Mark Dunk’s Blog

Click here for my first wordle:  http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/350972/They_Made_Me_Do_This_%21%21%21

Thanks to Beth Knittle (http://www.bethknittle.net/WP_Blog/?p=577) for making me do this!  This Wordle Meme was started by Lee Kolbert (http://macmomma.blogspot.com/).

Christoph lives and goes to school in Cottbus, in the state of Brandenberg, Germany

christoph-school-pic.jpg

I don’t know much about any of these contests, but I wanted to share them anyway.  I’d appreciate comments about these from anyone.

PCMallGov’s Green Light Contest
http://www.pcmallgov.com/greenlightcontest/
deadline December 1, 2008

Lexus Eco Challenge
http://scholastic.com/lexus/waterchallenge_welcome.asp
deadline December 12, 2008

EngineerGirl!: Imagine That! Engineering Innovation Essay Contest
http://www.engineergirl.org/?id=10104
deadline March 1, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/11/20/queuing.psychology/index.html

http://www.campustechnology.com/articles/69331

One of the ways we differentiate instruction between regular and Pre-AP physics is by assigning a relevant major project each six weeks.  For this six weeks, the assignment was to develop a brochure, poster, or computer presentation describing the Nobel Laureates for physics for the last two years.  Also, students are required to discuss the history of the prizes and Alfred Nobel’s background and rationale for establishing the awards.  I am always blown away with the creativity of many of these students.  Too bad there isn’t a Nobel Prize for Teaching.

For next six weeks, the students have to redesign the game of basketball for play on the moon, taking into account the reduced gravity and lack of an atmosphere.  They have to justify any changes in court dimensions, goal height, and rule changes.  This project also generates some amazing creativity.

Who says physics has to be boring and nerdly???

Today, we adopted a donkey named Alice as a companion for our blind horse, Aiden.  Here are some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unklar/sets/72157609132836549/

by Randy Nelson, Dean, Pixar University

Apple Education Leadership Summit, April 11, 2008

http://www.edutopia.org/randy-nelson-school-to-career-video

Scientists have released some amazing new photos documenting planets in other solar systems.  http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/11/13/new.planets/index.html  Be sure to check out the photos tab for some historical photos as well.  Enjoy.

My school district has recently set up teacher and school activities webspace via schoolworld.com.  I’ve been working on my teacher website, and I wanted to invite you to check it out and give me feedback.  It’s still a work in progress, but I have already had positive feedback from my students because I have started posting the problems that I work during class as examples on the website for them to access when they are studying.  I am using an HP (compaq) tc4400 tablet PC with MS Journal software.  MS Journal allows me to capture my real-time work and export it in HTML format.  Here is my teacher website if you’d like to take a look:

http://www.pearlandisd.org/webpages/mdunk

 Nothing flashy yet, but with some more time (and suggestions from students and peers), I hope to have a first-rate website established very soon.