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Not What They Expected: Grandparents As Day Care

Expanded federal funding for child care ended Oct. 1, and in many cases, extended families, including grandparents, will shoulder the burden.




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Can the FTC Break Up Amazon’s Monopoly?

The FTC thinks Amazon hurts small businesses and consumers. Ron Knox of The Institute for Local Self-Reliance agrees.




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How to Defeat “Wealth Supremacy” and Build a Democratic Economy

Marjorie Kelly's new book critiques the U.S. economy's embrace of "wealth supremacy," and explores alternate models of democratic economies.





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Can the DOJ Break Up Live Nation’s Monopoly?

A new DOJ lawsuit is challenging Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s monopoly power over artist performances, venues, and concert-goers.



  • Economy
  • Wealth and inequality
  • Department of Justice
  • YES! Presents: Rising Up with Sonali
  • Live Nation

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Reject Ego-nomics, Embrace Eco-nomics

Finding our way to a viable human future will require the guidance of a true eco-nomics, grounded in biology and ecology rather than finance and capital.





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Setting a Black Economic Agenda

After conducting the largest-ever survey of Black Americans, Black to the Future has released a detailed Black economic agenda.



  • Economy
  • Racial Justice
  • Wealth and inequality
  • Black Futures Lab
  • YES! Presents: Rising Up with Sonali
  • 2023 Black Census
  • Black to the Future Action Fund

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Progress 2025: A Vision for Economic Justice

A progressive alternative to Project 2025’s anti-tax, anti-worker economy includes worker protections and a strong social safety net.






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Murmurations: Five Haikus for the Equinox

As the seasons change and the light retreats, a poet invites us to be patient and discerning in knowing what is for us—and what is not.




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Happiness Swings Votes—But Not How You’d Expect

New findings challenge the political adage that youthful idealism gives way to conservative pragmatism with age.





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15 Wish List Gifts for the Seasoned Foodie | OUR NOURISHING ROOTS

there are a few good ideas in here




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Nature's Whole Food Deport, Sonora, CA

a great little store that we just visited for the first time today




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Top Ten Health Books That Changed My Life — The Healthy Home Economist

this really is a good list of books




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WordPress Plugin: Comment Reply Notification |Theme10

Works good for me.




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Quiz: How well do you know your trees?

Test your nature knowledge with this tree-cky quiz.




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How much do you know about Navratri?

See how much you know with our Navratri quiz




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How well do you know your Disney films?

As Disney celebrates its 100th birthday, how much can you remember about its films?




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No Place to Call Home: A Newsround Special

With record numbers of families living in temporary accommodation, Newsround reporter Shanequa Paris investigates how children are being affected.




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Australia announces next steps to under-16 social media ban

Politicians in Australia's parliament will vote on the law next week and, if passed, it aims to stop children being allowed social media accounts. But for some kids there will be ways around it.




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Trump vs Harris: Everything you need to know about the US Election

With less than a day to go until the 2024 US election - here's everything you need to know...




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How much do you know about Donald Trump?

Take our quiz to find out how much you know about President-elect Donald J Trump. But what does the "J" stand for?




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Children in Need 2024: Everything you need to know

It's almost time for Children in Need day! And we want to hear about YOUR plans...




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So bad. I don't have any students to tutor now.



  • Editing & Writing Topics

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"The disease originated in Britain" not "The disease originated."



  • General Language Discussions

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San Bernardino Valley College

Reference Librarian Intern (San Bernardino--onsite)




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Noam Chomsky Talks About Universal Grammar [Video]

In this video, Noam Chomsky talks about language at Google as part of the Authors@Google series.

In this question and answer session he discusses a number of topics, but the first is about universal grammar in which he provides an in-depth description of how his ideas on universal grammar have evolved over time.

Another interesting question he answers at the end of the session relates to the effect of email, instant messaging and the like on syntax and grammar (TXT Speak). Hear Chomsky's views on whether this is just a natural part of the evolution of language and how it's affecting our minds.




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Getting Back to Normal

Things have been quiet in some areas of the site of late and we haven't added many new items.  Sadly, work has been squatting on our lives and eating into time normally spent updating the site.




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Three most common SCADA applications in MV/LV distribution systems you SHOULD know

Electrical distribution systems comprise a large number of remote applications and locations, and it has traditionally been challenging to monitor and regulate these remote applications and sites. Utility companies have been installing remote terminal/telemetry units, often known as RTUs, at... Read more

The post Three most common SCADA applications in MV/LV distribution systems you SHOULD know appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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The essential HV/EHV substation auxiliary facilities you should know about

Nowadays, HV/EHV substations have become pretty complex from the design point of view. Besides the main electrical equipment, which must be designed and selected correctly, there are several auxiliary facilities without which a substation would not be able to operate... Read more

The post The essential HV/EHV substation auxiliary facilities you should know about appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Do You Know How to Effectively Search for Information?

I found a resource that I wanted to share with created by Helene Blowers and published in the article entitled, "Do Your Students Know How To Search?" (Holly Clark, Edudemic, October 16, 2013).

I think this article begins to address either the end of the Information Age or at least a progression toward a different stage within the Information Age and the question now becomes what do we do with the information that has been collected? I believe there will be a great need for those who can not only find relevant information, but for those who can analyze information.

According to the article:

There is a new digital divide on the horizon. It is not based around who has devices and who does not, but instead the new digital divide will be based around students who know how to effectively find and curate information and those who do not. Helene Blowers has come up with seven ideas about the new digital divide – four of them, the ones I felt related to searching, are listed below.

Clark continues the article by including some of the searching skills and vocabulary that she believes we should be teaching our students (and learning ourselves):
 
Some of these skills include:
  • Quotation Marks
  • Dashes
  • Two Periods
  • Site Search
  • Country Codes
  • Filter Bubbles
  • Primary Sources
Please click HERE to find out more about these search tools and how to improve your internet searches.




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AirPano - Amazing 360 Degree Aerial Panoramas

After a few weeks of cold weather, cloudy skies and snow on the ground my mind begins to wander and think of where I would rather be than here. Hawaii sounds good, doesn't it? Unfortunately, my bank account usually says no to those types of dreams so I found AirPano.com which, at least, took my mind off of how cold I am and provided me a poor man's virtual vacation.

AirPano.com was actually better than I expected as it provided incredible 360 degree imagery of landmarks and cities from all over the world. Their website features "over 700 panoramas showing over 120 amazing locations of all continents including Antarctic and the North Pole" and panoramas from some 50 other locations are in the works.


Source: AirPano.com

Much of the AirPano imagery now includes interactive pinmarks that you can click on to learn more about the places that you are visiting (as you can see on the Venice, Italy panorama below). I think AirPano is a great way to learn about other parts of the world, not only from the amazing images, but also from the history and facts about each site that they provide. Last, but not least, it is a great way to get your mind off of the cold winter weather...


Visit Venice, Italy on AirPano.com




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part I: The Definition


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Technology has created a personalized access to the world where we can connect and learn… where we can create and share.  Almost every aspect of our lives have been changed by technology, except... education.

Over the last few years, I’ve entered into blended learning discussions with various people, including educators, and I’m always surprised at their perception of blended learning.  Many believe blended learning occurs when any type of computer-based learning takes place within the classroom.  In many instances, I would define what is occurring as technology-rich instruction, but there is a difference.

Blended learning is the combination of online learning and brick and mortar schools with teachers who enable students to learn at their own pace.  Why is this important?  Because many students learn in different ways and this allows each student to optimize their learning.  Quite simply, the purpose of blended learning is to take the best of traditional education and blend it with the power of online learning which allows for a more personalized and interactive learning experience.  Each teacher has the opportunity to review data, in the moment, and determine where the student is at and to form instruction for the next period or the next day.  Blended learning also puts the student in charge of their own learning which, to me, is a very valuable lesson in itself.

According to the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Education, blended learning “goes beyond one-to-one computers and high-tech gadgets. Blended learning involves leveraging the Internet to afford each student a more personalized learning experience, including increased student control over the time, place, path, and/or pace of learning.

The definition of blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns:


at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;




at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;




and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.”

See more at: http://www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning/#sthash.AWqDXtoh.dpuf

The key difference between blended learning and other forms of education is on its emphasis on personalized learning.  The International Association for Online Learning (iNACOL) defines personalized learning as, “Tailoring learning for each student’s strengths, needs and interests–including enabling student voice and choice in what, how, when and where they learn–to provide flexibility and supports to ensure mastery of the highest standards possible.” As you can see, the two definitions overlap, but blending learning adds online learning and leveraging the internet to personalize an individual’s learning experience.

Next- Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part II: Blended Learning Models




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part II: Blended Learning Models


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

As I mentioned in the first post in this series, technology has created a personalized access to the world where we can connect and learn… where we can create and share.  Almost every aspect of our lives have been changed by technology, except... education.

I believe blended learning can have a profound effect upon career and technology education in many instructional ways which will be discussed in the next post.  There are certain elements of blended learning that already occur in CTE and some may be doing an excellent job as I write this, but I’m not aware of research that helps decide if one model works better with any certain occupational area (if you know of any research in this area, PLEASE SHARE!!).

The Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Education defines blended learning as “a formal education program in which the student learns:

(1) at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;

(2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;

(3) and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.”

The Models 

The majority of blended-learning programs resemble one of four models: Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched Virtual. The Rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual Rotation.

1. Rotation model — a course or subject in which students rotate on a fixed schedule or at the teacher’s discretion between learning modalities, at least one of which is online learning. Other modalities might include activities such as small-group or full-class instruction, group projects, individual tutoring, and pencil-and-paper assignments. The students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus, except for any homework assignments.

a. Station Rotation — a course or subject in which students experience the Rotation model within a contained classroom or group of classrooms. The Station Rotation model differs from the Individual Rotation model because students rotate through all of the stations, not only those on their custom schedules.

b. Lab Rotation – a course or subject in which students rotate to a computer lab for the online-learning station.

c. Flipped Classroom – a course or subject in which students participate in online learning off-site in place of traditional homework and then attend the brick-and-mortar school for face-to-face, teacher-guided practice or projects. The primary delivery of content and instruction is online, which differentiates a Flipped Classroom from students who are merely doing homework practice online at night.

d. Individual Rotation – a course or subject in which each student has an individualized playlist and does not necessarily rotate to each available station or modality. An algorithm or teacher(s) sets individual student schedules.

2. Flex model — a course or subject in which online learning is the backbone of student learning, even if it directs students to offline activities at times. Students move on an individually customized, fluid schedule among learning modalities. The teacher of record is on-site, and students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus, except for any homework assignments. The teacher of record or other adults provide face-to-face support on a flexible and adaptive as-needed basis through activities such as small-group instruction, group projects, and individual tutoring. Some implementations have substantial face-to-face support, whereas others have minimal support. For example, some Flex models may have face-to-face certified teachers who supplement the online learning on a daily basis, whereas others may provide little face-to-face enrichment. Still others may have different staffing combinations. These variations are useful modifiers to describe a particular Flex model.

3. A La Carte model — a course that a student takes entirely online to accompany other experiences that the student is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The teacher of record for the A La Carte course is the online teacher. Students may take the A La Carte course either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site. This differs from full-time online learning because it is not a whole-school experience. Students take some courses A La Carte and others face-to-face at a brick-and-mortar campus.

4. Enriched Virtual model — a course or subject in which students have required face-to-face learning sessions with their teacher of record and then are free to complete their remaining coursework remote from the face-to-face teacher. Online learning is the backbone of student learning when the students are located remotely. The same person generally serves as both the online and face-to-face teacher. Many Enriched Virtual programs began as full-time online schools and then developed blended programs to provide students with brick-and-mortar school experiences. The Enriched Virtual model differs from the Flipped Classroom because in Enriched Virtual programs, students seldom meet face-to-face with their teachers every weekday. It differs from a fully online course because face-to-face learning sessions are more than optional office hours or social events; they are required.



Next- Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part III: Blended Learning Implications for CTE




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part III: Implications for Career and Technical Education


In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Here are several ways that blended learning can have a profound effect upon career and technology education:

Personalized instruction – Blended learning allows for a more personalized and interactive learning experience by putting the student in charge of their own learning.  Taking the best of traditional education and blending it with the power of online learning will provide the teacher an opportunity to review data, in the moment, determine where the student is at and to form instruction for the next period or the next day.

Increased monitoring – The use of a student information, assessment, and gradebook systems that link to the LMS provides instant feedback on assignments and assessments.  This allows the instructor to spend time reviewing student data, adjust instruction, and provide additional classroom or individual instruction. 

Open entry/Open exit – Blended learning fits nicely with competency-based learning and the concept of open entry/open exit.  Personalized instruction and increased monitoring will allow the instructor to more accurately determine when tasks and competencies are achieved.

Increased enrollments – Depending on the blended learning model and the CTE program being offered, enrollments could potentially be increased.

Increased performance gains – “The Rise of K–12 Blended Learning - Profiles of emerging models” by Heather Staker profiles 40 educational entities. Not every school reported gains and some thought it was too early to verify results, but many posted positive gains when compared to the traditional classrooms within the same district.  For example:

“School of One - Students in summer 2009 acquired new math skills at a rate estimated to be
seven times faster than peers. Students in spring 2010 showed gains that, when
annualized, would equate to 1/2 to 2/3 of an additional year of gain. Students in
spring 2010 showed significant gains across all academic quartiles.”

Other potential benefits from this study include increased retention rates, an increase in teacher/parent contacts, increased course completion rates, a strengthening of curriculum offerings, and lower instructional costs.

As you can see, blended learning can have the potential to benefit the student, the instructor, and the parents in a careertech setting.  Again, I’m not aware of any research that helps decide if one model works better with any certain occupational area (if you know of any research in this area, PLEASE SHARE!!).




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Blended Learning and Career and Technology Education - Part IV: Implementing Blended Learning With Resources from the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education



In this four-part series, I’ll define blended learning, discuss the models of blended learning, the implications for career and technical education, and how the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery (CADD) areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning.

Photo courtesy of the Clayton Christensen Institute
Blended learning is a shift to an online instructional delivery for a portion of the day to make students, teachers, and schools more productive, both academically and financially.  We all know there’s no single right approach to building the “perfect” model for blended learning as communities have different resources, classrooms, computers, schedules, and many other unique needs.  A school doesn’t always have the resources or the expertise to select and purchase a learning management system (LMS), design lessons, or write assessments, but there are available resources.

Did you know that the Curriculum, Assessment, and Digital Delivery areas of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education can assist in the implementation of blended learning?  The National Technology Plan acknowledges the challenges of raising college and career-ready standards without a significant investment of new funding so check out our online catalog and search the following links for additional information and see how we can assist you in blending digital and teacher led instruction to personalize learning for each student.







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Six less known phenomena that can cause disturbance in electrical installations

In addition to the known phenomena of lightning and switching, numerous new sources, in particular power converters, can cause disturbance in installations. This disturbance, which is generated by the installation itself or carried by the system from external sources or... Read more

The post Six less known phenomena that can cause disturbance in electrical installations appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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The magic that isolation transformer uses to suppress transients and noise

Transformers are not perfect. Transients and noise (radio-frequency and low-level spikes) normally pass through transformers, not only by way of the magnetic lines of flux between the primary and the secondary windings but through resistive and capacitive paths between the... Read more

The post The magic that isolation transformer uses to suppress transients and noise appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Practical design knowledge in harmonics distortion and power factor correction (PFC)

Nowadays, if you do not consider harmonics distortion when designing a new network, you missed the whole point of the network design. Yes, really. The sooner you realize that harmonics problems are on the rise, the better. Modern power networks... Read more

The post Practical design knowledge in harmonics distortion and power factor correction (PFC) appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.





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Parallel switching phenomenon when MV/HV circuit breakers interrupt a shared fault current

Parallel switching occurs when two or more circuit-breakers are tripped to interrupt a shared fault current. This is typically the case for such bus arrangements as a double breaker, breaker-and-a-half, breaker-and-a-third, and ring buses. Ideally, all of the circuit-breakers should... Read more

The post Parallel switching phenomenon when MV/HV circuit breakers interrupt a shared fault current appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Want to live and use energy on Mars? Why not?

The problem of energy accessibility and production on Mars is one of the three main challenges for the upcoming colonisation of the red planet. The energetic potential on its turn is mainly dependent on the astrophysical characteristics of the planet.... Read more

The post Want to live and use energy on Mars? Why not? appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Tim Fite Finds The Essence Of Innocence In 'Teenagers'

In his strangely affecting, minimalist rock paean "We Are All Teenagers," Fite sketches out a spare electric riff with a reverb-y '50s rock air as he nails the adolescent unease that lingers into adulthood.




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Hey engineers, wish you a happy and normal new year, 2021!

Just a short note from me today, the end of this crazy year. I’d like to wish you a normal and happy New Year on behalf of myself and everyone else at EEP. This year was like no other year... Read more

The post Hey engineers, wish you a happy and normal new year, 2021! appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.



  • Energy and Power
  • News

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Non-Roman Language

I have been studying Lao for the last few months. As I leave the school and go home to work on the internet, I don't practise that much. But I have been learning how to read and write in Lao. 




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Innovative Approach to Maglev Trains (Solar Energy)

Now a days rail transport become a cheap means of transport to any class of people and for the working of the trains it requires some energy in the form of Electrical finally to convert in to mechanical support for... Read more

The post Innovative Approach to Maglev Trains (Solar Energy) appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Do you know what reactive power compensation is? If not, keep reading, it’s important.

When reactive power devices, whether capacitive or inductive, are purposefully added to a power network in order to produce a specific outcome, this is referred to as compensation. It’s as simple as that. This could involve greater transmission capacity, enhanced... Read more

The post Do you know what reactive power compensation is? If not, keep reading, it’s important. appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.