Keep Pushing Beyond All Limits...

Football Concusson Injuries - Is it Hype or Reality?

On 2 May 2012, Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. took his life.  It is alleged that he  killed himself because of the repeated Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) he received from playing professional football.  Seau shot himself in the chest, and his family donated his intact brain for autopsy.

Seau was a linebacker in the National Football League. He had a reputation for the intensity of his playing style.  His career achievements included being a 10-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

With the passage of time since Junior Seau's death, other deaths plus issues such as dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease, whose connection was suspected to have been linked to TBI have come to light.  Such connections may, or may not bode well for the NFL who, just last year donated $30 million to the NIH for TBI Research.  FRONTLINE is posting this documentary based on research in an upcoming book by Mark Fainaru-Wada and his brother Steve Fainaru.

Here is an excerpt from the book jacket; 

" Everyone knew that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn’t know – and what the league sought to shield from them – is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football; that the very essence of the game could be exposing these players to brain damage.
 
In a fast-paced narrative that moves between the NFL trenches, America’s research labs and the boardrooms where the NFL went to war against science, League of Denial examines how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research -- a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco’s fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. It chronicles the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives; and former Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of an unseemly scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. ..."
 
This FRONTLINE story airs Tomorrow evening - on Albuquerque's PBS Affiliate, KNME at 8:00 PM.

Clearly, this documentary has the potential to incite passions - both pro and con.  Nonetheless, the focus of your response ought to be on issues surrounding the biology of trauma. Opinions are welcome, just make sure your arguments are supported with research - particularly if you are going to be passionate about it. 

Endnote: Feedback Response credits for a review of this Documentary will depend upon how in-depth you make your response.

A 1200-1500 word book-review will meet the 5 point Feedback Response requirement.  If you elect to exercise that option, just e-mail me, to let me know of your intent.

Never Give Up

"...Between stimulus and response, there is a space.  In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.  In those choices lie our growth and happiness..." 

 As you watch this video, keep in mind that while each of us might like to believe that success is something we achieve on our own, and failures are something that falls on solely on our shoulders, we never are really alone.  

When you think about it, there are people in your life who contribute to your success, and support you when you fall.   Take some time to think about those people - your parents, your family, your teachers, coaches, others very special to you, and to whom you are also very special.  Thank your lucky stars that they are in your constellation, because when you succeed, they are there to cheer you on, and when you fall, they are there to support you all the way to the finish line.  

You are never alone.

My take away from this video is that bad things are bound to happen - they are a almost necessary part of life.  However, it is how we choose to react to adversity demonstrates our character.  In other words, we really do have a choice over how we react to challenges.  

Keep up the good fight, and never give up.
Mr. M

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. H. and Mr. Mrs. S.

Be humble for you are made of Earth.  Be noble for you are made of stars. - Serbian proverb

Arugument; Is it worth it?

Dr. Cohen discusses arguments, the kinds of argument, and utility of argument.

I eagerly anticipate your arguments on argument.

Meaningful Work - The Utility of Outlined Notes

I like Dr. Dan Ariely.  I like him because he has the ability to explain what motivates Humans.  

I understand this is a 20 minute video, and I understand you have many things that you could probably be doing, but this video is important for two reasons; 

1]  It helps you understand the reason behind my requirement for notes.

2]  It helps you come to realize that your the quality of your education depends on what you put into it.  Simply requesting a re-take for your Assessments, Quizzes and Tests does little for you unless you put some work into understanding the reason for requesting a re-take.  

Something to keep in mind...

Your reward is not in getting the re-take.  Rather, it is in having the opportunity to learn from your mistakes on an immediate level; Learning, and by extension, school is about making mistakes.  The more mistakes you make, the more opportunity you have to learn.  Just so long as you realize that your learning requires that whatever challenges you face must be meaningful.

Now, what I have written here relates to my reasoning behind requiring notes, there are many ways you could interpret this video.  And that is the beauty of learning how to learn; you can apply these lessons to many different situations in life.  These concepts work for relationships, for work, and for motivating people to do something, and even for establishing policy or running organizations from small businesses to government.

Here at SAMS, we have an agreement; you work and we make sure your work is at a certain quality.  Each teacher has a different approach, and mine includes, "Trust but verify."  This means, I want you to do you work, but I cannot force you to care about your work.  

This is why I do not require notes to be turned in at the end of the semester.  Yes, it gives you the opportunity to walk away from your responsibility.  However, it also gives you an opportunity to get "paid" a potentially higher grade.  My question is, If someone offered you an opportunity to paid more for just trying harder, why wouldn't you take it?  The way I see it, you would have to be nuts to not get paid for just loving your job! 

Finally, remember anyone can copy and paste - but your challenge is to make what you have learned your own.  It makes no sense to have beautiful notes that someone else put the effort into.   Using notes created by others makes as much sense as expecting a plant to grow from planting cut flowers.

I would love to know what your thoughts are on this video, how it relates to you, and how you think you can apply this knowledge to your life, or how this information can be related to others in your world.

For those of you who would like to read more about the phenomenon of meaningful work, this is the book where Dr. Ariely explains it in more detail.  I will offer 5 points - that's a half a grade added to your end of semester grade - for anyone who reads the book and gives me a 1200 - 1500 word summary and discussion of what you have learned from what you have read.

High on Stress? You've got to be kidding! - Stress Resilience & the Biology of Courage

Have you ever  heard people say, "Bad things happen to everyone" or, "How we deal with those bad things reflects our character"  or, "Happiness is a choice."   It appears some of that folksy wisdom may have a biological relevance to it. This is what Science is telling us about the stress response, and here are a couple of the take-aways I got from Dr. Kelly McGonigal's lecture;

• "Character creates  resilience..." 
• "Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort. And so, I would say that is really the best way to make decisions.  My advice is, 'go after what it is that makes meaning in your life, and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.'"

Here's something to keep in mind;  "Helping others helps me."   

Make your profound statement in life.

Let me know what you got out of this Ted Talk.  You can feel free to expand on what I saw, or discuss whatever you found most compelling.  I can't wait to get your Feedback Responses. Also, this is one of the books written by Kelly McGonigal ph.D.
 

 

Cooperation and collaboration - what is possible when people work toward a common goal

I hope to see someone try this in the SAMS cafeteria some time soon.

You kids amaze me.

Science Connections for you to consider:

• Neurobiology
• Mirror Neurons
• Neural Pathways
• Sound transmission
• Neuromuscular synchronization
• Vocalization

Aside:  I've been following Kia Grannis for probably 5 years, when she was just a kid.  You ought to look up her Valentine song - click here.  Also, her cover of Rhianna's, Disturbia - click here - is also pretty neat.  And one of her first covers was Jason Mraz',  "I'm Yours"  - click here.  I am glad she is finally realizing the success she deserves.  Let's see if anyone reads this far...

Be a superhero, smile!

Looking Back, how did you do?

Juan Mann's Free Hugs Campaign

Dear Samsters,

Last day of school!  Have a great summer and don't forget to check in - I'll be posting throughout the break.  It has been a pleasure working for you all!

Drop me a line just to let me know what you are up to, how you are doing and how your evil plan for world domination is coming along.

Always do your best and never give up!

By the way, look up "Oxytocin" the cuddle hormone.  Ya gotta love Science!

Life is good...
Mr. Mirabal

Power of Attention - What you focus on, you get more of

Here are the take-aways:

• What you focus on, you get more of.
• When you are upset, you are always focused on what you don't want.
• Upset comes from resisting what is ("It shouldn't be like this!").
•  No problem can be solved unless we focus on what we want.
  

Note: This video qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.  

However, it must meet the following criteria:  1500 word minimum (to 10,000 words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video.  Make sure it is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.  

Should you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be fun, and rewarding for you.  If you take any other approach to it, or if it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.

Cooperation vs Competition - What works best in a Classroom?

Note: This video qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.  

However, it must meet the following criteria:  1500 word minimum (to 10,000 words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video.  Make sure it is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.  

Should you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be fun, and rewarding for you.  If you take any other approach to it, or if it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.

Happy Earth Day - 2013

 

Be kind to your mother :O)

Let's be Honest...

Some of you wonder how I use Scientific Method to effect changes in my world.  These two videos offer insights that I have culled from the research I have done on the topic of Human Motivation.  I would like to offer an In-service for students to help them understand why Humans do what they do, why irrationality some times trumps rationality, and why concepts like "cost benefit analysis," and "reward substitution" work in achieving certain objectives.

Professor Dan Ariely of Duke University touches upon some relevant topics in these videos.  If you are interested in what he is talking about, you can check out his books, "Predictably Irrational," " The Upside of Irrationality," or "The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty."  I have all three on my e-reader (Nook) and you are free to borrow them from me is you have a Nook e-reader."

This blog post is worth the maximum Feedback Response points for the semester.  All you have to do is watch both videos, summarize them and pick at least two concepts discussed in the videos to expand upon by relating them to your own personal life experience.

Education - then and now

Here is the light version...

 

and here is the meaty one - the whole lesson:

Practice makes Perfect: Neuromodulation , How a Fly Brain can Make You Smarter

Here is some fascinating information that discusses neurobiology of a fly's brain.  Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this video is how it relates to how the brain processes information.  From a purely biological perspective, Michael Dickenson's Ted Talk is fascinating because it demonstrates something electrical about the learning process;  establishing a neural pathway is how the brain 'learns.'  

Dickenson's  research seems to imply that repetitive processes rely on established multiplexes of neurons that fire in a set pattern.  To that end, it makes sense, that when a person learns something, part of that process involves practice until a neural pathway has been burned.  It explains why we practice makes perfect.

It also tells me that making mistakes is a critical component of the learning process.  Learning is about fine-tuning our mistakes until we reach a point considered to be satisfactory.  Thus, regardless of whether we are on  BMX bike, snowboarding, or memorizing PEMDAS, or memorizing y=mx+b, or even learning how to tie one's shoes, it all involves practice & making errors.  This tends to explain why wisdom tends to come with age and experience.  Old people have the potential to be wiser simply because they have had more of a chance to make mistakes!  Now that is a fascinating thought!

Here is the take-away; learning is the process of developing and establishing set neural pathways through trial and error.  Moreover, those who fine tune an action or thought process are neuromodulating.  

The better we neuromodulate is proportional to the amount of errors we make.  The more mistakes we make, the smarter we become.

Conclusion:  Make as many mistakes as you can, but make yourself aware of those mistakes, because when you do, you will fine-tune your ability to develop more refined neural pathways as you build on past experiences.  

In other words: You can only become an expert if you give yourself the opportunity to make mistakes.

The Poetry of Science: We are All Africans & Extremophiles

A Good Overview of Emotional Intelligence

The University of Wisconsin offers a series of videos on seminars such as, the 'Art of Lecturing seminar', as part of the school's medical education.  Dr. David Rakel MD.

He discusses how the emotional brain works, and the importance of making connections.  Just as a an aside, he uses a clip from the movie, "Little Miss Sunshine" - one of my favorite movies.  He discusses how we communicate without words.  

He also talks about the importance of making meaningful connections and understanding those things that give life meaning and purpose - the importance of love.

Faster Than The Speed Of Light? Six More Dimensions?

For those of you students wrestling with the concepts of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and the various hypotheses, laws and constructs you are faced with in Chemistry & Physics, here is the reason why you need to master them; ideas are being bandied, in the world of the mind are slowly progressing toward the notion of a Unified Field Theory - something that eluded Einstein and continues to escape scientists who have followed him.  

The world as we know it is changing rapidly - so much so - that, what we once found to be nuanced a century ago, even decades ago and more accurately, right now is the stuff science fiction didn't even come close to predicting; truth really is stranger than fiction.  

The world of the mind is where each of you will be far more suited to play. I happen to believe it is because the time you were born makes this possible - think of Malcolm Gladwell's arguments.  That said, I strongly adhere to the notion put forth by the scientist, Louis Pasteur who famously said, "Chance favors a prepared mind." 

I cannot come close to explaining what some of these concepts described in this video mean.  However, I have every confidence that there will be people among your generation that may in fact be able to get their heads wrapped around these topics.  To that end, this is why it is so critical that each of you endeavor to master the basic intellectual building blocks you are now studying because without them, you will be left behind, and our world will be the less for it.  

Rest assured, the assiduous efforts you make today will be rewarded in the future.  And, like a spinning bicycle wheel that comes into focus only instantaneously, thus will be your education.  Borrowing from that metaphor, as sure as we cannot see the wheel turning every moment, we none the less know that it continues in its motion. This is how your learning works as well; it turns and reveals itself - stingily at times - but it is building upon a base of knowledge that will serve its purpose in due time.

Now, conceptualizing the world in six more dimensions?  I hope we get there in my life time.

Always do your best and never quit.

Note: This video qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.  

However, it must meet the following criteria:  1500 word minimum (to 10,000 words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video.  Make sure it is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.  

Should you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be fun, and rewarding for you.  If you take any other approach to it, or if it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.

Harnessing the Wind - A 14 Year Old Malawian Boy's Story

"And so I say to you, trust yourself - and believe.  Whatever happens, don't give up." 
 William Kamkwamba

This is a fascinating story about a 14 year-old young man - William Kamkwamba - from Malawi, Africa whose ambition to learn about electricity brought about tremendous changes in his life, the lives of his family and his community.  

He also wrote a book about the experience in, "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind" - I picked up the book for my e-reader for $2.99.  That's a bargain, and it is a good read.



Note: This book qualifies as a 5 point maximum extra credit paper for your semester's final Science grade - that's a half a grade added to your final grade.  

However, it must meet the following criteria:  1500 word minimum (to 10,000 words maximum) to include a summary of the video and an exposition that discusses a topic of your choice mentioned in the video.  Make sure it is copy edited, spell checked and set-up in a word document.  

Should you elect to take this challenge, your essay on this post ought to be fun, and rewarding for you.  If you take any other approach to it, or if it ceases to be fun, then you are doing something wrong.

I also wonder if this is something that might be repeated in Smart Lab...