How to render your homework assignments useful for you and the world

daniel — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:16:11 -0500

Homework is a word that probably very few associate with something positive, and here, I will summarize four recent (independent but converging) twists on the topic:
(1) a study by researchers at the Technical University of Dresden (see press release, German only: http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news245011 ) has demonstrated that homework assignments do indeed fail, in most cases, to help the student in learning;

(2) Citizendium, a wiki-type free encyclopedia aimed at improving general credibility and article quality with respect to Wikipedia, has launched an initiative which encourages university instructors to assign Citizendium articles as homework for which students can get credits (see press release at
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Jan... );

(3) OpenStudents.org, upon whose inauguration I have commented previously (http://www.ways.org/en/2008/jan/31/1915/daniel/open_students_pla...), now features an article on a very similar approach - to let students deposit their homework in freely accessible repositories, and to give them the option to comment on such contents (cf. http://www.openstudents.org/2008/02/13/student-publishing-as-an-... );

(4) As previously announced, a global initiative on Open education is gaining momentum (cf. http://www.ways.org/en/2008/jan/25/0618/daniel/cape_town_open_ed... ), and (2) and (3) are important steps in this direction.

2nd Meeting of Nobel Prize Winners with Pakistani Students/ Young Scholars

akhyar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:33:09 -0500

Start: 2007-03-27 16:24

End: 2007-03-31 16:24

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Event Description:

2nd Meeting of Nobel Prize Winners with Pakistani Students/ Young Scholars, Islamabad/Lahore

27-31 March, 2007

(Sponsored by HEC, PAEC, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, MoST and PSF)

The annual meetings of young scholars with Nobel Prize Winners in Lindau (Germany) are regarded as extremely prestigious and unique events in the scientific world. For the last 4 years, Pakistani students comprising 8-10 highly talented graduates have participated in these yearly meetings in Lindau. To enhance this interaction to benefit a larger number of outstanding students/ researchers in Pakistan, the 1st Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Pakistan was organized in Islamabad and Lahore from March 27-31, 2006. Three Laureates, Prof. C.H. Townes (Lasers), Prof. I. Giaever (Biophysics) and Prof. G. â€˜t Hooft (elementary particle physics) came to Pakistan for that Meeting. More than 1000 students/young scholars in the areas of Physics, Chemistry and Biology benefited from the lectures, group discussions and question/ answer sessions. It boosted up the scientific activities in the country among younger generation.

Keeping in view the success of the 1st Meeting, it has been decided to make it an annual event. Therefore, the 2nd Meeting will be held from March 27-31, 2007 in Islamabad and Lahore on the similar pattern. Three Nobel Laureates, Prof. Klaus von Klitzing (Physics, Germany), Prof. Douglas Osheroff (Physics, USA) and Prof. Peter Agre (Medicine, USA) have already agreed to participate.

ELIGIBILITY: -

1. MBBS or M. Sc. in Physics, Chemistry or Physiology (Preferably M. Phil. / Ph. D) actively involved in research and below 35 years of age.

2. Previous Pakistani participants of Nobel Laureates Meetings in Lindau.

3. The Selection Committee will make the final selection for participation in the conference based on merit and available facilities.

4. The participants will have their own arrangement of stay/travel.

5. The Last date for receipt of application is February 28, 2007

For further information and Application Form please visit at www.hec.gov.pk

Website of Event:
http://www.hec.gov.pk