Comments for Wandering Academic

Comment on The Cello Is The Most Beautiful Instrument. by Phil Clinton

Phil Clinton — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:39:32 +0000

I have to admit that I agree that the cello is one of the most incredible instruments……”beautiful” in tone as well as form. The Bach Preludes are, for me, one of the most beautiful pieces to listen to of all. I’ll never forget hearing Rostrapovich play Tchaikowsky with the Russian Symphony in Moscow back in the late 1990′s ……it was beyond description.

Comment on Education Degrees: Worth It or Worthless? by Sinecure

Sinecure — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:24:01 +0000

Give me the books and leave me alone. Put an end to government schools. The dimmest light is usually found behind the podium.

Comment on Using Technology to Reduce Distraction by Kenneth Lawson

Kenneth Lawson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:51:08 +0000

I use Google Documents. for a number of reasons. It lets me work from any computer. It also automatically saves as I write so nothing is lost. The only issue I have is not easily copying pasting content into blogger post window. The advantage of using Google Docs far out weigh any problems I might have with it. Once in a while I have to go to Microsoft works but rarely.

Ken Lawson

Comment on iPad and Education by Kenneth Lawson

Kenneth Lawson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:29:19 +0000

Well, Its been 2 years since this original article was written and commented on. I still get links back from the comment I made back on January 28 2010. While much of what been said has come true. Even more happened, once the consumers got hold of it.
As I write this there are rumors of a IPad3 being announced next month or so. I say rumor.
The point is, Once Again, the Late Steve Jobs gave us something we didn’t know we wanted until we had it. In the last 2 years the places that have embraced the IPad included both educational, and business, and corporate use on a variety of levels. Not to mention medical, and scientific uses.
Right now Apple is the King of the Hill, and showing profits that would make any company green with envy. However, it is facing stiff competition, with the Android Platform. The last version of Android os, Cup Cake, I believe is, closing in on Apple. In many ways many folks prefer Android over apple because of the openness, both in hardware and software developers. While that is a big plus for Android, the Flip Side is Apple who controls everything tightly from the software design to hardware specs, and manufacture. So One has to decide what platform and ecosystem one wants to live in. The Apple Ipad has set a very high stranded.

Comment on Using Technology to Reduce Distraction by Immishhild

Immishhild — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:22:25 +0000

Lovely post, good blog theme, continue the good work

Comment on PA Teachers will keep working for free when funds run out by editor

editor — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:09:55 +0000

You’re probably right. But I’ve seen this attitude from administrators in the past, and it always pisses me off. Teachers are always cast as martyrs – when do they get to be professionals?

Comment on Literary Analysis of Video Games by editor

editor — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:08:18 +0000

Thanks for your reply, Sean.

All texts are fair game is not the same as all texts should be considered in the language classroom. It is always possible to design some advanced thinking exercise around media or art, even what some people call “pulp” fiction or the lowly comic book (which is one low-art form that I think has enormous literary merit). But video games seem less like art and more like sophisticated methods for “hooking” users. Writers use “hooks”, but their purpose is not nearly the same. It just seems to me that there might – might – be much better uses of precious language class time than considering the value of narratives in video games.

And then the question remains: is examining the literary character of video games as good a teaching tool as examining some more traditional text? I know the value of literature, I have yet to be convinced of the teaching value of video games.

Comment on Mom sues pre-school for ruining daughter’s chance at Harvard by international school review

international school review — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:46:01 +0000

I’m happy to have discovered your site through Google while searching for topics like yours. Great post. I do agree. Keep posting, I’ll be staying tuned for more.

Comment on Literary Analysis of Video Games by Sean Tangey

Sean Tangey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:02:57 +0000

Was that the high art/low art argument that just walked past the door?

As a side note, perhaps it would be interesting for students to investigate how canonical literary features could enhance (or diminish) narratives in games.

All texts are fair game in the language classroom.

Comment on Using Technology to Reduce Distraction by Sunil Nair

Sunil Nair — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:26:20 +0000

Greg,
Add a G+ icon for sharing too! This is a useful post. Liked it!