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APPLIED ACADEMICS
NEWSWIRE
Volume # II No. 7
January 1, 2000
Helping educators to bring the real world into the classroom
MILLENNIAL EDITION
APPLIED ACADEMICS MILLENNIAL NEWSMAKERS
Applied Academics was not
birthed over night. The values and motivators for hands-on learning stretch
back over the last millennium. Below are some of the many notable Applied
Academics Millennial Newsmakers:
BUBONIC PLAGUE
During the mid 1300’s, this disease causing bacteria ravaged European
populations. Despite its microscopic size the bubonic plague bacteria had an
incredible effect on an entire continent. Similarly, although Applied
Academics classes are sometimes small, they are very influential (changing
the lives of all those involved). Unlike the plague, Applied Academics has
yet to cause one fatality.
JOAN OF ARC
At a mere 16 years old, Joan of Arc began her career as a military leader
when she convinced the Charles Dauphin to allow her to lead the French troop
against England. She is a reminder to educators that not all of the
influential jobs require a university education. Of course Joan’s career
choice had a particularly nasty retirement program.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
The classic Renaissance man, Da Vinci excelled in painting, sculpting,
science, engineering and music. Many of his skills were learned and honed
under a system of apprenticeship, where he learned by doing. His education
was in keeping with the foundational principles of applied academics: many
students learn more when asked to solve real world problems (like getting
Mona Lisa to sit still and smile).
MARTIN LUTHER
One might expect a professor of Biblical Exegesis to only share
his work with those in ivory towers. Not so for Luther who posted his
95 Theses on the door of the local church,
beginning a reformation of Christianity
throughout Europe. His translations of the liturgy and Bible into
German encouraged doctrinal involvement for those without formal training
in Latin. He set an example for us all, by refusing to neglect the intellectual
needs of those outside of the university system. Unfortunately,
once the pope heard of the 95 Theses, Marty was forced to join
those on the outside of the university system.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Arguably the most famous English language author, Shakespeare
was gifted at writing to his audience. His plays, containing bawdy
humour for the uneducated and flowery soliloquies for the upper classes,
demonstrated how perfectly he understood his audiences. These same targeting
skills are a key element of effective technical and professional writing.
Unlike Shakespeare’s audiences, few TPC 12 students are pelted with
rotting vegetables if their writing misses its target.
ALBERT EINTSTEIN
Arguably the world’s most famous scientist, Einstein overcame early
troubles in mathematics to redefine time and space. Intrigued
by a compass, he began to discover the joy of physics. A mere dozen
years later, he astounded the world of physics with his Theory of Relativity.
He is proof to educators that not all of the ‘slow students’ are
really all that ‘slow’. Sometimes they just require a challenge that is
more hands-on.
ALAN TURING
Although Turing is credited with cracking the Nazi Enigma code and
helping the Allies win the Second World War, his contribution to the computer
world was even more dramatic. Turing’s Colossus, a vacuum-tube machine,
was considered the first computer. His problem-then-theory approach
to computers laid the foundation for how Information Technology 11/12
is taught. Nowadays, IT 11/12 students are rarely required to manufacture
their own computers.
TIM BERNERS-LEE
If you have ever used the World Wide Web, you have Berners-Lee
to thank. This British-born computer scientist created the web as
we now know it. He wrote HTML, established HTTP, and designed the first
web browser, all of which revolutionized the way
we share information. In other words, he
created the surfboard we now use to surf the net. Since then,
the web has become the foremost source of digital information and a fundamental
tool in courses such as IT 11/12 and TPC 12.
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5) CONTACT INFORMATION
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of the Center for Applied Academics.
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