Author Archives: admin

Sometimes what you consider common sense is just wrong

Those of us who teach courses in psychology must constantly battle the notion that human behavior is common sense. While we are perfectly capable of observing our world and creating personal models to explain what we observe to ourselves, there … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sometimes what you consider common sense is just wrong

Things that are important in running for office in North Dakota

I have conducted a detailed content analysis of the messages of those running for office in North Dakota. Here is what I have learned. 1) It is very important to be born to parents who were also born to parents who … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Things that are important in running for office in North Dakota

Florida considers lower tuition for STEM courses, higher tuition for other courses

This is just a weird idea? Florida is considering a differential tuition model (not weird). The idea is that different majors will cost different amounts (not weird). STEM majors (science, technology, mathematics) will be charged at a lower level than students … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Florida considers lower tuition for STEM courses, higher tuition for other courses

These are not better courses

The flap over Minnesota not accepting Coursera caught my attention. I suppose this was because I work at a University just across the river from Minnesota and I was curious as to what our academic neighbors to the east had … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on These are not better courses

Cross-border rights disputes

I do not intend this to be an amusing post. The issue is quite serious. Tech Crunch writer John Biggs generated a post complaining about a situation in which someone from Norway had their Kindle account blocked (it was later … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Cross-border rights disputes

And 6 years later …

I happened to notice today that I have used LastFM for 6 years. Two things about this are interesting. First, it is unusual that an online social service has lasted this long. Second, it is strange a person has stuck … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on And 6 years later …

Self inflicted ignorance

My vocation and personal interests concern the potential of changing lives through information. This is what educators do. We provide access to information and we encourage learners to process this input to develop personal understanding. We know we do not … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Self inflicted ignorance

You are not a real news junkie if you don’t change the channel

My kids have rules for the “screen time” they allow their kids. It is obvious they do not understand the relationship between television/computer use and learning to be linear. There is some benefit with reasonable amounts of time spent, but … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments Off on You are not a real news junkie if you don’t change the channel

Those demons in my head

I have noticed something about myself and I am concerned. I think it is possible I am a Fox News junkie. Now, in public I constantly complain about Fox News. How can this organization seriously use the phrase “the no … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Those demons in my head

I might have been able to make it to Canada

Weeks go by when there is nothing interesting to blog about and then there is a day like today. I was headed across campus at 1 to have lunch with my wife. The emergency alert system suddenly activates: Evacuate Grand … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on I might have been able to make it to Canada