PSEO - it's complicated!

MinnPost - Dual-credit focus now is on under-represented, low-income and at-risk students

I'm frustrated by this movement, because what we're seeing at the local level is MCTC and the like targeting students directly & inviting them to participate - often in classes that are high-school, NOT college level.

And now I'm hearing that MCTC has created a "jump-start" program that is literally high-school level. They get the $$ from the school districts, but the "credit" that this kids get doesn't count toward a degree. Lovely.

And it's all cloaked in righteous talk about including more kids of color. In fact, I think kids are getting suckered and it's shameful. With all the money we are spending on AP, IB and CIS classes, kids have no need to go down the road for college preparation or even college credit.

Post from the East Coast

In 15 years in education, I have never taken more than a long weekend off, so 4 whole days is a radical thing for me! My kid has finished her freshman year & I'm going out to help her move out of the dorm, then we're going to hang out for a few days, then she'll come home with me for a couple weeks.

Whirlwind!

I leave tomorrow and won't post on the trip, but here's to the blessing of being mobile and able to go to her when she needs me. We are so blessed.

Getting Easier...

Still struggling with this crazy stats class, but getting better! Here's a question on the current assignment that I actually know the answer to:

For Analysis #2, what are the null hypotheses associated with each of the three linear contrasts for the post hoc tests?

I'm finally to the point where I know answers like that without having to check notes. I'm learning! ;)

Homoscedasticity

I love statistics class...

Homoscedasticity apparently means homogeneity of variance – we can plot predicted values on a scatterplot against standardized or unstandardized residuals to figure this.

Who knew?

I Will Have a Headache Soon

Oops, I didn't take the masters-level prerequisite course for the doctorate-level statistics class I am now in - but I'm hanging in there anyway! :)

A few things I am doing tonight in addition to writing here:
* Compute an estimate of the standardized effect size (Cohen's d) for the analysis and provide a full interpretation of it.

* Create a new variable that takes the natural log of [the variable from the last question]. Explain your opinion about the assumption of normality in an analysis with this new variable.

* Plan a new study on electoral voting with statistical power of .80. Use G8Power3 to find the required sample size using the estimated effect size from the analysis you just completed and a .05 type I error rate. Report both the estimate of the noncentrality parameter and the required sample size.

Wahoo!

More Doctoral Craziness

I have a 20-page paper to write this week - an analysis - after which I have to take that info & turn it into a research proposal. I was amused to see in the directions for the second part:

Alternative ways to structure a presentation of a research project:
Thematically
Analytically
Exemplificatively
Exegetically
Existentially

I think I'll stick with number one...!

Post from Philly (Not)

U Penn's Parent Weekend: actually took a day off work & went out to see my kid. Had such a good time I didn't even think to post!

Nothing earth-shattering, nothing even that interesting... uneventful flights both ways, no big agenda other than SHOPPING - we didn't go to any of the Penn events. I thought it was cool that my kid actually got us tickets to a spoken word poetry performance Sat night - very cool thing to do together!

This was my third trip to Philly this year - we visited in the spring when she was choosing, I took her out this summer to move in, and now I went back just to visit. I'm learning my way around the area so well that I didn't bother to check the directions from the campus to the airport - I just went the way that seemed familiar and it worked perfectly.

So I guess that means I'm getting comfortable with her being out there...?

Yes - I'm still not a huge fan of living alone, but my daughter loves college and she loves U Penn, so I'm comfortable with her being out there. She's doing well - what more can I ask?

Still Wondering (Tell Me Again... part 2)

Another fun quote from a text I paid a lot of money for:

"Phenomenology asks for the very nature of a phenomenon, for that which makes a some-"thing" what it is - and without which it could not be what it is."

But it gets better...

"The essence of a phenomenon is a universal which can be described through a study of the structure that governs the instances or particular manifestations of the essence of that phenomenon."

Yeah, what he said.

(Max van Manen, if you want more!)

Tell Me Again Why I'm Doing This...

A phrase from the text I'm supposed to be reading tonight for my doctoral work:

"Pedagogy requires a hermeneutic ability to make interpretive sense of the phenomena of the lifeworld in order to see the pedagogic significance of situations and relations of living with children."

That means ya gotta get where the kid's coming from in order to teach 'em.

Yeah, fun stuff.

Beauty in the Form of a Young Poet

I first met this kid when he was about 17, at a poetry slam at the Underground at the U of MN. I was so taken with one of his poems that I introduced myself and asked for a copy to use with my students. I was working with my school's poetry slam team at the time and Ryan's work was inspirational to all of us. We've kept in touch & he recently sent this video for me to check out. You may need to watch it more than once. Beautiful.



Check out more of Ryan's work at www.myspace.com/homelessryank

No Post from Philly or DC

The TREO has almost eliminated my need for computer access while traveling since I can get home & work email on it… so I didn’t think to post at all!

I left my lovely daughter at U Penn on Saturday, went to DC for a few days to visit friends, then came back after she was all settled in. I strongly recommend this strategy to other parents who have to leave kids at college many miles away!

It was great because by the time I came back, she had friends, knew her surroundings a bit, and had been to her classes so had a good sense that she was going to enjoy it! I even got to take her out to lunch with all 3 of her roommates – nice to put faces with the names and see that they are, in fact, pretty cool kids.

Yes, the trip was wonderful. So I didn’t post.

This Is It!

Tomorrow is the big day - I take my only child off to college!

We are NOT driving - I don't see that as the best way to spend our last couple of days together! We are bringing most of her stuff with us on the plane & shipping a box or two. Having family in the area makes the shipping part much easier! We weighed all her bags & even the very largest was under 50 lbs, so all of that comes with us for free.

We have had some drama with U Penn - the latest was over insurance during the summer program she's attending - but to their credit they have figured everything out every time. Her case is more complicated than most - I suspect she may be the first foster kid they have ever accepted - but they have managed to make everything work out in the end. I appreciate that they seem to really want her there!

I loved college so much - and I want that for her. I want her to LOVE it. I think it's the perfect way to transition into adulthood - on your own, making your own choices, but still part of a pretty sheltered community (with someone else still cooking for you!) What more could a kid ask for? :)

So tomorrow morning we're off. Wish us Godspeed.

What's Your Question?

At first, the U of MN's "Driven to Discover" add campaign seemed cute but kinda silly - until I happened to find the question of the day interesting, clicked on the link, and found serious answers to all these random but unique questions, including:

* Why is it that the heart does not get cancer as often as other organs in the body?

* Why can’t we all use the metric system? (we will)

* Will we ever speak to dolphins? (kinda)

* Is peace in the Middle East and surrounding nations really possible? (not likely)

* Do we have memories stored from before we were born? (yes)

* Can we provide health care for everyone? (yes)

* Do the arts reflect society or vice versa? (both)

There are a bazillion questions - use the page numbers on the bottom to scroll back through them - each one with a short, easy-to-comprehend, but scholarly answer. Random but totally fascinating. Check it out!

We Have a Winner!!!

And the winner is... PENN!

My lovely daughter is off to college in a few months, and after a year-long process, has finally chosen the school. I am beyond proud that she has done so well for herself already - and the adventure has barely begun! Scoring a full ride to an Ivy League school is no small feat - but one she richly deserves.

Post from Columbia

OK, let's face it - Columbia rocks. This is going to be a tough call... If Columbia does eclipe Penn for her, it might just be the sunshine! :) This whole weekend has been beautiful weather. Perfect for running around Manhattan!

Many things here are right in line with Penn: the student body is just as mixed, (and it's a great mix! :) the campus is at least as beautiful, and of course both have a strong Humanities curriculum. They will also cover her insurance, so the financial aid packages are identical. So how to compare???

> It's the most diverse of all the Ivy League schools. Last year's freshman class for Columbia College was only 48% white.

> It's in Manhattan - with a subway stop right here.

> It accepted only 8.9% of its applicants this year - and states firmly that each accepted student deserves to be here. (They appreciate her!)

> The History department offers a course called "Gender and Empire" at the undergrad level.

> The food court offers Malaysian Artichoke Noodle Salad - which is really good and turns out to be noodles made form artichoke flour - who knew?!?!

Her comment about the students she's met so far: "they're all really interesting" - and she meant that as a huge compliment. That will probably be the kicker. I will find out in a few hours (as we head home) what her thoughts are, but I did get one clue: she started talking with another pre-freshman about sharing a dorm room... so I suspect she's leaning this way. We'll see!

Post from Philly

Whoosh!

Through the rain, we have arrived at Penn for 3 days of festivities designed to convince accepted students to choose Penn. It's ironic - the kids spend months working on applications and praying to be accepted, then they are accepted - here and elsewhere - so the tables are turned and the schools are courting them! It's really a kick.

Even better: Penn added an extra preview day for the students of color, and seeing throngs of students of color in the room, talking with current students about Engineering, Pre-med, International Studies, etc... very nice for we who are from Minnesota, where students of color rarely fill a room! ;) Especially for my kid, who goes to a very white school, it was fun to see...

Proud Mama

So it turns out that my lovely daughter was accepted to 7 of the 9 schools she applied to - including Columbia and Penn. Wahoo!!! But now she has to choose between them... (Yeah, nice problem to have! ;) She was accepted to Penn, Columbia, Macalester, George Washington (GW), American, Rollins and Whittier.

I have been bragging ridiculously!

Conveniently, both of the Ivies have offered to pay to fly her out to visit - but at certain times that are not congruent and thus involve her being away from school for several days. So we're trying to figure out how to fit trips to NYC and Philly between her play performances, debutante rehearsals (don't ask) and homework...

It's interesting, because I never went through any of this myself - I was dead-set on the U of MN and that's where I went. But I do remember how excited I was to arrive there, how much I loved the campus, dorm life, even classes... and I want all that for her! With the choices in front of her, there is no doubt that she'll get it.

Again, nice problem to have, I know. I'll shut up now.

Glad I Studied!

A chicken-and-egg question:
Does one's GRE score lead to success or failure in life, or does one's life lead to success or failure on the test?

According to researchers at the U of M, an extensive study has shown that entrance exams are, in fact, the best predictor of future success - even better than prior student success.

Check it out on the U of MN website

According to the study, test scores are actually a better predictor of grad-school success than any other measure, including undergraduate performance. This is apparently true from law school to med school to PhD programs like mine. The U article doesn't speculate as to WHY this is true (and the full Science magazine article is only available online to subscribers) but I think it's interesting to ponder...

My GRE score was a mixed bag - very high verbal & writing, stinky math. (Ironically, just like my daughter's SAT!) So what does that tell you? I'll do well in life when I need to talk, but not when I need to calculate? Hmm...

I do suspect that there is something about being a good problem solver on tests that relates to being a good problem solver in life - and which would then lead to success in general. Beyond that...?

Other ideas?

Well Done, Maturi!

So the Gopher AD that we weren't so impressed with 6 months ago has redeemed himself, and then some! (No wonder he looks the most excited in the picture!)

First, the hiring of Tim Brewster as football coach to replace Glen Mason - a guy the staff will actually be able to stand working with - and now landing legend Tubby Smith from Kentucky to replace Dan Monson as basketball coach! Gopher fans have not had a great year this year (yes, the wresting team came out champions, but even hockey is not the gorilla is once was) so this is all very welcome news.

Dissertation Blues

I didn't go back to grad school for the research... and now I'm at the point at which I have to DECIDE on a dissertation topic - which is harder (at least for me) than it sounds! There are lots of things I could pursue with interest, but nothing that has me jazzed yet. I've been waiting for the lightening bolt to strike and so far, no luck!

Possibilities:
* Alternative schools - Case study of alternative school movement (to/from reg schools)
* Resilience – as nurtured by specific high school programs or features – interview Wallin scholars for info on what worked for them
* Charter Schools in MN – what’s working?
* Demographic issues w/ student loss from MPS district – what are families’ experiences w/ system ?
* Participatory/distributed leadership – what does it mean? What do principals think about it? Management theory says "do it" – how do principals interpret that? What does site-based management and/or shared decision-making look like in MPS? St Paul?
* Role of culture - dissonance between school culture, home culture, neighborhood culture - extent to which the school can be a different culture & still be successful - extent to which home & neighborhood cultures have been tapped for instructional strategies - impact on the achievement gap
* Drop-out prevention/alternatives to social promotion & retention
* Principal Evaluation – What’s being done? What do people think about it?
* Teacher evaluation – what would people like? What is principal’s role?

My advisor has challenged me to have not just a topic but a research question nailed by June - much to consider!