Blogging Around: Kimmy D and Sammy R
As I was reading several people's blog entries Kimmy's "Get Organized: A Tribute to Aristotle" caught my attention immediately. Even before reading the entire blog entry, I felt like it was similar to my experience and that I could have truly agreed to what the blog was about. I was happy to learn from the blog that doing one thing at a time helps concentrate better and leads to much brighter result.
Kimmy D! When I started reading your blog entry, I was surprised to find out all the things you planned to do and thought that it must have been a long journey. I truly love the fact that there were many points that I can relate to my own experience, such as worrying about things to throw out because of the thought that I might need it later. Last but not least, you did a real nice job in concluding the blog with the reflection!
A second post that I enjoyed reading was Annika's "An Inconvenient Truth: Technology Takes Over". What I liked most about reading Annika's blog entry was the fact that she points out the specific details and uses it in a right part of the writing at the right time. By this, I, as a reader, was connected to the plot of the story and enjoyed every bit of the information. To sum up the idea, I learned the importance of making the writing flow well and that it makes reader focus better and enjoy the writing.
Hey Annika! I have to admit even before starting the comment that this blog entry was one of the most organized piece of writing that I have seen. I wish I had this talent. If I had to point out one thing that I enjoyed the most when I was reading your blog was that all the specific details and examples you provided in the entry above has been written in the right place and the right time that the transition was unnoticeable. After finishing the reading, I once again realized how much of an influence that technology have on us.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Get Organized: Task That Seemed Easy At First Sight
Get Organized: Task That Seemed Easy At First Sight
The exciting weekend that I've long been waiting for has finally arrived! The reason for this excitedness was due to the fact that I was going to finally meet and hang out with my 3 best friends from colleges. Before my wonderful weekend started, I've made a big promise that I will clean my room, ranging from clothes to paperworks, before I enjoy my weekend too much that I will forget about the commitment that I made to myself. At this moment, I didn't really think about all the processes and troubles that I will be soon facing. As a matter of fact, what I thought would be a 10 minute task cam out to be more than 30 minutes by the time I got done with the task.
As I was about to start the cleaning job, I've realized something that closely related to the idea of Aristotle. Even before I started to clean my room, every object in my room was categorized into certain categories depending on how it looks, what it is made of, and the way it is being used as. What was more surprising to me was that even though I didn't really think about the task beforehand, my mind has already been done categorizing the materials into certain categories that I believed the object will fall under.
After realizing the cool fact about my mind, I continued with my steps and went on to actually cleaning the room. As I was working, I came across very memorable and sad letters and gifts that I've received when I was leaving my friends behind in Korea to come to United States. It was definitely one of the most meaningful memory that I wouldn't forget in my lifetime. However, what was significant about this discovery was that I've learned an important idea from this. To be more specific, by categorizing and cleaning up the room from the mess, I've gained a chance to think back about my own past and was able to link it to the future. By doing this, it became much clear to me how the past has connection to present and I was able to see see more clearly into myself. In my opinion, this cleaning task that seemed simple was a time well spent.
The exciting weekend that I've long been waiting for has finally arrived! The reason for this excitedness was due to the fact that I was going to finally meet and hang out with my 3 best friends from colleges. Before my wonderful weekend started, I've made a big promise that I will clean my room, ranging from clothes to paperworks, before I enjoy my weekend too much that I will forget about the commitment that I made to myself. At this moment, I didn't really think about all the processes and troubles that I will be soon facing. As a matter of fact, what I thought would be a 10 minute task cam out to be more than 30 minutes by the time I got done with the task.
As I was about to start the cleaning job, I've realized something that closely related to the idea of Aristotle. Even before I started to clean my room, every object in my room was categorized into certain categories depending on how it looks, what it is made of, and the way it is being used as. What was more surprising to me was that even though I didn't really think about the task beforehand, my mind has already been done categorizing the materials into certain categories that I believed the object will fall under.
After realizing the cool fact about my mind, I continued with my steps and went on to actually cleaning the room. As I was working, I came across very memorable and sad letters and gifts that I've received when I was leaving my friends behind in Korea to come to United States. It was definitely one of the most meaningful memory that I wouldn't forget in my lifetime. However, what was significant about this discovery was that I've learned an important idea from this. To be more specific, by categorizing and cleaning up the room from the mess, I've gained a chance to think back about my own past and was able to link it to the future. By doing this, it became much clear to me how the past has connection to present and I was able to see see more clearly into myself. In my opinion, this cleaning task that seemed simple was a time well spent.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Best of Week: How Did Philosophy Evolve From Time To Time?
Best of Week: How Did Philosophy Evolve From Time To Time?
As the days went by without me noticing, I got much familiar with the philosophical book Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. As I got much familiar with the story plot, I've started to realize and understand the main ideas introduced in this book which has previously been confusing and seemed quite broad. So far, I've been able to organize and find the connection between early philophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. What I've found interesting from this was that these 3 philosophers were connected like a steps in a ladder. To be more specific, everytime you took a step farther above the ladder, the level of philosophic thinking evolved one step further than previous generation. Another interesting fact I've learned as a process of reading was that there were several opposing arguments from different philosophers that led to the advancement in the level of philosophy.
However, there was more important fact that came to my mind after organizing these important thoughts. I think that after learning about the process that philosophic thinking has been through, I've started to think about the process of how everything became how it is now more often than I used to in the past. Additionally,since I'm currently learning about the formation of Earth and the life on Earth in AP Environmental Science class in school, I'm starting to question more specifically about a subject and getting more into the basis of it. For instance, when we learn about the evolution of animals on the planet Earth, I now use my philosophical knowledge in order to answer the questions which has not been possible with just a scientific knowledge itself. Even though it is really useful in some cases, there are times when this idea of thinking is slow and more stressing way. Since I have to think about every possibility and the outcome of certain activity. Afterall, The positive side of the philosophic thinking seems to outweigh the negative side of it.
As the days went by without me noticing, I got much familiar with the philosophical book Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. As I got much familiar with the story plot, I've started to realize and understand the main ideas introduced in this book which has previously been confusing and seemed quite broad. So far, I've been able to organize and find the connection between early philophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. What I've found interesting from this was that these 3 philosophers were connected like a steps in a ladder. To be more specific, everytime you took a step farther above the ladder, the level of philosophic thinking evolved one step further than previous generation. Another interesting fact I've learned as a process of reading was that there were several opposing arguments from different philosophers that led to the advancement in the level of philosophy.
However, there was more important fact that came to my mind after organizing these important thoughts. I think that after learning about the process that philosophic thinking has been through, I've started to think about the process of how everything became how it is now more often than I used to in the past. Additionally,since I'm currently learning about the formation of Earth and the life on Earth in AP Environmental Science class in school, I'm starting to question more specifically about a subject and getting more into the basis of it. For instance, when we learn about the evolution of animals on the planet Earth, I now use my philosophical knowledge in order to answer the questions which has not been possible with just a scientific knowledge itself. Even though it is really useful in some cases, there are times when this idea of thinking is slow and more stressing way. Since I have to think about every possibility and the outcome of certain activity. Afterall, The positive side of the philosophic thinking seems to outweigh the negative side of it.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Best of Week: What Major Role Does Philosophy Play?
Best of Week: What Major Role Does Philosophy Play?
When I didn't read the book "The Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder", only knowledge and fact I had about the word "philosophy" was just basic and plain thought that was wondering in my head for a long time. To tell you the truth, I didn't actually have a chance to learn it nor invested my time in observing the true meaning of what it truly meant. This week in our humanities class, we, as a class, came across the book and by just reading the title, I didn't have any clue of figuring out the story behind the curtain. However, it proved to have much deeper story hiding behind this dark curtain.
When I started reading the book, i was confused by the structure of the beginning of the story. This specific book started with the character in the book questioning the other character and the readers at the same time. In the previous books that I've read, I've never encounted this type of structure. I believe that the specific structure that this book offers got me interested even before I started. To be more specific, it asked a question asking "Where does the world come from?".
As I was reading the novel, I learned much more interesting information that I've never questioned myself before. When I started the journey of reading, this fact caught my attention instantly. It stated that mankind's philosophic questioning started by the sense of wonder and that philosophy has been widely accepted in answering questions that could not have been answered in the early ancient times. The reason I found this statement interesting was the fact that this one line poses multiple points that can lead to the 21st century world. In my opinion, the mankind could not have advanced this far without the sense of wonder and questioning that we have as a given talent. If the humans did not have this ability, we would not have questioned how we came to exist and would not have any advancement due to the fact that they are satisfied by their own surrounding. I believe that philosophy had a significant role in bringing advancements and technologies that we take for granted in the current world of information.
When I didn't read the book "The Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder", only knowledge and fact I had about the word "philosophy" was just basic and plain thought that was wondering in my head for a long time. To tell you the truth, I didn't actually have a chance to learn it nor invested my time in observing the true meaning of what it truly meant. This week in our humanities class, we, as a class, came across the book and by just reading the title, I didn't have any clue of figuring out the story behind the curtain. However, it proved to have much deeper story hiding behind this dark curtain.
When I started reading the book, i was confused by the structure of the beginning of the story. This specific book started with the character in the book questioning the other character and the readers at the same time. In the previous books that I've read, I've never encounted this type of structure. I believe that the specific structure that this book offers got me interested even before I started. To be more specific, it asked a question asking "Where does the world come from?".
As I was reading the novel, I learned much more interesting information that I've never questioned myself before. When I started the journey of reading, this fact caught my attention instantly. It stated that mankind's philosophic questioning started by the sense of wonder and that philosophy has been widely accepted in answering questions that could not have been answered in the early ancient times. The reason I found this statement interesting was the fact that this one line poses multiple points that can lead to the 21st century world. In my opinion, the mankind could not have advanced this far without the sense of wonder and questioning that we have as a given talent. If the humans did not have this ability, we would not have questioned how we came to exist and would not have any advancement due to the fact that they are satisfied by their own surrounding. I believe that philosophy had a significant role in bringing advancements and technologies that we take for granted in the current world of information.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Metacognition: The Roadway to Solution
Metacognition: The Roadway to Solution
Whenever I work on an essays and projects, it always seems that the knowledge in my head is automatically transmitted on to my work with little to no effort. Most of the times, I do not even realize how far I got onto my assignment before even realizing that I'm almost half-way done with my assignment. However, if I think about it now, I know that there has to be steps leading into my finally solution.
As I was thinking more deeper into the idea of thought process that I take, I realized that it actually has several steps before reaching my final work. To start the entire process, I first understand the question and plan what and how I'm going to plan the structure of the essay and layout of the project. After the basic planning, I start the work by slowly revealing what my writing is going to be about. In that process, my thought process gets much richer and I generates more sophisticated ideas. As I move on with the project, the idea builds up and I have more things to include and say about. This is when I think my creativity kicks in, in order to make the work that I do more elegant. Right before finishing it, I recheck the work several times in order to reassure myself that there is very minimal error and the work is perfect. After going through all the steps above, I finally come up with the solution that I think is logical and well- thoughtout.
After thinking this writing through, I've gained feedbacks from my thinking process and how my mind works. As a positive feedback, I appreciate the fact that it has multiple steps in organizing and combining the thoughts before putting it down to the actual final product. By doing this, I have more accurate solution which will lead to more complete solution. However, as a negative feedback, when I have to make a decision, it will take much longer for me to decide which road that I'm going to take before I come to out with the decision because unless every conditions are met, I wouldn't be able to com up with the final solution.
Whenever I work on an essays and projects, it always seems that the knowledge in my head is automatically transmitted on to my work with little to no effort. Most of the times, I do not even realize how far I got onto my assignment before even realizing that I'm almost half-way done with my assignment. However, if I think about it now, I know that there has to be steps leading into my finally solution.
As I was thinking more deeper into the idea of thought process that I take, I realized that it actually has several steps before reaching my final work. To start the entire process, I first understand the question and plan what and how I'm going to plan the structure of the essay and layout of the project. After the basic planning, I start the work by slowly revealing what my writing is going to be about. In that process, my thought process gets much richer and I generates more sophisticated ideas. As I move on with the project, the idea builds up and I have more things to include and say about. This is when I think my creativity kicks in, in order to make the work that I do more elegant. Right before finishing it, I recheck the work several times in order to reassure myself that there is very minimal error and the work is perfect. After going through all the steps above, I finally come up with the solution that I think is logical and well- thoughtout.
After thinking this writing through, I've gained feedbacks from my thinking process and how my mind works. As a positive feedback, I appreciate the fact that it has multiple steps in organizing and combining the thoughts before putting it down to the actual final product. By doing this, I have more accurate solution which will lead to more complete solution. However, as a negative feedback, when I have to make a decision, it will take much longer for me to decide which road that I'm going to take before I come to out with the decision because unless every conditions are met, I wouldn't be able to com up with the final solution.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Blogging Around
Blogging Around
Sammy Rhee wrote an entry about the consmerism and how the media is affecting it majorly. I really enjoyed reading the entry since I, myself, agree to this idea.
When I was reading your entry, I was shocked by how our thinking process are similar to each other. I also believe that the consumerism and the effect of the media are the key contributer in 21st humans to lose their uniqueness and go with the flow. In some way, it almost sounds like a black hole that once you step into it, you cannot get out no matter what. I'm a person that truly value uniqueness. However, even I sometimes feel that I'm left out and feel the need to purchase things that are widely broadcasted or is being used. I think that the best way to avoid losing the uniqueness is to follow what you really like and constantly think about who you really are and what I truly want. I truly enjoyed your entry.
Kimmy Durkin wrote an entry about the documentary Born into Brothels after viewing the video that changed our way of thinking forever. This entry truly expressed the first-hand experience clearly.
Even before reading the entry, I really loved how you structured the entire writing. It was straight forward, descriptive, and easy to follow all the things that you were thinking while you wrote the essay. I knew that these kind of horrible places existed on Earth. However, after watching this documentary, what I was thinking was too good of an environment compared to what was actually happening in the reality. I think that you did a wonderful job stating the things that have been learned and what you think should be done about the situation.
Sammy Rhee wrote an entry about the consmerism and how the media is affecting it majorly. I really enjoyed reading the entry since I, myself, agree to this idea.
When I was reading your entry, I was shocked by how our thinking process are similar to each other. I also believe that the consumerism and the effect of the media are the key contributer in 21st humans to lose their uniqueness and go with the flow. In some way, it almost sounds like a black hole that once you step into it, you cannot get out no matter what. I'm a person that truly value uniqueness. However, even I sometimes feel that I'm left out and feel the need to purchase things that are widely broadcasted or is being used. I think that the best way to avoid losing the uniqueness is to follow what you really like and constantly think about who you really are and what I truly want. I truly enjoyed your entry.
Kimmy Durkin wrote an entry about the documentary Born into Brothels after viewing the video that changed our way of thinking forever. This entry truly expressed the first-hand experience clearly.
Even before reading the entry, I really loved how you structured the entire writing. It was straight forward, descriptive, and easy to follow all the things that you were thinking while you wrote the essay. I knew that these kind of horrible places existed on Earth. However, after watching this documentary, what I was thinking was too good of an environment compared to what was actually happening in the reality. I think that you did a wonderful job stating the things that have been learned and what you think should be done about the situation.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Best of Week: Two Different World
Best of Week: Two Different World
This week has been passing by in a rapid pace until our class was introduced to a documentary film called "Born Into Brothels." To tell you the truth, I was really surpised and shocked by the title at the first sight. However, just like the old saying, I shouldn't have judged the book by it's cover and should have waited until we were properly introduced to the film. Unlike what title suggests, this movie portrays a real life of the childrens growing up in the brothels in India. To be more specific, it is a documentary film about bright young childrens that lacks the support from their parents due to financial problems. Because of this reason, these children had almost no chance of escaping out of the brothels and their future was guided by a dim light.
What surprised me the most when I was watching this film is the fact that the childrens in the brothels were quite bright and seemed to be showing happiness even though they were living in one of the poorest and dangerous surroundings that this behavior seems to be nearly impossible. To add to this idea, they were growing up with parents and people who treated them like animals and did not show any sign of respect toward their children. However, even with all these negative surrounding characteristics, children did not give up and made into near by school for their education. They must have believed and saw that education and knowledge is the only way that they will be able to survive.
After watching the entire film, i felt that this movie is one of the few movies that I thought was meaningful and time well spent. I now truly realize how lucky I'm to be living in an area surrounded by all the support and protection that one can ask for. Also, it retaught me a lesson that the way you deal with the surroundings will greatly affect the happiness and joy that you get out of from your life. Last but not least, we should be thankful about all the things that we do have because there is a high chance that there might be people who cannot afford it even with their high effort.
This week has been passing by in a rapid pace until our class was introduced to a documentary film called "Born Into Brothels." To tell you the truth, I was really surpised and shocked by the title at the first sight. However, just like the old saying, I shouldn't have judged the book by it's cover and should have waited until we were properly introduced to the film. Unlike what title suggests, this movie portrays a real life of the childrens growing up in the brothels in India. To be more specific, it is a documentary film about bright young childrens that lacks the support from their parents due to financial problems. Because of this reason, these children had almost no chance of escaping out of the brothels and their future was guided by a dim light.
What surprised me the most when I was watching this film is the fact that the childrens in the brothels were quite bright and seemed to be showing happiness even though they were living in one of the poorest and dangerous surroundings that this behavior seems to be nearly impossible. To add to this idea, they were growing up with parents and people who treated them like animals and did not show any sign of respect toward their children. However, even with all these negative surrounding characteristics, children did not give up and made into near by school for their education. They must have believed and saw that education and knowledge is the only way that they will be able to survive.
After watching the entire film, i felt that this movie is one of the few movies that I thought was meaningful and time well spent. I now truly realize how lucky I'm to be living in an area surrounded by all the support and protection that one can ask for. Also, it retaught me a lesson that the way you deal with the surroundings will greatly affect the happiness and joy that you get out of from your life. Last but not least, we should be thankful about all the things that we do have because there is a high chance that there might be people who cannot afford it even with their high effort.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Connection: David Sarnoff and School
Connection: David Sarnoff and School
Last week during our English class, our class came across a rewarding article called "The Televisionary by Malcolm Cladwell." To give you a little insight, it was the story about the several brilliant guys that were actually involved in developing the first television which included Philo Farnsworth, David Sarnoff, and etc. When I was reading the article I was surprised by how Farnsworth's approach and David Sarnoff's approach was completely different in a way that one became successful but the other has almost been forgotten, even though he played a major role in developing the technologies for making the first television. To be more specific, Farnsworth believed that forming a trust between the inventors were not the answer and only believed in having the title of invention just for himself. On the other hand, Sarnoff believed in forming a trust and providing the researchers with a space and environment for them to come up with even better results. By doing that, he was able to earn the position where he was known to the world that he was the inventor of televison. I believe that this story has a lot of lesson behind it.
However, the details above is not the main point that I want to talk about today. What I really want to talk about is the connection that I felt was in place between David Sarnoff's view toward the world and the school that we attend everyday as a student. When I was reading the article I felt that the way David Sarnoff provided the brilliant researcher's to actually use their creative knowledges into creating something greater than they ever imagined is closely related to teacher's in school teaching us a valuble lesson and ability to apply creativity in our regular life and in creating our own future. Also, depending on how we apply that knowledge in reality might grant us something truly valuable that we will be known for or lead us to nowhere even with the great effort that has been put in place.
When I was thinking about the connections that I thought of in the above paragraph, it taught me a useful lesson; that even if I have a great creativity living in my head, as long as I don't apply it into the real life situation it is useless. In addition, It is important to realized the right thing to do at the right time. What I mean by this is that what I have right now as a resource and the time for learning will not be available in the near future due to the competition of the competitive world and to live among it. After all, I found a great connection between David Sarnoff and School; and by thinking more deeply into it, I was able to learn the true lesson that hid behind that curtain.
Last week during our English class, our class came across a rewarding article called "The Televisionary by Malcolm Cladwell." To give you a little insight, it was the story about the several brilliant guys that were actually involved in developing the first television which included Philo Farnsworth, David Sarnoff, and etc. When I was reading the article I was surprised by how Farnsworth's approach and David Sarnoff's approach was completely different in a way that one became successful but the other has almost been forgotten, even though he played a major role in developing the technologies for making the first television. To be more specific, Farnsworth believed that forming a trust between the inventors were not the answer and only believed in having the title of invention just for himself. On the other hand, Sarnoff believed in forming a trust and providing the researchers with a space and environment for them to come up with even better results. By doing that, he was able to earn the position where he was known to the world that he was the inventor of televison. I believe that this story has a lot of lesson behind it.
However, the details above is not the main point that I want to talk about today. What I really want to talk about is the connection that I felt was in place between David Sarnoff's view toward the world and the school that we attend everyday as a student. When I was reading the article I felt that the way David Sarnoff provided the brilliant researcher's to actually use their creative knowledges into creating something greater than they ever imagined is closely related to teacher's in school teaching us a valuble lesson and ability to apply creativity in our regular life and in creating our own future. Also, depending on how we apply that knowledge in reality might grant us something truly valuable that we will be known for or lead us to nowhere even with the great effort that has been put in place.
When I was thinking about the connections that I thought of in the above paragraph, it taught me a useful lesson; that even if I have a great creativity living in my head, as long as I don't apply it into the real life situation it is useless. In addition, It is important to realized the right thing to do at the right time. What I mean by this is that what I have right now as a resource and the time for learning will not be available in the near future due to the competition of the competitive world and to live among it. After all, I found a great connection between David Sarnoff and School; and by thinking more deeply into it, I was able to learn the true lesson that hid behind that curtain.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Captured Thought: The Truth About Creativity
Captured Thought: The Truth About Creativity
The word "creativity" has had a mysterious hidden meaning deep in my mind for a long time. In addition, it was not really obvious for me to know what it really was since it is not a visible, and specific word. By the time I got into elementary school, I've already been hearing about the importance of this word that wasn't really easy to see the true identity of countless times. In fact, it was once believed to be a talent that you were born with that cannot be taught.
However, This idea changed completely after I read the article "The Creativity Crisis by Po Bronson, and Ashley Merryman" actively, with the new technique of annotating. When I first read the article, it felt like I just figured out the answer of a question that I've been desperately searched for years. In the article, they've made clear that creativity, in fact, can be taught and the main idea of interchangeability between divergent thinking and convergent thinking playing a key role in creative thinking. The story that amazed me the most from the article was the Donald Treffinger's fact-finding, which was about the fifth graders finding a solution about the ways to reduce the noise in the library of their school. In my opinion, I think that this example showed us the model of education for teaching creativity and as a result of the project, the kids used convergent and divergent thinking and came to a great solution.
After learning about the creativity and the fact that it can be taught, I've realized few things that I didn't have a chance to think specifically about before; the view that I see a certain thing might not be what others might see and that it is really important for me to understand those things, but at the same time, it is more important for me to have the ability to use that knowledge in a real life. Once again, I think that this article truly helped me with capturing the important thought that I've had for years.
The word "creativity" has had a mysterious hidden meaning deep in my mind for a long time. In addition, it was not really obvious for me to know what it really was since it is not a visible, and specific word. By the time I got into elementary school, I've already been hearing about the importance of this word that wasn't really easy to see the true identity of countless times. In fact, it was once believed to be a talent that you were born with that cannot be taught.
However, This idea changed completely after I read the article "The Creativity Crisis by Po Bronson, and Ashley Merryman" actively, with the new technique of annotating. When I first read the article, it felt like I just figured out the answer of a question that I've been desperately searched for years. In the article, they've made clear that creativity, in fact, can be taught and the main idea of interchangeability between divergent thinking and convergent thinking playing a key role in creative thinking. The story that amazed me the most from the article was the Donald Treffinger's fact-finding, which was about the fifth graders finding a solution about the ways to reduce the noise in the library of their school. In my opinion, I think that this example showed us the model of education for teaching creativity and as a result of the project, the kids used convergent and divergent thinking and came to a great solution.
After learning about the creativity and the fact that it can be taught, I've realized few things that I didn't have a chance to think specifically about before; the view that I see a certain thing might not be what others might see and that it is really important for me to understand those things, but at the same time, it is more important for me to have the ability to use that knowledge in a real life. Once again, I think that this article truly helped me with capturing the important thought that I've had for years.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)