2B Exploratorium, the museum of science, art and human perception

http://www.exploratorium.edu/

3. The Exploratorium connects with our study of humanities because this particular museum explores the world, why the earth rotates around the moon to what makes us human, and how we got here. The Exploratorium also touches origins of animals, insects, all other living things other than humans, their way of life, which can relate back to humans and our instincts, space weather, solar eclipse, faultline, global climate change, and language.
4. a) I chose the Exploratorium, in San Francisco. I think the choice I've made is a good one because it's a local museum and it can relate to this class. This museum in particular focuses on the science of cooking, the history behind it and the chemisty to it. It also explores the study of biodiversity from jungle to lab. The space weather, how the weather in space can affect us here on earth. Stories from the path of totality, solar eclipses. Being in San Francisco, it definitely has to touch on earthquakes. Examines how researchers discover climate change and the latest scientific data. And of course language, and where it comes from.
b) My choice is about the museum of science, art and human perception. Language is all related to one another through its style and similaries in spelling and pronunciation. Climate change can also relate to our studies this semester because learning more about something and exposing ourselves to more information can help us make our own judgements about what we chose to believe or not.
c) I was led to this choice because it's the one museum I remember going to. I feel pretty good about my choice considering I was able to explore the place I am talking about. Although I only remember parts, like the Planetarium, I was able to pull enough information off their website to be able to complete this assignment. But, from what I do remember from the Planetarium is how the earth in the solar system operates, I was fortunate because I was exposed to something on a large enough scale to be able to understand the concept at a young age. Exposing myself to that helps me in some sciences classes, and therefore supports Freire's idea.
d) I would like to know if languages are somehow in someway related to one another?
5. I learned from Megan that the Golden Gate Bridge is almost 9,000 feet long. One thing our assignments have in common is the location in the world we chose. No, it's not related to theoretical foundation. Our places are both related to history and cultural context of this country
Megan's Blog
Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. I chose San Francisco for this project because it connects to the study of humanities in many ways. Humanities is the study of the works of people from art, literature, music, film, dance, philosophy, and religion within their cultural contexts. So what could possibly be better then one of the most diverse cities in the United States. Driving down any street in San Francisco you will see many forms of art from billboards to bus benches and if you happen to be driving with your windows down you will hear many different types of music from the rap and hip hop to country and jazz. In San Francisco you never know what you’ll hear or see.
3a. Observation: For my observation I chose walking over the Golden Gate Bridge because it honestly is a breathtaking experience. You have this 8,981 foot bridge in front of you and you have the Pacific Ocean as far as you can see below you. The air is much different on the bridge; it’s windy and cold and has a completely different smell. It smells like an ocean (which I know isn’t very descriptive) I guess it’s just the salt water below that does it. When you look up you see the steal arches that just seem to go on forever, and if you look to the street you see millions of cars zooming by. When you look to the land close to the bridge you see mountains, and in the water pretty far away you can see Alcatraz which once was a jail. This is the view that people from all over the world come to California to see, because it really is beautiful.
b.Interpretation: Even though San Francisco is pretty fast paced it is a place where anyone can fit in, there are so many different people in the city it kind of makes you feel more comfortable about being yourself and expressing your creativity. Being in San Francisco can be a bit of a culture shock to some people who have sheltered lives just because things are so out in the open there. You can buy pipes at glass stores and you see bums on all the streets, it’s just part of what makes San Francisco.
c.Judgment: I chose San Francisco because I find it exciting and adventurous. It truly is a beautiful city and there’s just so much to see when you are there, from the people on the streets, to the architecture, to the museums, it’s all amazing. When the sun goes down you can see all the lights throughout the city and still feel that ocean breeze. It’s a whole different way of living compared to the Sonoma Valley lifestyle.
Questioning: Through this project I have learned a lot more about the history of San Francisco and more of the popular reasons that people from all over the United States come here to visit but I would like to know what it is that that attracts most people into making San Francisco their home?
5. Using your classmates work from last week…What I learned from Michelle was her view of how Paulo Freire’s work relates to our class. “I think all of this information relates to our study of humanities because what Paulo teaches provides students with the ability to think about our place in the world and learn through his unique way of teaching what the humanities is truly about.” I completely agree with what Michelle said and I think she explained the relationship quite well.
(http://michelle-assignment1a.blogspot.com/2009/02/assignment-1c.html)

2A New York City, NY

http://www.wikipedia.org

3. New York City connects to our study of humanities because of its diverse population, its unique location, the wide span of commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment. It is also the home to the United Nations headquarters. NYC is the most densely populated city, housing over 8 million people. There are over 170 languages spoken, and appromiately 36% of the people are not native to the city.
4. a) I chose New York City, NY. I believe I made a great decision in chosing NYC. The 'thing' i chose is the Statue of Liberty, "the statue is of a robed woman holding a torch, and is made of a sheeting of pure copper, hund on a framework of steel(originally puddled iron)with the exception of the flame of the torch, which is coated in gold leaf (originally made of copper and later altered to hold glass panes). She stand atop a rectangular stonework pedestal with a foundation in the shape of an irregular eleven-pointed star. She is 151 ft tall, but witht the pedestal and foundation, she is 305 ft tall."
b) My choice is about freedom and liberty. Not only in government but in eduation as well. It is the freedom, the liberty, the right, to learn about what you want.
c) I feel very stongly about this, as a woman, we do live in a "man-favored world", and having the power to learn and educate ourselves is all the power in the world. Knowledge is power. I know we live in a "man-favored world" because I know from first hand experience; a man and a woman can have the same job and it is more likely the man will get paid more, or get the promotion faster. I know, I've been there. That alone says a lot about our society.
d) I learned that the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States to represent the friendship established during the American Revolution, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the statue and obtained a U.S. patent for its structure. Were there any historical monuments given to the United States before this, or is this the first?
5. I learned from Lauren, the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, HI is a very beautiful place, she just visited for her second time a few days ago. If you share guacamole witht he locals they will share important secrets that will allow you to enjoy your time even more. Our places are different, Lauren's is a natural beauty, mine is a man-made beauty. Our places do not have theoretical foundation to this class. Both our 'things' are realted to historical and cultural context of the United States.

Contains a brief paragraph how it connects to your study of humanities. 1 pointThe Kalalau Trail in Kauai should be considered the 8th wonder of the world. Hikers travel along well worked goat paths that lead them down the Na Pali Coast. Starting in Hana lei, hikers travel 11 miles in to the town of Kalalau, only to turn back around and hike back. The views that you get while on this trail are like some that you will never experience again. The Na Pali coast line is a piece of art work all in itself. Along the path, hikers meet and travel with other hikers who dared to hike this trail. Along the way you run into locals who choose to live on the trail, and if you are nice and give them guacamole, they will share important secrets that will allow you to enjoy your time even more.Contains the following "analytical elements": Observation: What did you choose? I chose The Kalalau Trail because of its beauty. People from all over the world go to Kauai just to hike this wonderful trail. The cultural experience that one gets while on the trail is one that you won't experience anywhere else.What do you see or hear or feel or think of in the choice you made? I am absolutely in love with the choice that I made. I just came back from hiking the trail for a second time just two days ago.What is the subject of the work? If you chose a 'thing' what is the work made of and what techniques (colors, lines, shapes, textures)does the creator use? Be specific in your description. If you chose a place, be specific in your description of what you see or hear. Talk to your reader as though they cannot see the item but somehow must draw a painting of what you see or hear. 1 point The Kalalau Trail is an arduous 11-mile trail winding through the Na Pali Coast of Kauai. The trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. Hikers cross into 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach. Kalalau Beach offers beautiful views of mountain cliffs, blue ocean water and a refreshing waterfall. A trail provides access to Kalalau Valley with tropical fruit trees and cool water streams. The Kalalau trail will take a full day to hike for most hikers.Interpretation: What is your choice about? Give specific examples to support this statement in 2 sentences; do so in a way that teaches us something about your choice. Make Paulo Freire proud! .75 pointThe Kalalau Trail is art all on its own and one cannot help but dive into the culture that surrounds you. While on the trail, it is if you are a native, talking to everyone and taking advantage of the beauty that surrounds you.Judgment: What led you to your choice? I just hiked this trail a couple of days ago and its impact on me is something that I will carry with me forever.What do you think or feel about this choice? Why do you feel this way? Support your thoughts with specific observations. .5 pointBeauty is all I can say. This trail will simply take your breath away.Questioning: What else would you like to know about this choice? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. Example: I learned that John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath was based on his personal experience working with farm workers. I would like to know if the characters he used in that book are fictitious or are they people he met? .5 pointI have hiked the 11 miles into the town of Kalalau and experienced the social aspect of camping at the half way mark, however, there is a valley at the end of the trail that I have yet to explore, and I wonder what it has to offer?5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point

Assignment 1C

1. Sierra Baxter, is taking this class for GE requirement and is house sitting in Sebastopol for a few months

2. A) Paulo Freire worked in Chile for 5 years as an educator. B) As a young boy he decided that he was going to dedicate his life to the struggle against hunger after he had experienced what it was like to go hungry during the depression

3. This information relates to our study of humanities because his life was an outreach to other people out of the goodness of his heart, and to know what it's like to be a position such as his own at an young age. Humans relating to other humans. 

1. Maria, is 1849 miles away from campus, she lives in Arlington, Texas

2. A) Paulo Freire's major theories is critical pedagogy, which is the theory that teaches students to question and challenge domination. B) His theory was to allow the learner to think about the information and have students create their own thoughts and feelings on the information, rather than the teacher telling them what to think or how it should be. 

3. This information will relate to our study of humanities because his theory can be applied today within our own classes. 

Assignment 1B

Paulo Freire was born into a middle class family on September 19, 1921 in Recife, Brazil. He was not even ten years old when the Great Depression in 1929 impacted his way of life and thus, helped shaped his perspective on education. Freire attended Law School at the University of Recife's in 1943, he studied philosophy, with an emphasis on phenomenology and the psychology of language. In 1944 he married Elza Maia Costa de Oliveira, an educator as well, they had five children and worked together. 

Freire became the Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Social Service in Pernambuco, the state which Recife is the capital in Brazil. He began to accept a non-orthodox form of what could be considered liberation theology, teaching illiterate people. During that time literacy was required to vote in Presidential elections. In 1961 he became the Director of Cultural Extension of Recife University. In 1962 Freire had his first opportunity for significant application of his theories, when he taught three hundred illiterate sugarcane workers how to read and write in forty-five days. The Brazilian government approved the creation of thousands of cultural circles across the country. In 1964 military coup put an end to the cultural circles, Freire was put in jail as a traitor for seventy days. 

In 1967 Freire published his first book, Education as the Practice of Freedom, then he published his second most well known book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, it was published in Portuguese, but not until 1974 it was published in Brazil because of a political feud between  a Christian Socialist and the successive authoritarian military dictatorship. Pedagogy of the Oppressed was published in Spanish and English while he was visiting professor at Harvard University in 1970. After his time in Massachusetts he moved to Switzerland, to work as a special educator advisor to the World Council of Churches. Afterwards, he was an advisor on the education reform in former Portuguese cultures in Africa, such as Guinea, Bissau and Mozambique. 

In 1979 his exile from Brazil was over and moved back in 1980. He became supervisor for Sao Paulo's adult literacy project from 1980 to 1986 in the Worker's Party. In 1986 Elza, his wife died. In 1988 Freire was elected Secretary of Education for Sao Paulo. He remarried Maria Araujo Freire who is also in education. Freire died of a heart failure May 2, 1997.

Sources: wikipedia.org 

http://infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pSyaZAWlr1l