Thursday, February 25, 2010
Filtered thinking
1. Look through the colour filters. What do you notice? Can you explain it? Today we're going to look at how your brain filters information and how you can use that understanding to advantage.
2. How does your brain work? Which part of your brain deals with strong emotional reactions (fight or flight) and which with rational thinking? Do you know how your brain decides which of the almost infinite stimuli around you to notice? How could this filtering be a good thing? How could it be a bad thing?
3. Introducing De Bono's six thinking hats (image and mind-map).
4. Going back to our discussion last time - use the six hats to decide whether you would think it would be a good thing to be taught by a robot (take the hats in turn, everyone suggesting ideas).
5. What are the advantages of using the six hats technique, and why have we compared them to filters?
6. Now choose one of these questions and put on a hat. Have a discussion!
a) we should change assembly time to the end of the day
b) I should learn a new musical instrument
c) the government should impose a 1% charity tax
7. Can you think of lessons or study tasks where the six hats could be useful?
2. How does your brain work? Which part of your brain deals with strong emotional reactions (fight or flight) and which with rational thinking? Do you know how your brain decides which of the almost infinite stimuli around you to notice? How could this filtering be a good thing? How could it be a bad thing?
3. Introducing De Bono's six thinking hats (image and mind-map).
4. Going back to our discussion last time - use the six hats to decide whether you would think it would be a good thing to be taught by a robot (take the hats in turn, everyone suggesting ideas).
5. What are the advantages of using the six hats technique, and why have we compared them to filters?
6. Now choose one of these questions and put on a hat. Have a discussion!
a) we should change assembly time to the end of the day
b) I should learn a new musical instrument
c) the government should impose a 1% charity tax
7. Can you think of lessons or study tasks where the six hats could be useful?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Session Five: Will robots take over the world?
1. Look at the slideshow of robotic toys. Which would be your preferred gift and why?
2. In groups draw three large circles on a sheet of A3. You have 5 minutes to write down firstly: possible uses of robots, secondly: possible drawbacks, and thirdly: questions it would be useful to answer about robots.
3. Read the extract about robots as carers. Does this answer any questions? Does it raise any additional questions?
4. Do you agree with this statement: "I would be happy to be cared for by a robot"? Take a sticky badge and indicate how you feel about the statement by writing ++ (if you completely agree) + (if you are fairly happy with it) ? (if you really don't know) - (disagree) or -- (disagree strongly).
5. Now find someone with views different to your own and try to persuade them of your view. You must also listen to theirs. If one of you changes their view, take a new badge, label it, and swap partners.
6. Plenary: what types of arguments made you listen most? Is it possible to make ethical judgements without discussion? Who is responsible for establishing ethics on an issue such as this?
7. Watch the clip: Robot Teacher. Will machines ever replace teachers?
2. In groups draw three large circles on a sheet of A3. You have 5 minutes to write down firstly: possible uses of robots, secondly: possible drawbacks, and thirdly: questions it would be useful to answer about robots.
3. Read the extract about robots as carers. Does this answer any questions? Does it raise any additional questions?
4. Do you agree with this statement: "I would be happy to be cared for by a robot"? Take a sticky badge and indicate how you feel about the statement by writing ++ (if you completely agree) + (if you are fairly happy with it) ? (if you really don't know) - (disagree) or -- (disagree strongly).
5. Now find someone with views different to your own and try to persuade them of your view. You must also listen to theirs. If one of you changes their view, take a new badge, label it, and swap partners.
6. Plenary: what types of arguments made you listen most? Is it possible to make ethical judgements without discussion? Who is responsible for establishing ethics on an issue such as this?
7. Watch the clip: Robot Teacher. Will machines ever replace teachers?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Language laboratory
Today we had a taster Japanese lesson and discussed similarities and differences between languages. We saw some languages lay more emphasis on precision, some on clarity, some on elegance, still others on issues of respect and social hierarchy. Not only is the vocabulary different, but the way each language is put together is unique. So as a language experiment we worked in small groups and chose our language priorities. We then communicated the following message in a language invented to reflect those priorities:
My name is .....
I am ... years old
My school is Woldingham
Listen to the recordings above and see what you think. Can you hear similarities to languages you know? Can you spot patterns? Are they pleasing to the ear? Obviously languages evolve over centuries, even millenia, but speeding the process up a bit was an interesting experience.
My name is .....
I am ... years old
My school is Woldingham
Listen to the recordings above and see what you think. Can you hear similarities to languages you know? Can you spot patterns? Are they pleasing to the ear? Obviously languages evolve over centuries, even millenia, but speeding the process up a bit was an interesting experience.
Friday, December 11, 2009
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