"Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Mankind"

Collaborative learning is the vehicle in which learning is changed. In "Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Man," Kenneth Bruffee discusses the power and advantages of using collaborative learning. Peer tutoring and in-class work have shown to be successful in a college setting, thus starting the movement towards collaborative learning in the classroom. Bruffee states in his article, "Collaborative learning, it seemed, harnessed the powerful educative force of peer influence that had been-and largely still is-ignored and hence wasted by traditional forms of education." Collaborative learning is the next big advancement in student learning. Michael Oakeshott argues that humans are different from any another living thing in that we are able to talk in unending conversation. There are limitations in conversing with ourselves. Bruffee believes that ideas can only arise through conversation with peers and collaborative learning. Conversation brings forth endless possibilities in intellectual thought.

Writing and conversation are one in the same. Writing is conversation that is made public. Bruffee insists that writing teachers use collaborative learning in their everyday teaching. Students can talk in a relaxed environment in which knowledge flows from one student to the next. Learning is not just about listening to a teacher in front of the classroom. The student must become involved. Students learn to challenge and question themselves and the world. If the teacher fails at her job and there is no collaborative learning, the community of knowledge will die. Collaborative knowledge seeks to broaden this knowledge in students. Together, students will grow in learning. After all, humans were made to converse with one another.

Questions on Data

1. The data I retrieved from the Shakespeare concordance on music was found in Act I, Scenes I, II, Act II, Scenes III, IV, Act 3, Scene I and Act 5, Scene I. The theme Shakespeare employs with music is love and how love is blinding. Music is able to stir emotional feelings in persons. Music is powerful with its lyrics, tune and melody. Duke Orsino states in the beginning of Act I, Scene I that "If music be the food of love, play on;" This quote shows music's ability to create feelings in human beings.

2. The data I retrieved supports my first thoughts on Shakespeare's obsessive use of a particular image in that the theme of music stays constant throughout the play. Shakespeare carries similar themes and images in his plays. Shakespeare's figuration is repetitive in order to get certain points and images across to the reader. He writes all his figurations to have meanings.

3. The thematic strand I have located is music-sing-song-tune.

The Fool

Fool
"I did impeticos thy gratillity, for Malvolio’s nose is no whipstock. My lady has a white hand, and the Myrmidons are no bottle-ale houses."
Act II, sc. III, i. 27

The Fool is talking nonsense to Sir Andrew. Sir Andrew is completely amused by his use of silly words and phrases such as "impeticos thy gratillity" in which gratillity sounds like "gratuity." In this line, the Fool is thanking Sir Andrew for the money he sent him for his girlfriend. He gave the money as a present to his girlfriend. The Fool asserts that Sir Andrew would not be able to grip Malvolio's nose to whip his horse with it. The Fool continues saying his girlfriend has white hands and great warriors (the Myrmidions) are not bottle-ale houses. The word "white" was then synonymous with "beautiful." This is word nonsense in order to amuse Sir Andrew. The Fool is doing what he is best at. In his drunken state, Sir Andrew cannot get enought of the Fool's singing voice and implores the Fool to sing. Sir Andrew even claims in the line before that he would give forty shillings to have the Fool's legs and voice. He could say anything to Sir Andrew and he would think it is funny. The Fool is the smartest one in this play. He secretly holds all the wisdom while all the other characters are the real fools.

Questions for Twelfth Night

1. Why is Orsino's love and attraction so strong towards Olivia?

2. Why does Viola want to disguise herself as a eunuch?

3. Why will Olivia not show return affection towards Orsino?

4. Why does Viola not reveal her true affections towards Orsino?

5. Is it possible that Malvolio is in love with Olivia?

6. How did Olivia's brother die?

'High-Tech Trash"

All over e-waste is choking the landscape and the people who are living nearby. Chris Carroll asserts in "High-Tech Trash" that "People have always been proficient at making trash." Carroll has had first hand experience in this department having travled to Ghana and having seen the endless amounts of old electronics that litter the area. As electronics become outdated and broken, the heaps of trash escalate. Carroll writes, "According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 30 millions to 40 million PCs will be ready for "end-of-life management" in each of the next few years." This does not include televisions or cell phones. Most of these old-fashioned electronics end up in landfills which contribute to dangerous toxins leaking into the ground. Most of the waste that is supposed to be recycled is not necessarily disposed of. E-waste is flowing in and out of different countries. China in previous years has become the hot spot for e-waste. Today, the serious effects of high levels of dioxin in the air and soil are taking its toll on the country. What goes around comes around. Contaminated products will find their back to the United States. Chris Carroll concludes his article by saying, "In a global economy, out of sight will not stay out of mind for long." The effects will soon pile up and changes will need to be made so that the e-waste may flow in a responsible and safe direction.

"To Take Wilderness In Hand"

Conservationists need to to come together. Climate changes are not waiting and neither should environmentalists. In "To Take Wilderness In Hand," Michelle Nijhuis describes Connie Barlow's journey in trying to help save the Torreya taxifolia, an ancient tree species, located in Torreya State Park in Florida. Today, there are less than a thousand of these trees left with the causes being unknown to scientists and ecologists. Barlow made a vow after her visit to Torreya State Park that she would make a stand to change this fact, even if it took moving all the trees someplace else. However, Connie Barlow was very serious in her intention to move the trees or more recently termed "assisted migration." Many conservasionists are horrified at the thought including David Printiss, a manager of the Nature Conservancy Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, who says it would "make an already bad situtation worse." Michelle Nijhuis states, "But climate changes calls all this into question." The research showing rising seas, increasing global temperatures and plants and animals moving toward the poles is undeniable. Without new stategies toward preserving the Torreya taxifolia all of the trees in time will die and possibly become extinct later down the road. Everyone should realize sooner than later that climate changes are not going to stop. They will only worsen. A job must be done by conservationists if they want to win the fight against global warming.

"Virtual Iraq"

The best way to live through somthing is to face the fear dead on. Sue Halpern in "Virtual Iraq" describes the experimental treatment used to help PSTD. It is none other than a video game in which veterans take on a helmet and video goggles and are stimulated by smells, sounds and visuals made to renact live combat. Sue Halpern has had first hand experience when dealing with the video game having played around with the game twice. Albert Rizzo, the inventor of the game, adapts Virtual Iraq to his patients whether by changing seating positions in a Humvee or having explosions go off. The game makes veterans relive their darkest moments during war. However, pschologists do this in stages in order to not completely scare the patient. Halpern was able to interview Travis Boyd, a marine from Iraq. After just a few weeks of Virtual Iraq, Boyd for the first time since his days in Iraq was able to relax. Experiments using Virtual Iraq have proved that the stimulating video game truly works and gives veterans the ability to live again after war. You can never underestimate the power of men and their video games.