Category: Viewing

Stoll is like listening to an energetic 6 year-old telling about an exciting day, except he is an old grey haired man. Stoll takes us on a stroll through history to end us with a sobering message: computer driven education will never surpass hands-on education for understanding and enlightenment.

Row provides some insights as a lawyer for death row inmates. Chief among these insights is that we should for the earliest intervention possible.

David R. Dow: Lessons from death row inmates

Algorithms are progressively doing more for us as computing continues to integrate itself into our world. Slavin talks about some ways that these concepts are shaping our world, literally and figuratively.

It turns out, the ability to self-regulate (self-control), make decisions and take initiative all stem from the same, exhaustible, mental resource and takes a lot of physical energy to do. Like any mental resource, however, this one gets stronger with use. Thus, it is better to provide rules and structure for the young and old alike (even while knowing that the rules will be violated) because it helps the mind to become stronger at resisting impulses.

Willpower: Self-control, decision fatigue, and energy (RSA)
Roy F Baumeister – Willpower: Self-control, decision fatigue, and energy (TED)

As a side note, scientists recently discovered that consuming familiar, favorite materials (i.e. TV shows or movies that we have already seen or books that we have previously read, and that we enjoy consuming repeatedly) will “recharge” our willpower quicker than it will naturally recharge by itself. The benefit, however, does not come from consuming new material even if from in a favorite collection (i.e. a new episode of your favorite TV show). The original article can be found here.

A call for young scientists to hold true to their course as the world will need them as guides to the future. It is interesting to note that Wilson downplays the importance of math. He comments that while it is the language of science, one only needs a rudimentary understanding of the language to use it. Instead, it is critical to be able to dream in order to push science forward.