Swim Suit Model Speaks Out

The images below show an original photo and an edited version that was used in an advertisement in Australia.  The model was very upset that the company had chosen to photoshop the image and speaks out publicly in this article about the way modern media depicts women and how this in turn affects people's self image and confidence.  According to the article the model's father is a  "body image expert and the director of an organization that provides support to people with eating disorders".  In class my students will read the article and discuss the issues related to advertising, women's health and public perception.
Questions for discussion:

• Should companies have the right to edit photos used in their advertising?
• How does the modern media depict women and how does this affect our body image?
• Is this a problem in our society?
• Is this an issue that affects men as well?

The Myth of Multi-Tasking

 

As we prepare to enforce a new cell phone policy at my school, I have been trying to convince my students that there is a reason that we cracking down on texting/facebooking/instagramming during class.  The current research on multitasking is just the thing I was looking for.  Scientists at Stanford University are discovering that the brain is actually incapable of focusing on more than one task at a time. (I am totally paraphrasing!) The brain IS capable of "task-switching" at incredibly high rates of speed. So quickly in fact that it feels like both tasks are happening simultaneously.  To test/illustrate this concept I had my students participate in the activity described in this article.

As I timed them, students wrote the entire alphabet and then the numbers 1 - 26.  Focusing on one task at a time.  Next they practiced task-switching.  Starting with the letter A, followed by the number 1, they alternated letters and numbers ending with the pair Z 26.  The vast majority of students had a drastically slower time the second round, with many students reporting mistakes that they would never have made in the first round, skipping or repeating letters or numbers.

This ended up being a great way to illustrate the way that mutltitasking decreases accuracy and efficiency.  I continued the conversation discussing the idea that listening to music while you work does NOT help you focus... it just makes it more enjoyable.  I love music and frequently listen to music while I work, but I can't deny that I get my work done more quickly when I turn off the music, TV, cell phone, etc.

I think they bought it...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creativity-without-borders/201405/the-myth-multitasking

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861382/the-myth-of-multitasking

Letter on a bus

This is a cute story about strangers interacting and offering encouragement to those in need.

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/2015/04/28/strangerletter/26495985/

Good Cop

With all of the negative attention police departments and officers are receiving these days, it is important to be reminded that there are many officers serving out there every day that are generous, respectful, compassionate, hard working men and women.

Check out the video in this link:

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/stories-worth-sharing/2015/04/23/pierce-county-deputy-homeless-lunch/26247227/