Opportunity #1:
Article Title: Pols must grasp why teachers oppose testing
Article Link:
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166C47BAF0C02DC8?p=WORLDNEWS
Description of the Story: Author Marion Brady is discussing his opinion that special interests have gotten too involved in our education system and that standardized testing is not effective at all. He believes that standardized testing is intentionally made so that many students in our education system will fail, causing people to lose faith in public education and want to move to more privatized education, which would not work in Brady's opinion.
Description of the Problem: Standardized testing is not an effective way to evaluate a student's performance in school. I pulled a quote that I believe best explains the root of the issue: "Schooling's bottom-line purpose isn't to master the contents of school subjects but to improve learner ability to think clearly and productively - to abstract, adduce, analyze, anticipate, articulate and so on. Thinking clearly and productively exercises dozens of thought processes, only two of which standardized tests are able to measure - learner ability to recall secondhand information, and apply it to a problem chosen by the writer of a test item."
Who has the Problem: The public school system has the problem, but our students suffer as a result, so indirectly it is also our nation's children that have the problem.
Opportunity #2:
Article Title: Why cities flood: Could Orlando look like Houston if Irma hits?
Article Link:
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166BF536689396A8?p=WORLDNEWS
Description of the Story: Author Michael Rich describes the way that cities are built, specifically Orlando, and why they are susceptible to extreme flooding.
Description of the Problem: In a suburban or rural area, there are lots of areas that have open fields and normal ground where lots of water can be absorbed. In a city however, there are "many impervious surfaces like pavement, concrete and rooftops that do not allow water to soak into the ground."
Who has the Problem: Cities in general, but for Orlando it is St. Johns River Water Management District that is directly facing the problem.
Opportunity #3:
Article Title: More Resources Needed for Problem Gambling
Article Link:
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/1625C65FFA818A00?p=WORLDNEWS
Description of the Story: Local casinos are dealing with increased problems with gambling addictions. Local counseling centers designed to help those with gambling issues are having trouble keeping up with the mass quantity of addicted gamblers.
Description of the Problem: The local area has some casinos which has drawn in a lot of people with gambling problems. Centers designed to help individuals with gambling addictions are already having trouble supporting all these people. Soon, a new casino is being built in town that will be bigger than the rest. This will only enhance the problem and rehabilitation centers are concerned that the new casino will entice their clients to gamble.
Who has the Problem: People with gambling addictions and companies designed to help those who have problems with gambling.
Opportunity #4:
Article Title: Miami Lawyer Whose Pants Caught on Fire During Arson Trial May Be Off the Case
Article Link:
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/1632655457E42E30?p=WORLDNEWS
Description of the Story: A lawyer in Miami was in the middle of a case when an E-cigarette that was in his pocket caught on fire and forced him to leave the room. As a result, he may be dismissed from the case. The story then focuses on the safety of E-cigarettes as a whole.
Description of the Problem: E-cigarettes have the potential to set on fire and as a result the U.S Department of Transportation is considering banning them from air travel.
Who has the Problem: E-cigarette companies
Opportunity #5:
Article Title: Sperm donors from South Florida advised not to donate due to Zika risk
Article Link:
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/1631FC48044BE638?p=WORLDNEWS
Description of the Story: The CDC has advised men living in South Florida not to donate sperm because there is an increased risk of spreading Zika. Most people infected with Zika have no idea so it is difficult to reduce the spread. Since sperm donation from Zika-infected males could rapidly increase the spread of the disease, the CDC is doing what it can to prevent it.
Description of the Problem: Sperm banks are experiencing a reduction in the amount of sperm donors due to the spread of Zika and the advice of the CDC
Who has the Problem: Sperm banks in southern Florida
I do agree that standardized testing is not an accurate way to evaluate a student’s performance, but it does help see a range of student’s ability to figure out problems. It can show what students have learned and how to apply it and what they remember. It does not show how smart a student is and should not be used to see if a student should pass a grade or not. Students are suffering tremendously on excelling in their education because of these exams.
ReplyDeleteHey Ryan,
ReplyDeleteYour last article is quite interesting. It brings up the opportunity there is in the medical world. There is so much to be done in that industry and I feel like the opportunities are ever growing. If i was going to create my own business it would definitely be to help people in this way. Zika is has been a problem for years now and we have yet to find a solution. I always wonder, what are the reasons for that?
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteFlorida definitely faces the issue and concern of flooding. Since we are at sea level any excess water or rain can cause flooding and damage to our property. Cities near the coast and in Florida need to find ways to properly drain water in the event of excessive flooding. Earlier this year there were articles about "thirsty concrete" which was plans for a new type of concrete that allowed draining. Hopefully Florida cities implement this change and fix these issues.
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI was actually really interested to read all the local opportunities you found. One I found that caught my eye was the first opportunity you listed about students and standardized testing; I myself experience test anxiety regularly and when I was younger, I always found I did worse on standardized tests just because I was nervous, not because I didn't understand or know the material. I think it's important that people are calling attention to this issue and trying to change it.