tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22492896827314702232024-03-09T20:46:10.344-06:00Penchant4PaleoAbout the blogger: I am a paleontologist in the Department of Neuroscience at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Explore the rest of this blog to learn more! Disclaimer: all blog posts represent my own opinions and experience and do not necessarily represent those of Washington University. Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-21610342951944542842019-12-09T22:39:00.001-06:002019-12-10T23:51:45.220-06:00Lessons For My Past SelfWith over a combined decade of graduate school, a post-doc, and a big-girl job under my belt now, I've been thinking about what I would have said to my past self at the outset. The following ten guidelines are the result of countless noob moves, several dozen dark days, lots of good times, helpful advice, and everything in between. Not sure if it's helpful, but in the spirit of guideline #10, I'm trying to Pay It Forward.<br />
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Without further adieu...<br />
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<b>Pace Yourself </b><br />
You're at the start of what could be a multi-decade career. Right now, everything feels critically important. And while it's good to take things seriously, it's also good to use this time to form habits and boundaries that will serve you in the long run. <i>Keeping healthy, both physically and mentally, is part of a successful career.</i> I say this, not to add extra pressure, but to give you permission to do the things that matter to your holistic well-being, regardless of any outside criticism or judgment.<br />
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<b>Keep Perspective</b><br />
As above, it's important to understand that your career journey will be long and filled with highs and lows. Recognition of these facts gives you appropriate context for how you interpret your successes and failures in the day-to-day. Try to have patience with yourself, other people, and various situations related to your training. And if you need to step away from a situation for advice, breathing room, or therapy, do it. <i>You have time</i>. Also, try to view any mistakes or failures as learning opportunities that aren't tied to your self-worth. It's just work, and it's a work in progress. Finally, practice giving yourself the benefit of the doubt. You've made it this far. There's no reason to implicitly doubt your abilities.<br />
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<b>There Are Very Few Actual Rules</b><br />
As with many things in life, there's no script for this stuff. Careers are as varied and beautiful as the people who undertake them. This fact is both exciting and a bit terrifying. It's exciting because it means that your career will take a unique course that's guided by your interests, values, strengths, and connections. It's also terrifying because it means that there's very little to guide you in your everyday decisions. What you MUST do to maintain progress: abide by both the law and your department and/or workplace handbook. That's about it. There are a LOT of gaps. In theory, this is where your adviser comes in, but even they may not know how best to advise you beyond research. Remember, they're only human, and their opinion is n=1.<br />
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Unfortunately, the structural void left by the paucity of rules is often (poorly) filled by "shoulds." These are the purported must-dos that are communicated through the grapevine to inexperienced students and workers. Sometimes, these shoulds are solicited, but many times, they're thrown around in conversation by cocky members of your cohort or by more experienced employees who seek to share (boast?) their wisdom. Sometimes, these shoulds are contradictory (you shouldn't take too many classes in your first year, but also you should finish your classes as soon as possible). Sometimes, these shoulds are outdated (you should definitely make sure that your dissertation reads as a single, unbroken narrative). And sometimes, they're downright discriminatory (you should wait to start a family until you're tenured).<br />
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Shoulds are potentially dangerous because they can lead you steadily away from yourself and your goals, such that you become overly focused on what other people say you should be doing and not on who you are, what you like, and what you ought to actually be doing to make the most of (and enjoy!) your career. <i>Yes, advice can be helpful, but beware the shoulds. They're no substitute for following the actual rules while plotting your own course in a way that is gratifying for you.</i><br />
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<b>Identify Your Values; Revisit, Reconnect With, and Revise Them Often</b><br />
Some free therapy: if you haven't already, Google "Identifying My Core Values" and go about paging through hundreds of value words that potentially resonate with you. I promise it will be worth it. Take the approximately twenty words that resonate, and sort them into four or five broad, named categories. These broad categories represent your core values. Typically, core values are fairly fixed, but they can change over time and/or after profound experiences. Knowing your core values, and working to shape your environment such that it aligns to your values, will alleviate stress and heartache. Core values are the antidote to "shoulds." <i>Be proud of your values, respect them, and allow them to lead you where you need to be.</i><br />
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<b>Understand That Your Values Aren't Universal (and That's OK)</b><br />
Sets of core values are generally unique to individuals, as they typically reflect personality and background. And as core values often drive behavior and decision-making, they play a key role in coworker interactions, as well as the cultural tone set by workplace leaders.<br />
<i>Misalignment of values causes stress, especially if paired with miscommunication and/or intolerance. </i><br />
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Clearly, you're not responsible for the actions of others, but perhaps you can find comfort, acceptance, and even empowerment through recognizing and communicating about values. <i>Bottom line: be as open-minded about other people's values as you hope they'd be for yours.</i><br />
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<b>Shame Is Generally Unhelpful</b><br />
Shame. It's a tricky thing. It can provoke needed self-reflection after a serious error. But <i>the problem with shame is that it tends to distract from a more productive outcome. This is especially true if the shame is misplaced or disproportionate</i> in cases of small-scale infractions (say, if you miss a deadline or blurt something boneheaded in journal club). Sensitive, smart people are highly susceptible to shame, both the self-inflicted kind and otherwise. Most dangerous is the combination of internal and external shame applied in tandem over time. If shame is the norm in which you steep, get help. <i>No one should keep you hostage to shame. </i>Not your peers. Not your adviser. Not yourself. Shame is the quicksand where careers (and, tragically, some people) go to die.<br />
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<b>People Will Help You; Thank Them</b><br />
This is obvious, but it's also important. Say thank you, and mean it. Keep track of names and deeds for formal acknowledgements, and also be vocal about informal acknowledgements. <i>When it comes to gratitude, err on the side of generosity and inclusion</i>. Oh, and don't forget to thank your friends and family.<br />
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<b>People Will Disappoint You; Move On</b><br />
This may also be obvious, but it's sometimes tough to remember. Some people will fail to meet your expectations. If they do, forgive them and, where needed, move on. Personally, for colleagues and acquaintances, I keep a three-strikes rule. Three strikes (lying, manipulating, generally being a Richard, etc.), and you're done. I feel like this gives people enough opportunities to screw up without allowing them to treat me badly. If they violate the rule, I try hard to bid them adieu and move on. <i>The goal is to keep their toxic presence from poisoning my happy place.</i> As I am prone to mentally reliving past injustices, this goal is a tough one, and I fail a lot. But practice helps.<br />
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<b>Abuse Has No Place. <i>Ever</i>.</b><br />
So, what happens if that toxic person described above is your boss or someone else with power over you? There's no ignoring them, and likely there's no advancing without their help. It's the worst possible scenario because the situation is likely complex and the outcome is almost always bad for the abused. To sit quietly and endure abuse is soul-crushing (and, hypothetically, even potentially physically or sexually dangerous). To run from the abuse may mean questions about commitment and performance. To report the abuse risks stigma, suppression, retribution, and a drawn-out and uncertain investigation process. Friend, if you're being abused or were abused, I have no clear answer here. But what I absolutely do know is that it's not your fault. And I also know that power structures only change if hard discussions are had. Certainly, you are not in any way obligated to share your story. But if it's something that would help you heal, you may end up playing an important role in exposing and changing a culture that too often fails to serve and protect the vulnerable.<br />
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<b>Pay It Forward</b><br />
Ok, phew, so, let's end on a high note. Your mission, which you should choose to accept, is to smooth the path behind you so that more people can follow and feel welcome. Be the senior student/mentor/etc. you wish you'd had. Be as woke, feminist, and supportive of LGBTQ+ as a 90's straight white girl from the 'burbs can be. Share the things that are helpful, including stories of your limitations and mistakes. Be humble. Be self-assured. Be kind. Be honest. And be free. You've earned it.<br />
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<b>In sum, you never were, and never will be, defined by your achievements and failures. You define you. Let the peace and power of those words wash over you. In the end, while you must demonstrate competency and effort to earn your degree and secure a career, you have nothing to prove as a person. Your career is only one part of the whole of the experience you will have. Have faith in yourself, and be brave enough to chart your own course. Be patient and grateful as you and those around you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life. Ask for help when you need it. Therapy is a good thing. And finally, take what you've learned and hand it gently down to those folks looking to you for encouragement and wisdom. </b><br />
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<b>Brave one, I'm so proud of you. You are doing what you need to do to fill that hole in your heart. It won't be easy, but you will find yourself in the process. So get some damn sleep, and stop worrying so much. You've got a lot of living to do, and you'll need your strength!</b><br />
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Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-4150844807542736662017-05-31T10:22:00.002-05:002017-11-02T08:38:09.588-05:0029th Annual Karger Workshop Program<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Below is the program for this year's Karger Workshop (PDF copy <a href="http://api.ning.com/files/5d*2SXUoX2*p-5U4I9tHS4Gs27Y6JLSbwhaoMzR6tlIUvyIX93vAKpUHPMim*GhFxnzUH1nIKPXsIXMnKuBXFL59uifSNYn6/ProgramforWebsite.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>). Hope you can join us! --Ashley<br />
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<br />Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-50487276695737823332017-05-17T18:36:00.001-05:002017-05-17T19:06:58.542-05:00Anatomical Dissections - Past and Present <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Later this week, Washington University in St. Louis will be hosting the 2017 Vascular Access Society of the Americas (VASA) <a href="https://cmeonline.wustl.edu/vasa/" target="_blank">Hands-On Practium on Hemodialsis Access</a>. Hundreds of health professionals will be attending to learn more about the latest in vascular access (VA) procedures.<br />
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One of the activities available for VASA attendees is a viewing and presentation of human anatomical structures related to VA procedures in the upper limb. Today, some of the WU-SOM anatomy faculty dissected fresh (not embalmed) anatomical specimens, which we'll be presenting for the VASA activity. This was my first-ever dissection of fresh human tissue, and I'm truly honored and humbled to have had the experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6KrzzXyXLJz7IAClbxfCz9AJvAYGh4WOJqp-hKroArJAJoqjgnPgstuQKqgbseZG4cBODSi0WzQ090PxB2GGdXK26H4mwLIMClSxmkFC5eli8XKWdUv_fVxEzx1_qbXzEFwzIE3iQmE/s1600/IMG_20170517_150748236+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6KrzzXyXLJz7IAClbxfCz9AJvAYGh4WOJqp-hKroArJAJoqjgnPgstuQKqgbseZG4cBODSi0WzQ090PxB2GGdXK26H4mwLIMClSxmkFC5eli8XKWdUv_fVxEzx1_qbXzEFwzIE3iQmE/s320/IMG_20170517_150748236+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drs. Krikor Dikranian (middle), Ritzman (right), and Morhardt (left) are the WU-SOM anatomists<br />
who prepared specimens for VASA.</td></tr>
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Human anatomical dissection dates back well over two millennia to Greek physicians in Alexandria. For much of the time since, human dissections were either outlawed or conducted on fresh tissue. However, starting around the time of the American Civil War, embalming became a standard practice in Human Anatomy labs. As such, it is rare for modern human anatomists to dissect fresh specimens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Rembrandt, 1632<br />
Public Domain, The Hague</td></tr>
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Today's experience connected me to thousands of years of anatomical history, as well as to some of the most cutting-edge medical techniques available. But really, that's pretty normal for me, as bridging the gap between the past and present is what I really love to do.<br />
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Thanks to Dr. Krikor Dikranian, WU-SOM Continuing Medical Education, VASA conference staff, and Dr. Terry Ritzman for making this experience one to remember!<br />
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Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-79184341646033842442017-05-15T09:57:00.003-05:002017-05-17T18:01:22.067-05:002017 Karger Workshop Line-Up Now Live<br />
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Hi all! Long time, no see!<br />
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I'm pleased to share with you the finalized speaker line-up for this year's Karger Workshop in Evolutionary Neuroscience (<a href="https://goo.gl/xi7PCa">https://goo.gl/xi7PCa</a>)! The 2017 Karger Workshop is entitled: “From fossils to function: integrative and taxonomically-inclusive approaches to vertebrate evolutionary neuroscience.”<br />
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The workshop will feature presentations and discussions that touch on three main subtopics:<br />
<ul>
<li>Comparative studies of brains in a wide array of extant vertebrate taxa, with special focus on groundbreaking structural and functional neuroimaging techniques</li>
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<ul>
<li>Best practices for the inference, reconstruction, and comparative investigation of endocranial soft-tissue structures in extinct vertebrate taxa </li>
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<li>Moving towards research that embraces an integrative approach (i.e., incorporating evidence from extinct and extant taxa), with an emphasis on deliberate, incremental studies of nervous system form and function within and across Vertebrata</li>
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Workshop attendees get access to the full day of talks, as well as opportunities for in-depth group discussions.<br />
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If you're interested in joining us for this awesome event, please consider submitting an abstract (<a href="http://goo.gl/hlJavQ">goo.gl/hlJavQ</a>) to the JBJC regular meeting that directly follows the Karger Workshop. The abstract deadline is May 31, 2017. Hope to see you there!<br />
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<u>The 29th Karger Workshop in Evolutionary Neuroscience</u><br />
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College Park Marriott in Hyattsville, MD<br />
November 9th, 2017*<br />
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<u>Workshop Organizer and Guest Editor:</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Dr. Ashley Morhardt<br />
Department of Neuroscience<br />
Washington University School of Medicine<br />
St. Louis, MO, USA<br />
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<br />
<u>Special Invited Guest Speaker:</u><br />
<u><br /></u>Dr. David Van Essen<br />
Alumni Endowed Professor of Neuroscience<br />
Department of Neuroscience<br />
Washington University School of Medicine<br />
St. Louis, MO, USA<br />
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<u>Workshop Speakers (in alphabetical order):</u><br />
<u><br /></u>Dr. Amy Balanoff<br />
Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution<br />
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine<br />
Baltimore, MD, USA<br />
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Dr. Emiliano Bruner<br />
Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana<br />
Burgos, Spain<br />
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Dr. Paul Gignac<br />
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology<br />
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences<br />
Tulsa, OK, USA<br />
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Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk<br />
Department of Neuroscience<br />
Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience<br />
University of Lethbridge<br />
Lethbridge, AB, Canada<br />
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<br />
Dr. Haley O’Brien<br />
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology<br />
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences<br />
Tulsa, OK, USA<br />
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Dr. James Rilling<br />
Departments of Anthropology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences<br />
Yerkes National Primate Research Center<br />
Center for Translational Social Neuroscience<br />
Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.<br />
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*followed by the regular annual meeting of the JBJC,<br />
which will be held on Friday, Nov. 10<br />
<br />Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-88593050078256144562014-09-15T00:42:00.001-05:002014-09-15T17:30:33.445-05:00What Common Core has that higher ed needsA random return to blogging, but here goes....<br />
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When two educators are married, discussions of pedagogy are inevitable. Tonight's discussion at my house: Common Core (CC) and its eventual impact on higher education. For those unaware, CC is the newly-implemented system that's meant to standardize K-12 education in America. In its infancy, it is a controversial system, mostly because of its revolutionary approach to teaching and assessment (testing), especially for math. CC has its basis in experiential learning and assessment of understanding through written justification. Additionally, students are encouraged to take charge of their learning, while the teacher serves as a guide on the journey. Despite the controversy surrounding CC, it's commendable that CC was structured using the most cutting-edge information about how students learn best. Under CC, lectures, worksheets, and scantrons are a thing of the past. And yet, that's exactly what students will face when they enroll as university freshman. Ironic, no? In the coming years, we will condition children for one classroom format and then expect them to excel as young adults in another one. Seems bogus to me. <br />
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Higher ed is notorious for clinging to outdated classroom formats, mostly out of tradition and convenience. I've been training for seven years (ugh) to become a university-level educator. Yet, everything I know about classroom management, curriculum development, curriculum implementation, and student assessment is example-based. Monkey see, monkey do. Thankfully, my role models have been excellent, and many of them take it upon themselves regularly to read up on and use current teaching techniques. However, how messed up is it that, in all my years, I've never been required to take an education course? Even preschool teachers (no offense to preschool teachers) are required to take many pedagogical courses before they're certified. What about the folks who teach future physicians? Nope.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/a6c7a8_f58b843ae77cde986131f88b03a78361.jpg_srz_535_490_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/a6c7a8_f58b843ae77cde986131f88b03a78361.jpg_srz_535_490_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" height="293" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 7 years of training to be a professor, nobody's ever asked me to take an education class. They did make me swear on a foot that I was qualified, though. </td></tr>
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To clarify, I'm not saying that professors are inept teachers. I'm saying that teaching is a skill--one that is under-appreciated in higher ed. It's often ranked as low priority by tenure review boards. "Anybody can teach," they say. "What else can you do for us?" Yet, how is one to be an excellent teacher AND an excellent researcher without training and sustained support for both?<br />
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The dirty little secret is that, during grad school, many teaching assistants are tossed into the deep end of the teaching pool without any prior training or practice. Their ability to teach swimmingly is based on their previous role models and their own personality and adaptability. Yet, even when teaching assistants succeed at good teaching, they do so only through cobbled attempts of trial-and-error and not through deliberate experimentation with evidence-based techniques.<br />
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The bigger issue, in my mind, is where higher ed is headed. The goals of business-minded administrators rarely match those of the faculty (though, keeping the gates open and the power on are probably mutual interests). As administrations at brick-and-mortar universities and colleges work to compete with online options, they attempt to woo students with shiny, new buildings and "best value" educations. Enrollments are at record highs--set high in order to pay for deficits both old and new. Education resource budgets are slashed. Therefore, as admission requirements loosen and as less emphasis is placed on high-quality educational experiences for students, we are left with academic institutions that are nothing more than glorified summer camps (citation needed...anyone remember where that phrase came from?) that house, feed, and entertain slack-jawed idiots. <br />
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However, in our post-economic-downturn era, it is now common to hear discussions about whether or not college is a good investment and whether or not it provides students with skills that set them apart from other peers in the job market. For some, college is no longer a necessary step to entering the middle class. This makes total sense. In my opinion, college is not for everyone (however, it should be available to anyone who wants to go). If college happens to be necessary based on the student's chosen career path, the next choice is to decide where to attend. The obvious dichotomy would be go cheap (online degree) or go quality (brick-and-mortar). <br />
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Unfortunately, instead of focusing on quality by emphasizing classroom funding, teacher training, and career support for good educators, universities are focusing on aesthetics while dumping more and more teaching responsibilities on non-tenured and part-time faculty, many of whom are inexperienced or under-qualified educators. In the end, and especially as the cost of higher ed continues to rise (thanks, federal loans), it is conceivable that families will turn away in droves from institutions that provide sub-standard training. And rightly so. <br />
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For all of its faults, CC is likely a step in the right direction. It aims to anticipate the needs of students and take into consideration their more modern experience. Instead of asking students to memorize everything, it accepts that the internet exists, and it attempts to foster abilities like teamwork, problem-solving, information prioritization, demonstration of mastery, cognitive reasoning, and independent learning. How awesome is that? I mean, talk about preparing someone for the real world. Or at least grad school.<br />
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The saddest part is that, even as students experience the ups and downs of early CC, and as CC is refined through the years, university faculty will STILL be droning on from our podiums and complaining that students are texting in class. We'll still be whispering to our grad students about those lazy, pathetic undergrads as we simultaneously force outdated, ineffective techniques on them that hardly inspire enthusiasm for learning. In our ignorance, we'll balk at accommodations for different learning styles and IEPs*. We'll fail our students. We'll dig our own grave, and the university will happily build yet another rec center over it.<br />
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The sooner we all realize the following, the better:<br />
-Teaching is not easy.<br />
-Teaching requires training, support, and tools.<br />
-Teaching methods are not stagnant.<br />
-Good teaching is the heart of a university.<br />
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Let's try to keep it beating, shall we?<br />
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*Gorramit, if you don't know what an IEP is yet, for goodness' sake go look it up now! Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-16254526594425250342010-06-17T07:27:00.005-05:002010-06-17T07:53:11.115-05:00What ancient fossils can teach us about cancer today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPAi9Xw5uEPlkLFcTLMhMWY90kR7kxR6OqM-H_QLxo4VfAOnT7Hit_TUo1O5x6xmkBnorc3bdppxI4R2j2J-JGmPwOTP9rrEjgxH4CItEy02GQmhmBOSWuGn2OGrEBH0mbXE_9ufwKH4/s1600/Cancer+CT.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPAi9Xw5uEPlkLFcTLMhMWY90kR7kxR6OqM-H_QLxo4VfAOnT7Hit_TUo1O5x6xmkBnorc3bdppxI4R2j2J-JGmPwOTP9rrEjgxH4CItEy02GQmhmBOSWuGn2OGrEBH0mbXE_9ufwKH4/s200/Cancer+CT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483724417281085298" border="0" /></a><br />When you think about cancer, you may think about how it has touched your life personally through a friend or a loved one. You may also consider how cancer is often in the news as novel treatments are tested daily. It seems to many, including medical students, that cancer is a disease affecting those in the here and now. While this is certainly the case, Chris Beard, Curator and Chair of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, encourages med students to learn more about the evidence for cancer in fossil animals. Not only does in give perspective on how old cancer really is (hundreds of millions of years at least), it also helps students understand cancer within an evolutionary context. Dr. Beard also hopes that, if given a dramatic example of cancer in fossils, medical students will be more likely to remember the experience and to correctly identify and diagnose cancer in future patients.<br /><br />Fascinating stuff! More information and a great little video featuring Dr. Beard, a cancerous fossil, and medical student Katherin Peperzak can be found <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0607-jurassic_docs.htm">here</a>.Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-9036781994922448542010-05-28T21:59:00.009-05:002010-06-01T00:36:32.280-05:00Utah Trip!<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwXuQuFUYaTMkLvLhb4rNqn4xuGx_Xw0Obij6RiIuu5IM-AKzKzJX4B6elIIwCepgzkpRbnqSiq0nckSJfcM4DHiccA9JjRVR0dWdRDtTvr7XGZV7Y2i_EWrFoDhFx53tU7CuBqXMu3M/s1600/SANY3605.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwXuQuFUYaTMkLvLhb4rNqn4xuGx_Xw0Obij6RiIuu5IM-AKzKzJX4B6elIIwCepgzkpRbnqSiq0nckSJfcM4DHiccA9JjRVR0dWdRDtTvr7XGZV7Y2i_EWrFoDhFx53tU7CuBqXMu3M/s200/SANY3605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476526912484578834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKSXQnHsP4984iNusuvx50397khBSjJf5cdesApuU2hfP3R4b5YzoZcvdiOWde4-uX_8cPwIdyCX1TMc4eE_fYZUaCoAly8mwcw12m7ZcnsNMK36M0XzYIfpUXaqv7RbPQ8tZiNa6sVQ/s1600/SANY3771.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKSXQnHsP4984iNusuvx50397khBSjJf5cdesApuU2hfP3R4b5YzoZcvdiOWde4-uX_8cPwIdyCX1TMc4eE_fYZUaCoAly8mwcw12m7ZcnsNMK36M0XzYIfpUXaqv7RbPQ8tZiNa6sVQ/s200/SANY3771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476526904010413042" border="0" /></a></div>Hi everyone (all 3 of you),<br /><br />Apologies are in order for the long break between posts. The week following my last post was finals week at WIU - always a crazy time. Since finals week, I have spent two weeks in Hanksville, Utah with the Burpee crew digging up dinosaurs and doing geology sleuth work in the field. The weather has been unbeatable, and our group is fantastic. Tomorrow is our last full day in the quarry before heading back to Macomb. I thought I would be remiss if I didn't post at least once while here.<br /><br />We have found numerous new bones, including several partially articulated limb elements, pectoral and pelvic bones, ribs, verts, and a camarasaur dentary with other associated (possible) skull fragments. With the high rate of new bone discoveries, efficient mapping has become a high priority and dominates the days of several of our team members. Additionally, we are starting to get a good sense of what occurred at our site ecologically, and we've been able to support these hypotheses by correlating the strata of our site with several other sections in the area.<br /><br />Also, we've taken trips to Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef to view the geology and get a sense of Utah's strat column in its entirety. The sites are truly jaw-dropping.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ChnToBfutJwxVrhA9uMDWzzlsskqD4q68B06yz1x__BCNYy_SvcLIMrho4adLbg4UEeMfHyTBPDFQ-4U69e1yDEGW3KueTdO9XH2au1A5-wQKAWqYgImC7UCy_q3Bs5hrkmL9yIVHNg/s1600/SANY3704.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ChnToBfutJwxVrhA9uMDWzzlsskqD4q68B06yz1x__BCNYy_SvcLIMrho4adLbg4UEeMfHyTBPDFQ-4U69e1yDEGW3KueTdO9XH2au1A5-wQKAWqYgImC7UCy_q3Bs5hrkmL9yIVHNg/s200/SANY3704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476526898215180210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd76WHaO7_D6Kn-BkYLoA1Gx3W34EjnQGrpzt3pa6VoorZVUTJKkpRjlw1INvFd37EJtMss7oINHYLRSAJjS3ajurBCtclwZ5vEFUXVvjOQXZ8lenKHe9vu0hY1fWEj9bCQX6AjWgdZs0/s1600/SANY3641.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd76WHaO7_D6Kn-BkYLoA1Gx3W34EjnQGrpzt3pa6VoorZVUTJKkpRjlw1INvFd37EJtMss7oINHYLRSAJjS3ajurBCtclwZ5vEFUXVvjOQXZ8lenKHe9vu0hY1fWEj9bCQX6AjWgdZs0/s200/SANY3641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476526885887413122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not to pass the buck, but for anyone who might be interested, I'm posting the link to Dr. Matt Bonnan's blog below. He has been much more diligent at making daily blog entries about our dig progress.<br /><br />I'll have more about our trip when I return.<br /><br />Dr. Bonnan's blog: http://jurassicjourneys.net/Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249289682731470223.post-41956215815141252432010-04-27T11:02:00.019-05:002010-04-27T15:36:06.796-05:00Some good books to considerIn order to prepare for teaching portions of the WIU paleo field course, I've been perusing the two class texts: <a href="http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/EarthSciences/Paleontology/%7E%7E/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5MjgwNDE5OA==">Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction</a> by David Norman and <a href="http://www.grandcanyonassociation.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GCA&Product_Code=M10222&Category_Code=GEOLOGY">Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau</a> by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney (both can be found on Half.com and Amazon as well).<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pG5QAMUZhSWYkXUotu4rTmdaPfi2OGEeqPBepGRFp9lwB5Kwckf3ayJsvguNLbvya-EHWuMuN5QovZpW1J7jcnAud45DFYOb95N0hA0r72mYdubgQ4pD5RGUolXqQtzMYS5GD_Ysduo/s1600/Intro+to+dinos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pG5QAMUZhSWYkXUotu4rTmdaPfi2OGEeqPBepGRFp9lwB5Kwckf3ayJsvguNLbvya-EHWuMuN5QovZpW1J7jcnAud45DFYOb95N0hA0r72mYdubgQ4pD5RGUolXqQtzMYS5GD_Ysduo/s320/Intro+to+dinos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464859615763739378" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dinosaurs</span> is a familiar text for me, as we've used it for a couple of years now. It is a quick read with some general science history about how and why dinosaur paleontology/paleobiology have been shaped into the professions they are today. Additionally, as Norman is an expert on hadrosaurs, he uses duck-billed dinos frequently as examples to illustrate major dinosaur research topics such as histology (LAGs, growth charts, poikilo/homeothermy), EPB and soft tissue reconstruction, molecular/protein analysis, FEA, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZYWCFIZFLlYb1fDrwIxZFnow2Jkpg37N0W7vVcvbJm2wH6gVnexL2O1jRSAsI2qtFpf4R9YFwIwYFLBgKYb5F8pesxBDGMa-3e8mzKc62aqD1pqO_iksPu3EDegltgs_P8SmAzEPsas/s1600/Ancient+landscapes+cover.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZYWCFIZFLlYb1fDrwIxZFnow2Jkpg37N0W7vVcvbJm2wH6gVnexL2O1jRSAsI2qtFpf4R9YFwIwYFLBgKYb5F8pesxBDGMa-3e8mzKc62aqD1pqO_iksPu3EDegltgs_P8SmAzEPsas/s320/Ancient+landscapes+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464916107490592386" border="0" /></a><br />I have yet to read the second book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ancient Landscapes</span>, all the way through, but the artwork has already proven impressive. I am especially excited to see that the authors/artists took care to add<span style="font-style: italic;"> in situ </span>pics of the strata as well as maps of North America during various periods of geologic history (including state outlines on maps of Pangea, etc). I'll be back with a more in-depth review of it on a later occasion.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg6iEJr7s4A9Xcxt_mq5E3-7jEFt4RfbB7Fv7aCl-SKGNyiC3pX5rfoK-v70MxZPKrjdE3oQ4q_kO_BhnWkkUPBX3WdG2gR4p24yz0JWhhoZyTuIoCJkLqUXdGGYnamlMtExwchty9TY/s1600/Utah+map.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg6iEJr7s4A9Xcxt_mq5E3-7jEFt4RfbB7Fv7aCl-SKGNyiC3pX5rfoK-v70MxZPKrjdE3oQ4q_kO_BhnWkkUPBX3WdG2gR4p24yz0JWhhoZyTuIoCJkLqUXdGGYnamlMtExwchty9TY/s320/Utah+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464913523166035794" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7uo5b6lYNyhPg56eZw8a-zSnfGwmncB9tormZlpUiCSNjzXh4quI2BubyCiLp70-cZPWB9XCVTorHDiXV9Dqnpp2L-RMTeRCJhUHPrpFpFI0Kk7wNRtD5fou9lwCtb_nIJjvQyG4rDM/s1600/AncientLandscapesCompSM.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7uo5b6lYNyhPg56eZw8a-zSnfGwmncB9tormZlpUiCSNjzXh4quI2BubyCiLp70-cZPWB9XCVTorHDiXV9Dqnpp2L-RMTeRCJhUHPrpFpFI0Kk7wNRtD5fou9lwCtb_nIJjvQyG4rDM/s320/AncientLandscapesCompSM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464913521131131138" border="0" /><br /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74AW8f8bYobzPOjWhBtqL8inR4nIaGiEv1Xa8u-5oJfuG892doS9LzpsBrQlsnO0TL30znl7qu2hMEl_utkZCSUamJxbrcdCAabymszhyphenhyphenXMe2ZSkzJmyj_uQoqullardMVk7zs4lAzDM/s1600/Utah+map.jpg"><br /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> </div>Ashley Morhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642746699006573456noreply@blogger.com0