Reflection #2: Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts
The invention of tools; the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire are just a few of the factors that were able to skew or direct changes from one paradigm to the next. These inventions and discoveries were responsible for some changes towards the ancestral man becoming the being that they are today; that of the upright man and the talking man. Other variables include mutation and natural selection. It became obvious that the early man was not in genetic equilibrium as there was evolution taking place and thus a shift in paradigm.
Today’s new inventions are viewed as technological advancements, likewise should inventions of the far past. Technological advances are created to make doing things easier for an individual. The time when there were no tools was one paradigm where early man mainly gathered their food; later the invention of tools saw the beginning of another. In this paradigm one shows the early man hunting animals for food subsequently getting different type of nourishment in the form of protein and hence feeding the body better. Feeding the body meant that, the head and brain would increase in size, and the brain would get better fed: causing it to grow, more neurons synapse with other cells, and thus creating a functionally better brain. Since the tools were used as weapons which were better suited for a particular body type. The other body type would not fear well and the preferred more upright would survive and the population would evolve into that specific type. Through the production of fire; a shift in paradigm took place. By using the fire to cook meat, they no longer had to tear in the raw flesh like lower animals. So that teeth used for tearing slowly got smaller. Fire allowed them to have some power over the animals to better protect themselves.
I think that with each paradigm shift, a characteristic was lost and another was obtained. Every invention or discovery aided in the evolution of the early man. One can postulate that with each shift the early man changed to what would make them survive at that time. What was subsequently evident was that as they grew upright and the head and brain got bigger, there were problems in the area of delivering an offspring to multiply the population. They had to deliver the young ones at a earlier stage of development servicing another change. I think that now that they were upright their food sources changed and so did there whole way of life and thinking as the brain development improved. I think the invention of the wheel directed the paradigm of transportation, employment and dwelling. Now that there is a means to travel for farther distances, people no longer had to live close to where they worked. This changed the whole dynamic of where there were jobs that area would become over-populated. Finally it can be viewed that there were changes and shifts from one paradigm to the next early man was changed accordingly so as to survive.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Reflection Paper #6 Invention of Writing
The certain aspects of the world’s ancient civilizations were improved as a result of the invention of writing. It targeted the beginning of a new information/ communication age. The information gathered through writing allowed civilizations to pass in traditions easily. Most of all civilizations history could be preserved for the descendants. Stories were told from the written pictures recorded. Truths were uncovered as the various writings were uncovered from archaeological finds.
The original use of writings was to use as a method of keeping count of properties. A pictograph describing that article was owned by that individual. This would allow the owner to keep a tab. The pictographs were used as a common form of communication even when the language spoken was different from each other.
With the advent of writing, societies were able to communicate with each other. Information could go from place to place without changing the message. Libraries were created to hold this new information. Consequently, with writing, kings were able to sustain their empires. Once they were able to have control over their writers they were able to control their subjects. A writer was in good social standing as not everyone was able to such feat.
Writing was used as another from of communication. They mainly used it to keep tab of the goods that they had. Writing was used to record history. More traditions and history could be passed from one generation to the next through writing. It could give a more accurate account if written correctly. It was also used to manipulate and terrorize members of the society. With writing came knowledge and through knowledge one will gain power. The people who were able to write were held in high esteem, members of the Catholic Church were one such society that was held in such regard. Writing was one of the ways that kings and the church kept power over their people. Since regular subjects could not read the writings they were lacking knowledge and thus powerless.
The original use of writings was to use as a method of keeping count of properties. A pictograph describing that article was owned by that individual. This would allow the owner to keep a tab. The pictographs were used as a common form of communication even when the language spoken was different from each other.
With the advent of writing, societies were able to communicate with each other. Information could go from place to place without changing the message. Libraries were created to hold this new information. Consequently, with writing, kings were able to sustain their empires. Once they were able to have control over their writers they were able to control their subjects. A writer was in good social standing as not everyone was able to such feat.
Writing was used as another from of communication. They mainly used it to keep tab of the goods that they had. Writing was used to record history. More traditions and history could be passed from one generation to the next through writing. It could give a more accurate account if written correctly. It was also used to manipulate and terrorize members of the society. With writing came knowledge and through knowledge one will gain power. The people who were able to write were held in high esteem, members of the Catholic Church were one such society that was held in such regard. Writing was one of the ways that kings and the church kept power over their people. Since regular subjects could not read the writings they were lacking knowledge and thus powerless.
Reflection Paper#3: Multiculturalism
The term multicultural encompasses numerous categories, race, ethnicity and culture. It however did not talk about physical abilities such as being physically disabled. The school I went to had both physically disabled children as well as “normal” children interacting together. It was actually an experiment and as such the school was named The Hope Valley Experimental Primary school. The term primary refers to elementary. The other culture that was evident in that school was the students whose parents were Rastafarians. Those students wore the uniform as the other children but would wear a head covering (to cover their dread locks) one that could be described as a huge skully. Other difference was that they took lunch to school which was quite different from what was prepared at school.
At that time in the late 1970’s early 1980’s it was taboo to be a Rastafarian, and people were still fearsome that their children would contract the poliomyelitis. The teachers did not do anything different in their teachings for either group of children. In the fifth grade my teacher who was well travelled, exposed us to countries of the Caribbean on a field trip to a theological college where the student were from various islands in the Caribbean. She had us talking to the students and later on, had to do a research project on that island and present it so that other students could become of aware and learn about other cultural difference. This approach was the contribution approach.
My secondary education was the melting pot of multiculturalism. The school I went to in Jamaica was considered one of the best. And as such, the who’s who in the Jamaican society sent their children there; including numerous ambassadors and their embassy workers. The mix included but was not limited to blacks from the Caribbean, United States of America and Africa; Hispanics from Ecuador and Cuba; Indians from the Caribbean and India and different generation of Syrians, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. More than 40% of the students had backgrounds other than Black. The teachers I felt did not do anything out of the realm to encourage, transform, contribute to the multiculturalism of the school.
For the first year of secondary education it was mandatory to take Spanish. This was mainly because the island nation was in such close proximity to Cuba and the large Central and South American presence. The second year a student could opt to take French along with the Spanish class already offered History and geography were a part of the curriculum and through these subjects area multiculturalism was taught. If you did not take those subjects after the third year of secondary school, like I did; you would miss out on that education. We learned about other cultures from curiosity of one student to another.
The approach I would want my teachers to take in secondary school is the contribution approach, where each student would tell or contribute something about our background. Understanding and embracing our difference can only empower us. It subsequently becomes quite beneficial when travelling and you are aware of the norms of that society or culture already.
At that time in the late 1970’s early 1980’s it was taboo to be a Rastafarian, and people were still fearsome that their children would contract the poliomyelitis. The teachers did not do anything different in their teachings for either group of children. In the fifth grade my teacher who was well travelled, exposed us to countries of the Caribbean on a field trip to a theological college where the student were from various islands in the Caribbean. She had us talking to the students and later on, had to do a research project on that island and present it so that other students could become of aware and learn about other cultural difference. This approach was the contribution approach.
My secondary education was the melting pot of multiculturalism. The school I went to in Jamaica was considered one of the best. And as such, the who’s who in the Jamaican society sent their children there; including numerous ambassadors and their embassy workers. The mix included but was not limited to blacks from the Caribbean, United States of America and Africa; Hispanics from Ecuador and Cuba; Indians from the Caribbean and India and different generation of Syrians, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. More than 40% of the students had backgrounds other than Black. The teachers I felt did not do anything out of the realm to encourage, transform, contribute to the multiculturalism of the school.
For the first year of secondary education it was mandatory to take Spanish. This was mainly because the island nation was in such close proximity to Cuba and the large Central and South American presence. The second year a student could opt to take French along with the Spanish class already offered History and geography were a part of the curriculum and through these subjects area multiculturalism was taught. If you did not take those subjects after the third year of secondary school, like I did; you would miss out on that education. We learned about other cultures from curiosity of one student to another.
The approach I would want my teachers to take in secondary school is the contribution approach, where each student would tell or contribute something about our background. Understanding and embracing our difference can only empower us. It subsequently becomes quite beneficial when travelling and you are aware of the norms of that society or culture already.
Reflection Paper#5: Rite of Passage
Embryo! Fetus! Infant! Toddler! Teenager! Man. These are the stages as a human male develops into an adult man. That is just the way it is, stages cannot be skipped nor can they be switched. In various societies and cultures paths or rites of passage are a way of life. If it is not done then society will shun that individual. There are things that must be accomplished or achieved by that individual for them to take their place in that society. For some the rites are a bit unorthodox to the western societies. One must remember to be open-minded as far as viewing and understanding something that is not the norm in yours.
A mother that teachers her child to cook that homemade macaroni and cheese, which is then passed down from generation to generation. When a grandmother tell her grandchildren of her history, of where they are coming from as a family. She tells them about the 200 year old home that they now live in, the Jews who circumcise their sons and the Jamaicans who must have that Christmas rum cake and sorrel for Christmas are all traditions that are followed by people of the particular culture. Likewise, are the rituals and rites of passage of some cultures being past on. Even though some these events for the rites of passage might be seem brutal or inhumane, it lies on the premise of ones perception of right and wrong.
To go through an initiation of rite of passage ceremony one will conform to that culture. That will say to the members of that culture that you are in agreement or that your family is in agreement and that these traditions will be passed on from generation to generation. Some cultural rites of passage are sexual in nature; they perform these rites as young boys in preparation for the time that they finally “graduate” to be with the ultimate, the woman. The young boys are taught by other men what to do, as they learn these rites they pass it on to the next generation and continue the tradition.
A mother that teachers her child to cook that homemade macaroni and cheese, which is then passed down from generation to generation. When a grandmother tell her grandchildren of her history, of where they are coming from as a family. She tells them about the 200 year old home that they now live in, the Jews who circumcise their sons and the Jamaicans who must have that Christmas rum cake and sorrel for Christmas are all traditions that are followed by people of the particular culture. Likewise, are the rituals and rites of passage of some cultures being past on. Even though some these events for the rites of passage might be seem brutal or inhumane, it lies on the premise of ones perception of right and wrong.
To go through an initiation of rite of passage ceremony one will conform to that culture. That will say to the members of that culture that you are in agreement or that your family is in agreement and that these traditions will be passed on from generation to generation. Some cultural rites of passage are sexual in nature; they perform these rites as young boys in preparation for the time that they finally “graduate” to be with the ultimate, the woman. The young boys are taught by other men what to do, as they learn these rites they pass it on to the next generation and continue the tradition.
Reflection Paper#1
The teaching programs have evolved quite a bit from its early colonial beginnings where no preparatory programs were offered; to present day where there are various preparatory program options. The requirement for teachers in colonial times was minimal or negligible in comparison to today. Many colonial teachers did not attend any formal teaching programs; most were the disenfranchised, or servants looking for a way out of what ever situation that they were in. The deal most times would be for these individuals to work for a period of time in repayment for their passage to America. They either had a talent for giving instructions or they would fail at it. Later the traditional way was developed where teachers were given some instructions on how to teach as well as subject area knowledge, this they would do at “Normal Schools”. Later, prospects to the teaching profession would go to colleges or universities that offered teaching as a major. The 1980’s saw the advent of unease in the teaching profession as it was felt that teachers were not prepared with only an undergraduate degree. It was felt that a Master’s degree was more suitable for the profession. It did not go over well, but a compromise was made and thus the fifth year was added at that time. These days institution of higher learning allowed these prospects to learn theory for four years and then practicum on the fifth year in the actual setting. Alternative teaching programs allowed individuals from the industry or recent college graduates to enter the field. This program assumes that they are proficient in the subject area and would need pedagogy. Due increased student populations teachers were needed to teach these minors. In order to fill the demand, a different teaching program evolved. The evolution used college graduates or individuals who had degrees in a particular area or who had experience in the industry and could bring relevance to theory. This new way served to educate the diverse population and the new breed of children that supplies the school system. Teach for America (TFA) served its purposes as it allows students to give back and get experience in the outside world after their college graduation. Teach for America aim was to have graduates have a positive impact on low income students, basically served as role models.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Calame -Bio
My name is Daphney Calame. As a Jamaican living in the United States of America, I have made a point to make education a major part of my life. Through my determination and family support I graduated from Miami Dade Community College with Associate degrees in Biology and Medical Laboratory Technology in 1996 and 1997. This task was not an easy one as an international student with tuition being a little over two thousand dollars ($2000.00). This status provided no loans, no grants and no scholarship. My mother, the sole bread winner took home $300 a week for our family of six. I later went to Florida Memorial University and received Bachelors degrees in Biology and minor in Chemistry; my hope at that time was to become a Medical Doctor or a Pharmacologist. I was working in the pharmaceutical industry for 6 years as an Analytical Research and Development chemist until my lay off in 2006. Since I had a child in 2006 I took a year In an attempt to find a job I went to classes and did examinations to acquired a real estate license and worked in that field for a year. There I learned numerous things about home ownership and other business avenues.
When my daughter was five months old, I decided follow up on a career path that I had given up on after my graduation from FMU, that of becoming a teacher. I interview with Middle and high schools in Broward and Dade counties. At Miami Carol City Senior High School in my first year I worked as Chemistry and as an Anatomy and Physiology teacher. The strength that I brought to this position though not a formally taught teacher was to bring relevance to the class room. Coming an the industry where science was the focal point the principal then was trying to get the students interested in science so that their performance would be better on examinations and most of all in life. The Coming from the Caribbean, I have an interest in the sporting pass time of Netball (a game with similarities to basketball that is mostly played by females). I also enjoy watching track and field, myself being a former sprinter. At home on those rainy days I draw portraits of no-one in particular or of family; this passion I share with my husband.
When my daughter was five months old, I decided follow up on a career path that I had given up on after my graduation from FMU, that of becoming a teacher. I interview with Middle and high schools in Broward and Dade counties. At Miami Carol City Senior High School in my first year I worked as Chemistry and as an Anatomy and Physiology teacher. The strength that I brought to this position though not a formally taught teacher was to bring relevance to the class room. Coming an the industry where science was the focal point the principal then was trying to get the students interested in science so that their performance would be better on examinations and most of all in life. The Coming from the Caribbean, I have an interest in the sporting pass time of Netball (a game with similarities to basketball that is mostly played by females). I also enjoy watching track and field, myself being a former sprinter. At home on those rainy days I draw portraits of no-one in particular or of family; this passion I share with my husband.
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