benefit both oral and visual learners.

Simply grading the assignments and attempting to make up any material that is lacking would be an example of single loop learning. Double loop learning would entail assigning two levels of homework: Medium and Hard. Medium questions should be able to be completed without assistance from the instructor. Hard questions could be done without the assistance of the instructor, but would most likely need some further explaining. The one-on-one meetings would give the instructor a chance to view the deficiencies of the individual students as well as the instructor.

Remediation is a tricky subject if it is found that a deficiency lies in the class. In a perfect world, we could go back and recover a topic, or schedule an extra class to go over the material. But in the real world that would never work. Therefore I am not really prepared to answer that question.

The Ideal Learning Relationship Revisited

After class discussion on a metaphor of the ideal between student and instructor I realized a couple of things:

1. Writing a blog, or anything in general won't work when you're very tired. Especially if you need to be convincing.

2. My metaphor still works. Especially because my metaphor was aimed at the ideal relationship between graduate student and instructor. This is an easier relationship to define because a graduate student has a desire to be there, because if they don't want to be there their life would be horrible. A metaphor for the ideal relationship between an undergrad and instructor is a bit more difficult to pin down.

PINS!!!! OK, here we go. The ideal relationship between an teacher and an undergrad student is like bumper bowling. The student is the ball, and the bumpers are the instructor. The goal of the student is to gain knowledge, and in this metaphor it is to knock down all the pins.

Now, as long as the bowling ball is going marginally straight, it will make it to the end of the lane and knock down some pins, usually more than five. Sometimes the ball doesn't need the bumpers, and can do just fine, but the bumpers act like a safety valve for either piece of mind or damage control. Other times the bumper is important and gives the bowler confidence to not use the bumpers in the future (ok, the bowler the student too, I never said I was good at metaphors). Some times that ball is just not going to knock over pins regardless if the bumpers are there or not, and maybe curling or tennis should be considered...

Snow in Virginia sucks...

So, apparently I haven't been able to post things as often as I'd like. Too busy I guess...

Anyways, we've received 11.5 inches of snow since my last post and this town went INSANE. Not only do Virginians not now the art of street clean-up, but they also don't realize that the city needs to be plowed during the hours of 8:00pm and 5:00am. This way there are no cars on the road while they plow, and you are able to do a whole city in one night, especially when it stops snowing at 7:00pm...

Other things that pissed me off while it snowed:
-People who don't shovel their sidewalks. If you don't shovel, it'll turn to ice pretty quick. They deserve to be sued by somebody who slips and cracks their head.

-People who think that snow is like rain, and it's easy to drive through it. GET OFF THE ROAD!!! (not that people in VA can drive in the rain, but that's for another post)

-(related to the above comment)People who floor the accelerator to get out of snow. All that does is kill your engine, wear just one of your tires, and makes it harder to get out.

-People who act like they've never seen snow/made a snowman/gone sledding. Now, I know its Virginia, but really?!?!?!?! In my expert one and a half years of living in Virginia, I gather we average about one snowstorm per year. We've had two (and possibly a third this upcoming weekend) this year. A snow storm should be as surprising as my birthday, or Christmas. It happens. Enjoy it, have fun. But please don't tell me how this doesn't happen in Virginia (3 times in a year and a half), making overly large snowmen kicks ass (ehh, a drunk guy usually knocks it down), and how sledding is the best thing ever (I know it is!), . But it'll melt, and probably pretty quick in this semi-tropical climate.

-People who think the world is gonna end b/c it snowed. Again, I realize it's Virginia. But look, the stores reopened, the electricity came back on(it actually never went off), roads were cleared (albeit slowly), and the plagues of locusts were avoided. I bet each person $0.10 this will happen the next time it snows (I expect $0.60 from this bet).

So, maybe I'm just a bitter ex-New Yorker, but the world goes on.

And a little hint: Don't eat the yellow snow!!!

The Ideal Learning Relationship

So for my first blogging assignment, I am supposed to discuss a metaphor or analogy that describes the ideal relationship for learning. While I have a good idea of the ideal relationship in my head, I needed to think of analogy for this relationship. At first I set my heights high and tried to think of the perfect relationship. That was a bad idea, as I kept returning to parents or coaching figures, which don't count since the are teachers.

Like any normal guy, my mind quickly shifted to cartoons. For whatever reason the movie Aladdin came to mind. Without escaping my daydream, I tried to figure out if cartoons were the answer to my question. And in a moment of technicolor glory I decided that Robin Williams' character, Genie, played close to a teacher to student Aladdin.

Yeah, it's not the best analogy, but stay with me a moment. Like all goal-driven students, Aladdin is thirsty for something he doesn't have, just as ideal students come to class eager to learn. Likewise, Genie does anything he can in his own restricted set of rules to help him, but maintaining that Aladdin has to do the leg work to get the girl. This is the crux of the ideal learning relationship, where the student is driven by their subject matter and the teacher pushes the student to develop this independent (active) learning style.

Furthermore, Aladdin has a close friend network to help in his quest. Having a supportive group of friends and family around you while pursuing your goals is a great help in any learning situation. This especially is important when Aladdin gets sent to the Artic (or wherever it's cold, probably Buffalo (Go Sabres)).

And the ending of the film emphasizes the result of the ideal teaching relationship. Now that Aladdin and Jasmine get married (I think that means Aladdin graduates in my analogy), Genie and Al become good friends, just as many students become colleagues with their professors upon graduation.

Moral of the story: Watch more cartoons :)

Welcome!!!

So, I've moved into the 21st century. Only a decade too late. Oh well.

This blog was required to be set up for a class that prepares me to be "professor-esque", and as such I will spend time each week discussing aspects covered in the class. However, I will also talk about my work as a biostatician, soccer player, hockey junkie (Go Sabres) and 20-something guy. I hope you get an iota of enjoyment or a tidbit of knowledge from the blog.

Enjoy!!!