Friday, September 6, 2013

CIP 2013: How can a Teenager Who Never Went to Medical School Create A Better Test

Teenager invents a better test for Pancreatic Cancer

Click on the above Link


Cadet Innovation Project....I know you think I am crazy...what can you a teenager do to affect the lives of others, let alone the world. 

After watching this YouTube video, how can you still think that....? Remember it all starts with with YOU being curious about something that you are interested in or something that bothers you that you want to fix.

What are you curious about? What do you have a passion for learning about or a particular challenge or problem you want to fix?

You need to use your imagination...? 

Monday, September 2, 2013

Student-Cadet Autobiography 2013

The key to a successful student - teacher team has to do with the three R's: Relationship, Relevance, and Rigor. The term Relationship has to do with the professional rapport (empathy & understanding) between the student and the teacher. The term Relevance has to do with the teacher ensuring the student understands "how" the curriculum being taught relates to what the student needs and wants to learn. The term Rigor relates to the teacher ensuring the relevant curriculum being taught is challenging and causes the student to reach in their learning.    

PURPOSE
To share some things about yourself so your teacher will understand you better and support your self development to learn.   




IN-CLASS TASK

  • This is an in-class assignment where you will complete a written assignment with the purpose of telling your SNSI about yourself. 
  • This will be a minimum of two pages in length and is between you the student and the SNSI. 
  • Your Autobiography will include the following: 
    • NAME AND GRADE
    • DESCRIBE YOURSELF
    • FAMILY BACKGROUND
    • STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
    • HOBBIES & INTERESTS
    • GOALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
    • GOALS FOR NJROTC
    • GOALS FOR LIFE
    • ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE?
TURN IN THIS ASSIGNMENT BY THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD.

Friday, August 30, 2013

WHAT DOES THE WORLD EXPECT FROM YOU...???

Small Group Activity: Sit in small groups and discuss (for about 8 minutes) the question: What does the World Expect from You?

Post Activity Class Review of Responses

Pay It Forward

Part of your Cadet Innovation Project is to open your mind to the concept of innovation itself.  What does the term "innovation" mean...? Let's look at a some definitions of Innovation according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary says :


A. the introduction of something new, a new idea, method, or device

B. In technology, an improvement to something already existing. Distinguishing an element of novelty in an invention remains a concern of patent law.

There is a tendency to think that INNOVATION is about IDEAS...well that is only part of it. 

INNOVATION is about applying action and your talents to that great IDEA and through a series of trial and error experiments discovering what works and what doesn't, and refining your idea and innovative concept. 

IDEA + ACTION + TALENT can = INNOVATION

Sometimes by collaborating with another person or group, your idea (action & talent) combines with someone else's idea (actions & talents) and can results in Innovation as well. Let us look at an example.


Thursday, August 29, 2013

WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson

     

Part of your Cadet Innovation Project is to open your mind to the concept of innovation itself.  Let's look at a some definitions of Innovation according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary says :


A. the introduction of something new, a new idea, method, or device

B. In technology, an improvement to something already existing. Distinguishing an element of novelty in an invention remains a concern of patent law.

There is a tendency to think that INNOVATION is about IDEAS...well that is only part of it. INNOVATION is about applying action and your talents to that great IDEA and through a series of trial and error experiments discovering what works and what doesn't, and refining your idea and innovative concept. 

Sometimes by collaborating with another person or group, your idea combined with someone else's idea results in Innovation as well. Let us look at an example.



NJROTC 2013-2014 CADET INNOVATION PROJECT

Reference Links:
STEM Definition Wikipedia

Background: Being ever a believer is using multi-media to learn, I stumbled upon the movie, Pay It Forward, on television this summer and it got me thinking. Mind you my grandmother, used to call television the "idiot-box" because in the days of no Internet many people spent countless hours sitting in front of it just watching TV shows as participating in life passed them by. I saw a scene in the movie where the 7th grade teacher gave his class the project to 

"THINK of an IDEA to CHANGE the World and PUT it into ACTION."

Scene from Pay It Forward.

I also read a book, Innovation, recommended by a fellow teacher (Mrs. Pavia) which not only talked developing innovations that are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related, but they included the category of Social related Innovations which answered my concern. You see, I am not a STEM-kind of person, but I am a Socially Conscious kind of guy, so that is what I would pick...

Project Organization:  

Phase One (PLAN) Marking Period One:  Brainstorm & PLAN Your Innovation Project

Phase Two (PREPARE) Marking Period Two:  PREPARE Your Innovation Project

Phase Three (EXECUTE) Marking Period Three:  Finalize and EXECUTE Your Innovation Project

Phase Four (IMPLEMENT) Marking Period Four: Implement Your Innovation Project...start changing the world. 

Summer: Think of Your Next Year's Project ...or if approved, how to expand your Innovation Project...

Tasks

Research the concepts of: 

  • STEM, Social Causes, and INNOVATION.
  • Discuss the concept of "brainstorming" and researching to support it.
  • Familiarize yourself with the concept of Project Management and Program Management.
  • Learn how to develop a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M).  

We will work on this periodically throughout the year in class, but you are expected to figure out a way to change the world at the school, community, group, city, state, country, or global level....



The Realm of Possibility is within each of you, what are you going to do with it....Use it or let it atrophy....?


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

What Leaders Have You Created...?


In our Navy JROTC program we talk about the concepts of both followership and leadership. The belief is you have to learn how to lead yourself before you can lead others. Every leader follows someone in their "chain of command". For example, the Senior Naval Science Instructor follows the guidance and direction of the Principal of our school and the Area Manager. The Principal of the school follows the guidance and directions of the Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent and the Area Manager follows the guidance and directions of the Commanding Officer of Naval Service Training Command. 

Looking at Leadership from a different angle, in the graphic pictured above on this blog post it makes the statement True Leaders Don't Create Followers They Create More Leaders. 

Your Homework Assignment: Based upon that statement, I want you to post an entry (blog comment) specifically stating what "Leader" have you contributed in creating or developing, use their first name only. Describe and explain your contribution to their leadership development. If you have not contributed towards developing any specific leaders in this unit, then I want you to explain in detail why you have not done this. This assignment is due to be completed by Wed (June 12) during your scheduled class period. Use your first name and class period to identify yourself. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

NS 1 FEEDBACK: 3 UP & 3 DOWN

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

1. Teacher will form you into small groups with a group leader. 

2. Have a group discussion and then select 3 specific things you like & do not like about NJROTC. Ensure your group  takes notes and turns them in.

3. This is your opportunity to make things better by telling us specifically what you LIKE & DO NOT LIKE. Put effort into this.