Hi everyone, Rebekah and I have been brainstorming ideas for a research project proposal in hopes of presenting a poster at the 2010 AERA Conference. If you have a moment, please reply to our online poll with the topic you like best: Which Proposal Idea for the AERA Conference Do You Like Best?(trends) T...

If anyone's interested, here's another sample blog I've been working on for the Teaching the Levees website: What's the current situation in New Orleans? It seems the news media can't agree. While the Chicago Sun-Times recently published a sunny article describing how recovery money has steeled New Orleans against the recession (leading young, laid-off workers to flock to the area) and the Times-Picayune sugg...

Hi all, I'm (hopefully) going to be blogging for the Teaching the Levees curriculum site, so I'm putting together some sample blogs related to Hurricane Katrina and the recovery effort. I'm posting one below. Please let me know if you have any feedback/suggestions/comments! June 1st marks the beginning of the 2009 hurricane season, again prompting concern as to how the city of New Orleans will fare in the coming summer's weather. In recognition of this fact, the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project (GCCWP) has gathered volunteers from across ...

(First of all, hello! If I haven't met you yet, I'm a new summer intern here at the EdLab. Picture to come soon, hopefully. Looking forward to working with all of you...) As someone who's a little obsessed with amassing information (as I expect many of you may be as well), I've been spending some time lately checking out the resources surrounding President Obama's Open Government Initiative. For those of you who haven't been following this development, the project features a few newly created/redesigned websites that aim to provide the public with more opportunities to gain information about the workings of government or participate in an exchange of ideas. For example, a site called data.gov,which is centered around data sets published by government agencies, recovery.gov, for Recovery Act spending, as well as an opportunity recently announced for public citizens to brainstorm policy ideas. More resources available here. Despite a little skepticism on my part as to the extent to which data will actually be provided or policy ideas seriously considered, these kinds of resources definitely excite my inner researcher. Browsing through them, however, has also gotten me thinking about how well we've prepared the general public to take advantage of these kinds of resources.

The Wireless Computer Watch Sure, it's a little bulky, and sure it's not exactly very pretty to look at, but it has Linux, built-in GPS, and a fiberglass-reinforced nylon/magnesium alloy case that can withstand almost anything.

Barack Obama's resounding keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention was his introduction to the American public and political scene. His message of togetherness, political accountability and individual responsibility made him an overnight sensation and a serious candidate for more prestigious office at a time when he was just a state senator from Illinois. The national convention was the ideal stage for a young (politically speaking) ambitious politician bent on perfecting the union. Th...

As I sat watching the premiere of Hard Times at Douglass High, a few thoughts came to mind during and after the documentary. For starters, the entire documentary parallels the 1989 docudrama, Lean on Me, which starred Morgan Freeman as Joe Clarke, principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. The movie revolves around Clarke's efforts to save Eastside High from state takeover if students failed to pass the basic minimum skills test. There are eer...

I'm the new guy. New to the city, new to graphic design, new to the EdLab. Nine months ago I left a lucrative but tedious job as an electrical contractor in my hometown of Seattle to relocate and study graphic design. After experiencing the American marvel that is New York City, I fear that I may never feel fully content in any other place but here... My first two weeks here at the EdLab have been positive leaps as well. What I've enjoyed most about my experience thus far has been the approachable, receptive nature of the program. I've worked on numerous projects already, from Ian's animation-heavy brainchild Future Imperfect to collaborating with Chia-Ling to brand and advertise an upcoming series of art exhibitions. I've been able to get a few bites of everything.

Of the three branches of the U. S. government, the most interesting and reclusive is the judicial branch: the Supreme Court. The road one takes to warm a seat on the Supreme Court is one of the great mysteries of American government. Under the federal system, the Supreme Court is the last court of appeals. A decision by the Supreme Court is the final word on that matter, though Congress has occasionally passed laws in response to a Supreme Court decision. There are no constitutional or statutory qualifications for serving on the Supreme Court. Article III, Section I, of our constitution states...