A Story With More Than One Lesson to Learn
Posted by Mad Rocket Scientist | Filed under Do It Yourself, Heroes, Technologies
The Algae Powered Car Adventure
The short story, a science teacher from a not-so-wealthy school, wants to get his kids interested in science. His idea, take an issue even kids are aware of (the rising cost of fuel), and instead of preaching of the evils of Exxon or thumping for corn Ethanol, he introduced the kids to an alternative to both: Bio-Diesel from Algae. And to prove it works, one of the kids got his dad to donate a diesel VW van for an experiment that involves using the fuel the class made to drive to the Sears Tower and back.
He used a creative way to call attention to an issue, and instead of just prostelizing, he showed the kids how to use science and creativity to find a solution to a problem through the sweat of their own brow.
We need more teachers like this.
Tags: Heroes
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June 5th, 2008
This brings up something that I have toyed with over the years working with Boy Scouts and the bright but unguided minds that work for me today. It has been my experience that various sorts of positive reinforcement encourages ones and inspires others. Might I suggest an award or positive recognition that can be displayed by ones doing the “correct” thing. We need a new batch of heroes and positive role models that can show/lead the way in the correct direction. I think that a lot of the traditional reward venues are corrupted by various negative influences. I think THE LINE IS HERE is the perfect platform for deployment of some positive reinforcement to those worthy of reconciliation for doing, researching, prototyping, or otherwise doing the correct thing. I think this country has lost focus on what the correct thing is. As I reread this it sounds so pompous and PC I think I’m going to gak. But this is just the talk and how it is followed through with is the walk.
This guy David Levine is going to get one of my atta boys (when my graphic pc returns) for doing the correct thing(s). Thinking out of the box. Inspiring young mind, inspiring young mind to think out of the box before they get trapped in the box. Manifesting such a correct project in a way as to make a lasting impression. I had a couple of like adventures in my younger days that made lasting impression on me and I understand the value of such adventures now. Stories of that short road trip to the Tower will be told to the tribes for years to come. Recognition of that adventure is due. I’ve got the ball.
June 5th, 2008
Technically, we don’t have the resources to hand out much more than kudos. I’m not sure how much value people would put on a “Good Job” certificate PDF from a random website.
Unless you know of some philanthropist with a hole burning in his pocket. Or unless I totally misunderstood what you mean.
June 6th, 2008
Mr. Holmes,
Naw you pretty much got the picture. Kudos are good. I’ll just keep walking the walk and see how it turns out.
June 6th, 2008
By all means. Rewarding desired behavior is the best way to get that behavior to reoccur. Freshman psych. All I’m wondering is if recognition from random strangers would be considered a reward.
Although it is an intriguing idea. Come up with a name (not an “of the time period”), design a one-page with a seal and their name printed in fancy letters and some official-looking signatures, and a description of what we think they did that was so great. Send it to them, and inform their local press.
If nothing else, it would be interesting to see if anybody picked up on it and started valuing and striving for a piece of paper.
June 9th, 2008
Mr. Holmes,
The walk contines. I will advise.