Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Getting there is half the fun.

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget cited chemical and mathematical reasoning as examples of formal operations—that is, moving from the pre-conceptual stage of cognitive development to solving problems logically using abstract concepts. Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry, says, “It is a difficult transition, particularly if teachers, during a student’s concrete operations stage, made rote learning too much like a passive form of entertainment. Problem solving is fun, too, but the reward comes at the end (a correct answer) and increases both with the complexity of the problem and with the degree of independence from the teacher. The same ‘Eureka!’ emotion that awaits the fortuitous explorer, whether in the lab or out in the field, also awaits the diligent problem solver.”

Contact MacDougall at 615-898-5265.
pmacdoug@mtsu.edu

Scan your school

MTSU’s James E. Walker Library and Digital Initiatives Group will present Community Scanning Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, at Eagleville Bicentennial Library, 317 Highway 99, in Eagleville. The purpose of the event is to preserve Eagleville’s history in education. Organizers invite the public to bring the following materials for scanning: school class photographs, photographs of school buildings, commencement announcements or programs, school activities (including sports), and school-related photos or memorabilia. Individuals may take their original materials back home for safekeeping. Copies of the digital image will be made available upon request.

Contact Lynda Duke at 615-904-8525.
lnduke@mtsu.edu

“If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.”—Job 13:5

In the fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the case of Snyder v. Phelps to determine whether a man can sue a pastor for staging anti-homosexual demonstrations at his son’s funeral. David Hudson, adjunct political science professor and First Amendment Center scholar, says, “Albert Snyder insists he was part of a ‘captive audience’ when he attended the funeral of his son, Matthew, a Marine killed in the service of his country. Why? Because if he wanted to attend the funeral, he says, he couldn’t avoid the vile, reprehensible speech of Fred Phelps and other members of the Westboro Baptist Church—their protest made him, in essence, an emotional captive. … In Frisby v. Schultz (1988), the (high court) recognized the captive-audience doctrine in upholding a Wisconsin city ordinance barring picketing in front of residences.”

Contact Hudson at 615-727-1342.
dhudson@fac.org

TR EXTRA

KEYBOARD CAMPERS--“Partners for Innovation in Information Technology” at MTSU will be conducting summer computer camps for local area high school students July 12-16. Starting with rising ninth-graders, students will be invited to attend one of the three week-long (full-time, 40-hour) summer camps: the Alice camp, the Robotics camp and the Multimedia camp. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of computer science through experiences that have proven successful in advancing learning of high school students. The week-long camps will be free to attend, but seating will be limited. For more information and camp applications, contact the PIIT website at http://www.mtsu.edu/~piit.

SUMMER SCRIPTS--MTSU’s Youth Writers’ Camp is in progress and runs through Thursday, June 17 for students who have completed sixth through twelfth grades. This annual project of the Middle Tennessee Writing Project aims to make each camper part of a community of authors working to explore different writing styles and genres. Within this community, each camper spends extended periods of time writing, conferences with peers and teachers and ultimately discovers his or her own writing style. Each student receives a writer’s notebook, a camp T-shirt, a daily snack, a writing anthology and a visit with a published author. Camp instructors are experienced classroom teachers. Contact MTWP Youth Camp Coordinator Angela Pope at pope_a@worldnet.att.net.

2 + 2 = TEACHERS--MTSU will host an orientation and advising session for the “2+2” bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, at the Middle Tennessee Education Center, 841 Union St. in Shelbyville. “2+2+ is a joint effort of MTSU and Motlow State Community College to enable students to earn an Associate of Science in Teaching degree at Motlow and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSU. The courses of study will prepare students for teaching careers in K-6 elementary education. Attendees to the orientation session should bring unofficial copies of their transcripts. Contact Molly Culbreath or Renea Cotham at 931-685-4444.

THE CLUE CREW--The MTSU Forensic Institute for Research and Education will sponsor “CSI-MTSU,” a four-day program designed for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties June 22-25. The student investigators will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. They will be divided into several teams. A professional will direct and coach each team as the students use math and science to solve the crime. Each student will be trained in the fundamental processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood spatter and shoe prints. Additionally, students will learn how to process the evidence, conduct interviews and formulate theories while working in a team environment. Registration for this day camp runs through Friday, June 11, but space is limited. Snacks, lunches, T-shirts and baseball-style caps are included in the fee of $250. For more information, contact Eve Shockley at 615-898-5530, or go to http://www.mtsu.edu/fire/workshops.shtml.

ROLL OUT THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER.--Saturday, June 12, will be MTSU Alumni & Friends Day at Nashville Shores, 4001 Bell Rd. in Nashville. Registration will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be served from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Nashville Shores opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. The price is $20 per person, which covers admission into the park and lunch. Children under age two are admitted free of charge. The park has a brand new lazy river and wave pool for more fun in the water. This even is pre-pay only. The deadline to register is today, June 9. Call the Alumni Relations office at 1-800-533-6878, go online at www.mtalumni.com, or send an e-mail to alumni@mtsu.edu.

I’M PLAYING WITH MY BOOKS, MOMMY.--“Books and Children in the 19th Century: A Small Portrait” is the theme of an exhibit on display now and throughout this summer in the fourth floor Special Collections area of MTSU’s James E. Walker Library. The purpose is to show the variety of ways children and the adults around them engaged with books in the 1800s and early 1900s. The works available for viewing are indicative of the children’s book as an object of moral and educational value. The idea behind the books is to teach values and build character. Entertainment techniques are employed strictly to attract the children and hold their interest. Highlights include several movable books, which are books that contain text or illustrations that the child can manipulate. Pop-up books are one such type of movable book. Many items in the display have never been exhibited previously. Call the James E. Walker Library at 615-898-2772.

ADOPT A VET--The Albert Gore Research Center is an official partner in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. The center participates as part of its public service mission. Currently, the Gore Center has about 50 veterans of World War II and Korea on its list of those willing to be interviewed for the Veterans History Project at MTSU, but these vets are in their 80s and 90s. It is urgent that the Gore Center have funds in hand to record their stories in 2010. With each tax-deductible contribution of only $50, the Gore Center can fund one interview with a WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War or Iraq/Afghanistan veteran, or a civilian who supported the war effort by working in war industries or volunteering for the USO, Red Cross or other support organizations. Your donation will pay for tapes and other supplies, transcription, permanent archiving and posting of the materials on a website. For more information, go to http://gorecenter.mtsu.edu/adoptvet.hem.

APRENDA CON ME--The University School of Nashville is hosting MTSU’s 2010 Summer Language Institute, where you can learn Spanish in a fun, low-stress environment. The methods employed are Total Physical Response (TPR) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). These methods mimic the way you learned your first language. Movement, games, songs and storytelling are all part of the instruction. Brian Roberts will teach Spanish I for ages 16 and up from July 19-23 at the University School and from Aug. 2-6 at the O’More School of Design in Franklin. Jason Fritze will teach Spanish II for ages 16 and up from July 19-23 at the University School. The cost for all language classes is $350 with a $20 materials fee due on the first day of class. Contact Dr. Shelley Thomas at 615-898-5757 or shthomas@mtsu.edu.