Last week of discussions, question 3 12/9/12

Throughout the semester we have covered an array of topics like critical thinking and logic to social contracts and sovereignty. Although there were many topics that were interesting could have used further detail, I believe that the topic "Assumptions Underlying Science" could be better explained. The reason I believe that this is very important is because we use FACTS to support our arguments. Facts are nothing else then science being applied to generate a result, therefore we must understand and be aware of the fallacies science falls victim to. The main assumptions science falls to are Empiricism, Objective, Materialism, Predictability, and Unity. The book talks about them briefly but I believe we as a class could have talked about them in further detail. I believe knowing how a fact came to be can give us  a better understanding of how to use them in our arguments. This is why i think that this topic could have been further talked about especially, since we use them when defending or supporting something.  This has been a great class that has thought me so much that I will be able to carry forward. I thank the teacher and wish her the best with her future classes.



Sincerely, Heisenberg

Last Week of Discussions, Question 1 12/6/12

Over the course we have cover and array of topics. However, I think the biggest thing I have personally learned was how to blog. At the being of this course I had no idea of how we were all going to communicate. When we received the first assignment and email I was shocked and scared because I had never used a blog service before. Although, confusing at first I had fun customizing my page and learning how everything worked on BLOGGER. I am happy that I learned this skill because I find it fun to blog now. Also along with learning the service I liked the way we got to communicate with one another through blogs because we can express ourselves a bit more freely then in a classroom. I know that I sometimes get shy to say something in class and this eliminated that feeling. I know that I learned a lot different topics but I feel that I would have earned that whether in a class room or an online course. However, I do not think I would have started blogging if it was not for this course.


Heisenberg.

Last Week Discussion, Question 2 12/5/12

There is a lot to say about this course, since it was my first online class. I would have to say that the liberty to choose when to do the work for this class was my favorite part of the course. Meaning that the teacher would assign things on Monday and have it due Sunday, but we got to choose when we did it. I liked that a lot because I personally had a lot going on. I think this was the best part of the course because it fit my schedule. However, there were also somethings that I did not like. The main issue with this class I had was that I only knew 7 people throughout the semester. I did not like this because I am a social bug and I talk to everyone in my class in order to set up study groups and such. I think this really hindered the course for me because I did get to meet everyone in the course. Other than that the class was fun. I think that the introduction to this class has to be improved because for the first 2 weeks I was confused of what was going on. I then caught on but it was a difficult beginning. Overall I really did like this course and enjoyed it very much.




Heisenberg.

Chapter 12 Question 1 11/15/12

November 14th, 2012

Virgo Horoscope:

You seem to be a specialist at relationships, and you're very sensitive to the ups and downs in your own. But today you may wonder if people love you less than they did before. This is rather an odd question, but another one may be hiding underneath. Do you really have to make such a big effort in order to be loved? Only you can answer that question.

I laugh at this horoscope because it is not even close to being accurate. For starters I am currently too busy with school to think about if "people love me less then they did before". That pretty much makes the rest of this horoscope false. Right now I am at a good stage in life that I cannot even come close to connecting to any of the predictions made in this horoscope. However, some people maybe be having problems with friends, family, or significant others. Those people might be more inclined to take this advise and run with it. Nevertheless I am not in that boat so this horoscope does nothing for me nor does it make any accurate predictions. I do not really believe in horoscopes so that might be why I am so bias or negative towards them. I see them as big generalization with very faulty predictions. 

Heisenberg.

Chapter 12 Question 2 11/14/12

This was a difficult question because I am a very logical thinker and don't jump to conclusions. However, (before I had a girlfriend) during the first day of class, Spring 2012, I noticed a very cute girl that was walking ahead of me. I thought she was just walking in the same direction as me but as it turned out she was in my class. I was quite excited but did not show it. Class was boring like it always is on the first day, but I was excited to introduce myself to her. However, when class ended there was a guy waiting for the girl outside the class room. I jumped to a conclusion right there and then, which was "just my luck she is taken". I know many guys have felt that way or have been placed in that situation. A week passed and the girl kept sitting next to me, even though I had seen her with her "boyfriend". I was polite and did not hit on her, however one day the topic for the class was on relationships. We were placed in groups and she happened to be in mine. We all had to state whether or not we were in a relationship and if so for how long. I had concluded that she was taken but did not ever ask her myself or try to use scientific methods to she if my conclusion was right or wrong. As it turns out she was single! I was so mad at myself for assuming because it hindered me from talking to her. It was here were I applied some scientific methods such as "Gathering Additional Information and Refine my Hypothesis". I found out the guy waiting for her was a cousin who she commuted with and that she had been single for over a year due to her busy schedule. I then refined my Hypothesis and developed a new one. This situation really reinforced my logical thinking personally and never again will I jump to a conclusion.


Heisenberg.

Chapter 12 Question 3 11/13/12

This week in chapter twelve the main concept that caught my attention was assumptions underling science. The reason it caught my attention was because it is the structure that science and scientist must follow. There are five key assumptions and those are empiricism, objectivity, materialism, predictability, and unity. I will discuss what I thought each meant starting with empiricism. Empiricism is the belief that are physical senses are the primary source of knowledge, as the book explains. I thought that this meant that we have to experience the world by trial and error in order to gain knowledge. Next assumption is Objectivity, which the book describes as "the belief that we observe and study the physical world "our there" as an object outside of us without bias on the part of the scientist/observer". I thought that this was straight forward because scientist must conduct experiments with no desired outcome that will show their opinion. The third assumption is Materialism, which literally means that everything around us, including ourselves, are made up of physical matter.  The next assumption is Predictability, which simply means that our world has order and can be predicted at times. This however, does not hold true especially with Quantum Mechanics. Last we have the assumption of Unity, which states that everything in the universe is connected some how some way. I really like these concepts because they were a great way to kick of the chapter. It gave me a sense of having some background in science.



Heisenberg.

Chapter 11 Qusetion 2 11/11/12

I want to start off by saying that I really enjoy these types of question. Like last week I have very mixed feelings when it comes to this topic and the arguments the witters present. Once again like last week we see two people that stand on extreme opposite ends of the topic. This weeks topic is Internet Plagiarism, which seems to be a growing concern due to the fact of the accessibility of information. Brook Sadler is an assistant teacher who strongly believes that any kind of plagiarism is wrong. She believes that this undermines the educational system, which I believe is true. However, Russell Hunt believes that this new trend of internet plagiarism is a calling to change the present school system. He believes that the current system is outdated and need to be change with what he calls "active learning". I am very stuck here because I do believe plagiarism is wrong in any form but I also feel that the old style of teaching really doesn't work today. Technology, communication, and even media is changing so I ask why shouldn't teaching and learning change as well. Both writers had a good point but I have to agree with Hunt that the present educational system needs a change.


Heisenberg.