Making the Connection

U.S. Dollars were once secured by deposits from banks that were then chartered to issue the currency. Dollars were printed in sheets that were cut into individual bills and not considered legal tender until they were individually signed by the local bank management. The deposit required from the vendor bank was discounted from the face value. Nevertheless, the Dollar was a representative value, or said another way, a coupon. This help stabilize the Dollar-based economy.

Charter Bank Currency, San Antonio, 1910 &1919


A few months ago, we 10 halloween costumes in 2008joined the Association of Coupohalloween carnival night united states presidents get togethern Professionals (find us between General Mills and Google). The organization has proven quite useful to us. We are developing a very interesting project. Many of you have already correctly guessadult halloween costumesed that we will be using smartcards.


You need one of these to park in Paris
Beyond the main purpose, the smartcard itself sends a message
This creates another advertising opportunity


Euros are secured by the deposit from the customer that are then issued a specifically defined currency (a smartcard that can be used in a parking ticket machine that accepts nothing else). The local government issues the smartcard. The smartcard is sold to vendors at a discount to its face value. The cards can be given away to a friend or even a loyal customer when tied to a shopping promotion.

In the meanwhile, here is some very interesting news: Procter & Gamble buy 1% of Ocado. And, don't miss this: P&G, Google team up to swap jobs, trade knowledge. It won't be long before you see smartcards paired with a reader/loader tied to linked online and in-store promotions - no parking or bills required. Loyal customers that fully identify themselves online and/or in-store will gain the benefit by purchasing products at a discount from the vendor/issuer. Home delivery will be an option.

This complete awareness-fulfillment connection cycle directly between the buyer and the seller will be responsible for driving the next generation of consumer-friendly technologies into the market. Online advertising is big. This connection cycle will be much, much bigger as a new kind of economy is created.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!


R&B

Intrinsic Motivation Learning Design

When one explores the notion of learning we invariably look for what motivates our learners to achieve. Traditionally, higher education learning institutions have operated as gatekeepers of knowledge and qualifications without which students were unlikely to receive the rewards they sought (specialist employment, access to higher degrees and eligibility to professional organisations). Compulsory schooling has also adopted a similar approach with most of its students captive to the system until age 16, or older if they do not have employment. In the final years of school the need to either find acceptable employment, or gain university entrance is a strong external motivator.

However, the knowledge economy has begun to alter this monopoly with the rapidly growing, readily available authoritative knowledge “online”. Information that was once only available in textbooks, conferences and journals is now making its way onto the World Wide Web. Students are now commonly regarded as consumers and come to learning institutions with expectations of a quality learning experience. If they (or in the case of schools, their parents) experience anything less than what they want, there are other institutions that are willing and able to acceptadult halloween costumes them.

Up until recently, the concept of external motivators has worked well enough for schools and universities who use the lure of certification to ensure that most of their students apply themselves and attain the institutions’ requirements for a qualification. But what about the intrinsic motivational factors that can be found in some students? Is it possible that these could be more powerful drivers for student performance?

We know from much of the educational research that meaningful real-world learning provides high levels of intrinsic motivation (McCombs & Marzano, 1990; McCombs & Whisler, 1989; Deci and Ryan, 1991; Mills, 1991; Mills, Pransky & Sedgeman, 1994; Paris, Newman, & Jacobs 1985). We also know that intrinsic motivation enhances inquiry and can lead to high levels of learning engagement (Salmon, 2002). So how do we develop the kinds of intrinsic motivation that will result in high levels of performance, given the decreasing effect the more traditional incentives are havinghalloween carnival night united states presidents get together on our learners?

In 1969 McMaster University in Canada introduced Problem-Based Learning (PBL) into its medical school in an effort to provide a multi-discipline approach to medical education and to promote problem solving in its graduates (Barrows & Tamblyn, 1980). The PBL approach sought to embed small groups of students in the role of a professional and present them with a messy, ill-structured, real-world problem, based within the context of the profession, to solve. Students are then guided by cognitive coaches through the problem solving process and develop high levels of generic skills and attributes, along with the content specific knowledge and skills they require. PBL practitioners often claim that their learners are more motivated and independent in their learning. Most often the problem scenarios in PBL classes, while based on real cases, are contrived and somewhat hypothetical.

It would appear from some of the literature that intrinsic motivation and learning engagement are linked. Kearsley, and Shneiderman (1998) propose that by asking students to interact with a complex real-world problem, create a solution and then donate that solution back into the real world, learners in Information Communication Technology learning environments become more engaged. This proposition is similar to the PBL model except that the problem solution is actually donated to the real world for feedback and review. Could this approach provide high levels of learning engagement in learning environments other than ICTs?

In most cases assessment is used to measure students’ learning (summative) and/or to provide useful feedback to the student on their progress throughout the course of study (formative). Assessment design is most often developed as an external measure and can be seen as an add-on to the course materials supplied. We know that with many courses assessment is a powerful extrinsic motivator—most students want to perform well and not fail. Kearsley, and Shneiderman (1998) demonstrated that donating solutions to the real world increases students’ intrinsic motivation, so what would happen if that became part of the assessment? The assessment would be both authentic and integrated with the learning tasks.

Currently, there has been little in the way or research published that seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of combining PBL, engagement theory and integrated and authentic assessment. Given that individually they all appear to contribute to the level of intrinsic student motivation, what would be the result of measuring the effect of having all of these approaches combined into a single learning design?

References
Barrows, H. & Tamblyn, R., 1980. Problem-based learning: an approach to medical education. Medical Education. Volume 1. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M.(1991). A motivational approach to self: Integration in personality. In R. Dienstbier (Ed.).getting married on halloween and to be another corpse couple Nebraska symposium on motivation: Vol. 38. Perspectives on motivation (pp. 237-288). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1998). Engagement theory: a framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Educational Technology, 38(5), 20-23.

McCombs, B. L., & Marzano, R. J. (1990). Putting the self in self-regulated learning: The self as agent in integrating skill and will. Educational Psychologist, 25(6), 51-69.

McCombs, B. L., & Whisler, J. S. (1989). The role of affective variables in autonomous learning. Educational Psychologist, 24(3), 277-306.

Mills, R. C. (1991). A new understanding of self: The role of affect, state of mind, self-understanding, and intrinsic motivation. Journal of Experimental Education, 60(1), 67-81.

Mills, R. C., Pransky, G., & Sedgeman, J. A. (1994). POM: The basis of health realization: The founder monograph. LaConner, WA: Psychology of Mind Training Institute, Inc.

Paris, S. G., Newman, R. S., & Jacobs, J. E. (1985). Social contexts and the function of children's remembering. In M. Pressley & C. J. Brainerd (Eds.). Cognitive learning and memory in children (pp. 81-115). New York: Springer-Verlag.

Salmon, G. (2002). Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance!. Net*working 2002. [http://www.atimod.com/research/presentations2002.shtml, accessed 23 May 2005]

Success Stories in Injury and Violence Prevention

David Hemenway is Professor of Health Policy at the Harvard
School of Public Health, Director of the Harvard Injury Control
Research Center, and Director of the Harvard Youth Violence Prevention
Center. His previous books include Private Guns, Public Health. Hemenway is also the author of While We Were Sleeping: Success Stories in Injury and Violence Prevention, which was published by UC Press in March 2009. In his blog entry below, Hemenway discusses some success stories he mentioned during a visiting lecture.

---

By: David Hemenway

Everything is about economics?

Last week I gave a lecture about “While We Were Sleeping” at Saint Michael’s, a small liberal arts college in Vermont.   The talk was to a full house of economics faculty and students, a number of whom who were being inducted into the Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society.  There was also a dinner with students, faculty, the president and other college administrators.  Everyone was so welcoming, and I was extremely impressed by the caliber of the students, and how much they liked their college experience.

Because the audience was primarily economics majors, I tried to make my talk relevant to their studies.    What does a talk about advocates and activists whalloween carnival night united states presidents get togetherho have helped make the world safer—by helping to reduce motor vehicle deaths, burn injuries, violence, suicide, industrial accidents, etc—have to do with what the students were studying?

Fortunately I am an economist, so I made sure that one of the heroes I talked about was a labor economist—John B. Andrews—who successfully promoted taxation rather than prohibition as a way to reduce the use of white phosphorous, which was causing an horrific workplace poisoning known as “phossy jaw.”  One historian has written that Andrews  “orchestrated the most significant legislative success achieved by advocates of workers’ health in the early twentieth century.”

I also talked about some possible lessons for economists.  Some of the successes illustrated the power of the market.  For example, improved ski boots and bindings (something these Vermont students had an interest in) dramatically reduced lower leg injuries between 1960 and 1980.  Sometimes, however, the market cannot be relied on, when,the legend of jack o lantern and jack o lantern halloween costume for example tgetting married on halloween and to be another corpse couplehere is poor consumer information or large externalities.  The U.S. government had to require that automotive manufacturers install collapsible steering columns in cars in the 1960s, and that tobacco manufacturers produce cigarettes that were fire-safe in the 2000s. Vermont was the second state to pass such a cigarette law. 

Often, however, the issue is not more or less government, but smarter government.  For example, when the government buys or builds mass transit, roads or bridges, they can make them more or less safe for workers and for travelers.  The Washington D.C. metro, for example, was specifically –and successfully--designed to deter crime and violence.

Finally, I talked about the “law of unintended consequences.”  While economists often emphasis the bad unintended consequences of attempts to improve on the market, the unintended consequences of many of the successes in “While We Were Sleeping” were beneficial.  For example, the passage of motorcycle helmet laws not only reduces motor cycle injury, but almost invariably reduces motorcycle theft.  I had the students think about and explain why this would be the case.

One of the nicer aspects of writing this book has been the opportunity of making presentations in various locations and to various audiences.  I did not even know Saint Mike’s existed before my talk there, but it seems like a hidden gem.  

Dear Gordon: Relationship Advice From Barack Obama

HAVING given Gordon Brown the gift of accepting gifts graciously, Iowahawk explains how Barack Obama is now teaching us the gift of giving:

Dear Barry:

I’ve had a bit of a bad luck patch over the last month (losing my job, watching my 401k completely disintegrate, etc., etc.) and ended up relocating from a high rise in Lincoln Park to a new neighborhood along the Fullerton underpass on the Kennedy Expressway. I was a bit worried about the move at first, but my new neighbors have been great. In fact on move-in day they greeted me with a grocery cart “welcome wagon” containing some lovely and practical gifts like cans of Sterno, cardboard, fortified wine, and a hypo-allergenic harmonica. I would like to show my appreciation with thoughtful “thank you” gifts. Can you recommend something nice that won’t break my budget ($3.00 total for 6 gifts)? Please help!

Barbara in Chicago

Dear Barbara:

With my busy schedule of entertaining foreign dignitaries and celebrities at the White House, I know how important a well chosen gift can be. Two weeks ago, for example, we received a visit from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Prime Minister brought a few housewarming gag gifts including a pen set made from a boat, a framed paper thing from another boat, and some old books by Churchill (not Ward, but that English guy). Obviously we wanted to return the nice gesture so I sent my interns out on a scavenger hunt for an appropriate present.

They couldn’t find anything in the West Wing, but luckily Cosireland birthplace of halloweentco was open and was running a 25-for-the-price-of-10 clearance sale in the DVD department. You should have seen Mr. Brown light up when he opened that sack of classic titles like “Wizard of Oz” and “Baby Geniuses 2.” I like to think those DVDs helped cement our Anglo-American “special relationship” even if, as he mentioned to me, they probably wouldn’t work in his European player. Thinking quickly, I told the PM I would send him an American DVD player as soon as I earned enough cash-back points on my Costco card. Crisis averted, but that episode taught me a valuable lesson: always keep a stock of gifts handy in case some foreign poobah or supreme religious figure or failing industry leader pops by for coffee. As a result, I make sure the Oval Office closet is filled with pre-wrapped Sham-Wows and Snuggle blankets and trillion dollar bailout packages for whatever gift emergency might arise.

Sometimes, though, the occasion calls for a gift with the warm “personal touch” that reflects the personality and tastes of the recipient. For example, my wife Michelle is very involved with fashion, fitness, and beauty, so for our 10th anniversary I gave her a Norelco heavy duty personal ear and nose hair groomer. Sure, it was expensive, but that glare of delight in her eyes was more than enough payback for the $89.95 price plus $20 for shipping and monogramming.

When I sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to meet with a Russian delegation last week, she brought along a cute novelty “panic button” from Spencer Gifts that my staff relabeled with the Russian word for “Reset” as a humorous token of America’s new gentler approach to diplomacy. Even though they pointed out the word actually translates as “Vaporize,” the Russians still had a good laugh because I think they understood where we were coming from. It was such a hit that later this year when we meet with the Iranians we are planning to bring along a Big Mouth Billy Bass that sings “Don’t Worry Be Happy” in Farsi. If there’s anything I’ve learned about international rthe legend of jack o lantern and jack o lantern hallowgetting married on halloween and to be another corpse coupleeen costumeelations, it is to bring a fun gift and leave the attitude and preconditions behind.

But let’s get back to your situation. At $0.50 per gift I’m afraid there aren’t a lot of good shopping options. You might think about buying your neighbors a couple shares of GM, Citicorp or the New York Times Company, but even if you could afford the transaction fees the shares would probably continue to deteriorate out there in the elements.

The Dollar General nearby on Belmont stocks a big selection of weather-proof plastic utensils and sponges, but at $1 each you will probably have to pare back your gift list. My advice is to focus your generosity on those underpass neighbors who control the biggest voting blocs. Happy gifting!

- Iowahawk

Are we now expected to accept corrupt politics in the UK?

Arise Mayor Sir Sugar: A Glimpse of the Immoral Apocalypse of Common Indecency

Sometimes I reflect to try to gauge whether or not the Bent Society hypothesis is fair in the way we apply it to what New Labour politicians are doing in Government.

On reflection today I am astounded at just how fitting it is. Lord Mandelson continues to get away with snaky shenanigans that shame our society and bring us down into the gutter - along with other countries that have for years been renowned for their corrupt governments. And we only mentioned the fact that he would always behave crookedly a couple of days ago. Just how predictably delinquent this greedy bent rabble are. I mean, you could not write this as fiction because nobody would believe it, but also just a couple of days ago we blogged on Sir Alan Sugar - explaining our outrage at the way this notoriously bent salesman has been rewarded by the establishment despite the fact that he made his fortune by selling cheap, rubbish music systems that were sneakily disguised as being powerful separate hi-fi components. So what is the latest news on Sugar and new Labour?

Incredibly: New Labour Now Wants Sugar to be the Next Mayor of London

Clearly, our Government just does not get it, because like moral morons they simply cannot tell right from wrong. And they prove this consistently by their behaviour. If they can find a niche and exploit it then so long as there is no law against it they will do so even if that means claiming on their ministerial expenses for houses they never or hardly use as did Smith the Home secretary recently. They obviously care not about how such rank corruption sets an example to the rest of the country. Indeed they seem to think that this is righteous behaviour - to take payers money that they have not earned while calling folooking forward to harry houdinis return on halloweenr imprisonment and regulation of poorer people who do likewise with other peoples money but do not have such opportunities to exploit niches and so break the laws against theft. That said, they are not snobs. Alan Sugar pulled himself up by his bootstraps and found his own niche in exploiting the public expectation that manufacturers of entertainment music systems would never dream of passing off rubbish integrated equipment as separate Hi-Fi components. New labour likes him for that. They understand him. He is their kind of man. But they lack the moral intellect to understand that such people as Smith and Sugar can only get away with such behaviour because they are hiding amongst a sea of individuals who behave with more common decency.







New Labour's politicians clearly fail to understand that they are fuelling a Bent Society that is unceasingly becoming characterised by a growing common indecency.




Similarly with Sugar's TV celebrity blunt rudeness and bullying - he is rewarded like a badly behaved child because he is entertaining simply because such nastiness is relatively uncommon. But such rudeness, if you listen to public discourse is increasing in recent years.

Were the world to be full of such obnoxious little demons as Sugar we would be living in Hell.

Are we then headed in a handcart towards a New Labour inspired hell? Would Gordon Brown and his ilk have the wit to even begin to understand this fear? Lately on BS we've been using a lot of disgusting scatological references and scary halloween costumes on all saints eveimagery in relation to the Royal Family and New Labour.

Unfortunately for those of a more discerning disposition we cannot resist reflecting on an old scouse saying and remarking that it seems New Labour really can't tell shit from Sugar!

Friday's Evening Standard reveals that Ken Clarke - Labour's London Director telephoned Sir Alan to explore his response to their probing and that Sugar responded briefly but pleasantly while not committing himself.

So its not enough that the last Mayor Ken Livingstone spent tax payers money on endlessly promoting himself while destroying Red London Buses - once a loved British icon, and that the current Conservative mayor "Buffoon-Clown and nasty Racist Boris Johnson" refers to Black children as piget your baby dressed up for the coming halloweencininees and other Black people as having "water melon smiles" New Labour thinks the best candidate for Mayor of London is an abrasive greedy morally degenerate salesman who shamelessly thinks the poor are there to be exploited and hoodwinked for his own personal enrichment.

The gates of a Broken Society Hell are waiting for us all. Lots of little New Labour demons like Mandelson and Sugar and Smith are desperately greasing the hinges on their own behalf.

Reference

Gilligan, A. (2009) Sir Alan Sugar is Asked to run for Mayor: Labour's secret approach as the "Stop Ken" campaign grows. Evening Standard. 27 February. p1.

http://bentsocietyblog.blogspot.com/