In my mind, I’d say that there are some subjects so core that I can’t imagine calling something an “education” if it lacked them: reading/writing, basic math (simple 2x = 23, solve for x level algebra, at the very least), world history, some review courses of the social sciences (politics, psychology, etc), and some basic science (a little general chemistry/biology/physics, not even calculus; with an understanding of the scientific method). If you learned just that much, I’d say you should at least pass high school.

But what would I add on top next, to create a good, general education? Firstly, something that is usually a rare elective would be front and center– I think everyone going further into academia than high school should be required to take a class on Logic. I couldn’t take symbolic logic until I was a junior in college, and it would have helped so much in so many classes. Secondly, learn some calculus– it’s math that will help you understand trends, patterns, and ideas in fields from physics to economics to sociology. I also agree that foreign language requirements make sense. And, as I started this thought with- I think, these days, that a programming class (not a typing class or a “play with hypercard” class– a basic introduction to something like javascript and C++) should be in the bare minimum undergraduate college curriculum. I’d also add that a class in Ethics might be a good idea, but I’m not sure that will ever fly. Add on more stringent writing classes, some more broad review classes in the hard and soft sciences, and you’ve got a generally useful base to serve as a foundation for a degree (and the attendant specialized classes it requires).

But that’s just my feelings. I actually think about these issues a lot, since I want to be an educator when I “grow up”. Even at the level of a single class, it’s important to ask yourself “what is the bare minimum that the students must know for me to feel like I’ve taught them?” You can’t set the bar too high– you’ll cover a lot more, and some students will learn everything you throw at them and more (and should be encouraged through private discussions, extra opportunities, etc), but having a good sense of the baseline, the minimum helps me know what to reinforce, time and time again.

How would you change school curricula, if you could?

The Feminine Form in Video Games

Over on Slashdot, I just read an interesting article about the portrayal of the feminine form in video games. Frankly, I find most of this stuff a little ridiculous, and I think some of the commenters pointed out most of my issues, but this is the Rants, so I thought I’d mention it. Basically, video game developers (and purchasers) are villainized for the games having only female character with exaggerated (big breasts/eyes, tiny waist) physical characteristics.

Okay. My response? “So what?” The men are idealized, too- tall, dark, successful, powerful, muscular, no receeding hairlines, no bear bellies. Moreover, it’s not just men who like seeing attractive female figures. Pick up a women’s magazine at the checkstand of your local supermarket- there are big-breasted women on every other page. It’s not about what sex you are– Humans are programmed to like looking at attractive people. Thanks, I had to get that out of my system.

Cancer

Whitney in my lab just found out that a cousin of hers, around age 30, has been diagnosed with Bladder cancer (which has something like a 1% survival rate)… So she’s understandably upset. Cancer is a topic that’s always been near and dear to me, since my Mother had breast cancer, and I had to seriously contemplate losing her. Hell, watching her suffer through chemotherapy was enough to break my heart. It was almost unreal how terrified my family was. I’m thankful every day that she pulled through, and I love her very much.

The strange thing is, even with all that, cancer is… fascinating. It’s one of the strangest chemical and biological processes cells can go through, and it’s amazing reading about efforts to understand and treat it. One thing I wonder about a lot (and occasionally debate with Teisha) is whether the rate of cancer has really risen in modern times, or if it’s a by-product of living longer, or a little from Column A, a little from Column B. What do you think?

Pets

I’m such a bad parent! There, I admitted it. I keep my pets (lizards and rats) fed and watered, but I don’t devote nearly enough time and attention to them– letting them out to play, buying them stimulating toys, getting them treats. If I were one of my pets, I’d be bored stiff. Which makes me terrified of ever getting a Doggie, at least where I am in life right now. They need attention, and life gets awfully busy awfully quickly. How do other pet owners deal with this?

Teaching

I just finished being a Teaching Assistant for Microbiology Lab, and wanted to quickly ruminate on the course. I really, really enjoy teaching. I like seeing my words and actions invoke that look of dawning comprehension on a student’s face, I like leading people, and I like having a platform to show my viewpoint and way of looking at science (I bet those poor biology students got more chemistry then they were expecting!).

That all said, it was one of my first times teaching, and there’s a LOT I can do to improve. First off, I didn’t devote nearly enough time to preparing before lectures. I didn’t give them enough lectures, and I didn’t prepare enough materials before-hand, laving me to give them additional info during the class on a one-on-one basis, which often let people slip through the cracks without learning some things. Also– being fair about grading is very difficult– both in writing quizzes and in grading everything.

All that said, I can’t wait to teach again. Especially when bolstered by student’s comments such as “you’re the best TA I’ve ever had” or “The best way to improve the course would be to have Andrew TA all the sections”.

To start with: They’ve got a friggin’ book club.  Reading Da Vinci
Code, yes, but still, a book club.  How sweet is that.

They’re also showing movies somewhere (Timeline and Dicky Roberts, neither too great, but the point stands).

And the teacher (Dr. Bob) today was teaching the Fluid Mosaic Model
of the cell membrane, complete with signalling oligosugars,
cholesterol, and membrane-bound proteins.  While he was teaching that,
I flipped through the biology textbook: It has a whole chapter on
evolution.  No backwood hick bullshit here.  And one of my professors
at CU was a consultant on it!  Dr. David Armstrong from the EPOB
department (taught Darwinian Revolution).  I mean… hell, that’s just
awesome.  Wednesday we’re looking at cheek cells!

My high school bio class was taught by the frickin’ tennis coach.