Problem solving 1

Welcome to the new academic year!

I have 4 English groups in Hagabergs folkhögskola and we're using this Google Classroom:
English for B1-B2 users 2017-8 (@hagaberg.org account required)

Hopefully there'll be lots of problems and mistakes that lead to learning which for us equals success.

Many factors prevent us from solving problems and perhaps the biggest is that we fail to actually see what the problem really is - hence the Einstein quote.

Instead of rushing to offer solutions, our first English exercise is to describe some problems and then look at them to see if we can redefine them or get to the root of them.

We are collecting problems to work on: Problems. There's an assignment linked to it in our Google classroom: Redefining and solving problems where everyone chooses someone else's problem and tries to redefine it and offer possible solutions.

A reading exercise is included in this topic based on an article by Sabina Nawaz in Harvard Business Review: The Problem with Saying “Don’t Bring Me Problems, Bring Me Solutions”

Psychological testing week

Inspired by a student presentation last month on introvert and extrovert personality types, this week we're trying out some psychological tests.

Online tests in English are a language challenge and introduce new vocabulary and concepts.

It will be interesting to see if our personalities change when using a second language.

We need to evaluate the tests themselves - do they reveal anything about ourselves? Is there any scientific basis to them?

Finally, there are issues around privacy - some tests want your email address. We will use services like nada or TempMail to avoid giving away personal information to third parties.

Here are some tests to try out:

Jung Typology Test based on Carl Jung’s and Isabel Briggs Myers’ personality type theory.

IPIP Big-Five Factor Markers based on the best accepted and most commonly used model of personality in academic psychology.

Open Extended Jungian Type Scales 1.2 - a highly accurate alternative to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

When you've done a test, learn more about the different types of personality being described by these indicators:

16Personalities.com - personality types - an accessible way to learn about the different 4 letter combinations you get from a Briggs Myers test.

The Five Factor Model - the easiest introduction to the IPIP big 5 markers I could find.

Tuesday 4th April - interesting lecture at Södertörn

If you're interested in privacy, data and surveillance, why not come along to this lecture?

Lina Dencik: From Surveillance Realism to Data Justice

I'm catching the 12:10 bus from school - you're welcome to join me and you can borrow an SL card too.

Here's a different lecture by Lina Dencik to give you a feel for way she teaches and the subject matter:

Good hydrations

As the weather gets warmer, we need to drink more in order to keep ourselves properly hydrated.

But how much do we need to drink and what should we drink?

The results of our research will be published here soon...

International Women's Day 2017

On Wednesday 8th March, we celebrated International Women's Day by composing a shared document containing portraits of great women who inspire us in different ways.

You can see the students' work in sal 15, hanging on the wall or here:

Great Women

Omnitasking

This week we're working with the following interesting news story:

How much pee is in our swimming pools?

As we have access to computers for the first time this term, it's presentation time!!!

Create a presentation using Google Slides. Share it with your teacher. Use the presentation to present something you think we all should know. Really good if you can link it to your profile classwork (e.g. leadership, higher studies, art and culture or global questions).

A short presentation - it's that simple!