Comments on: Evolving Landscapes http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations of science journalism Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:53:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: dh http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-2856 dh Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:59:17 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-2856 Are you implying the FSM hangs out with Unicorns? 'Cause I don't think that's correct. It's OK to be a little snarky when you're right. Are you implying the FSM hangs out with Unicorns? ‘Cause I don’t think that’s correct.

It’s OK to be a little snarky when you’re right.

]]> By: Scott_A http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-1225 Scott_A Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:04:50 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-1225 I think the solution to the textbook dilemma is pretty straight forward. A. By default, accept the coursework from the kids who learned from the accepted textbooks. Test a random sample of these students to provide a reference for category B. (see next) B. By default, _don't_ accept the coursework from the kids who learned from the unaccepted textbooks. However, then the UC MUST give those students a chance to take an impartial test (which is standardized against the results from a random sampling of students in category A) to see if they were adequately prepared to continue in the UC system and receive credit for their previous studies. In this manner, California still dissuades schools from using flaky textbooks, but doesn't overly penalize the students who happened to win the crappy lottery of going to a nuts-o school. If those students are able to go to a goofy school and _still_ manage to learn what they need to know through insightful reason, sheer personal determination, good teaching, or commendable parental involvement, etc, then they shouldn't get shat upon twice by the education system. Give them a chance to prove they belong - and then feel justified in tossing out those who truly aren't prepared. I think the solution to the textbook dilemma is pretty straight forward.

A. By default, accept the coursework from the kids who learned from the accepted textbooks. Test a random sample of these students to provide a reference for category B. (see next)

B. By default, _don’t_ accept the coursework from the kids who learned from the unaccepted textbooks. However, then the UC MUST give those students a chance to take an impartial test (which is standardized against the results from a random sampling of students in category A) to see if they were adequately prepared to continue in the UC system and receive credit for their previous studies.

In this manner, California still dissuades schools from using flaky textbooks, but doesn’t overly penalize the students who happened to win the crappy lottery of going to a nuts-o school. If those students are able to go to a goofy school and _still_ manage to learn what they need to know through insightful reason, sheer personal determination, good teaching, or commendable parental involvement, etc, then they shouldn’t get shat upon twice by the education system. Give them a chance to prove they belong - and then feel justified in tossing out those who truly aren’t prepared.

]]> By: Stefan http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-1222 Stefan Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:33:52 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/08/13/evolving-landscapes/#comment-1222 Hi Kirsten, I'm writing in response to your comment that Olivia Judsons's examples of evolution are really just examples of adaptation. Adaptation is exactly a result of evolution. Small changes over time that increase the survivability in that environment of the organisms in the population, is largely caused by natural selection. Kindest regards and thanks for the great work you do for promoting science. Hi Kirsten,

I’m writing in response to your comment that Olivia Judsons’s examples of evolution are really just examples of adaptation.

Adaptation is exactly a result of evolution. Small changes over time that increase the survivability in that environment of the organisms in the population, is largely caused by natural selection.

Kindest regards and thanks for the great work you do for promoting science.

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