apprentice scientist

Science can be fun when learning occurs through activity. Using the activity-based learning of science model, Prof. Nicole Ostrowsky of the University of Nice, has produced book on “The agenda of the apprentice scientist” (in french). The book has interesting hands-on activities, cartoons, puzzles, etc. to learn science. During her seminar today, she browsed through some of the chapters. For instance, in one of the chapters she starts by the question what sinks what floats. From this thread, she begins teaching physics (density of ice, water), snow, hail, rain (condensation), fractals (drawing and measuring snow flakes).

This method of teaching science is quite interdisciplinary, and it allows to integrate all the sciences while understanding one particular concept. She claims that her book is for the audience of age group from 7-70. Looking forward to the book.

IHMC – Florida, USA

I was invited at the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) at Florida by the organizers of the CMC2006 conference. I am really excited about this visit.

Since our paper in the conference dealt with introducing the refinements in the traditional concept mapping method, the researchers at the IHMC invited me to Pensacola, Florida for 3 days to have an interaction on this research area. We at IHMC discussed about concept mapping, the concept mapping ontology editor (developed by IHMC), semantic standards, knowledge organization, novice-expert’s profile of knowledge, etc. I had discussions with Robert Hoffman, Pat Hayes, Alberto Canas, Tom Eskridge and others at IHMC.

I delivered a seminar on the topic of “A Proposal to Refine Concept Mapping for Effective Science Learning” which was scheduled during my visit to IHMC at Florida.

Florida

 

Pensacola Beach

Me @ IHMC

 

Photos:

Pensacola Beach

Dinner with Pat Hayes and Jackie

Me @ IHMC

Florida

International visits

This is really very exciting. I am on international visits to three places for academic purpose (discussion on my PhD proposal, presenting a paper in conference, visiting some public schools, giving seminar, etc.). And I am getting sponsorship for my visits also. Lucky me

1: Visiting Scholar at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, USA (one month)

2: Presenting a Paper at CMC2006 in Costa Rica

3: Visiting Student at the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition, Florida, USA