Another Breakthrough...Happiness and Inquiry...

WHAT AM I DOING TO HELP KIDS ACHIEVE?

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THEY ARE THERE?

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?

     I heard a cool TED podcast.  There is a guy looking at the science of happiness. (LINK)  He has people download an app on their cell phone.  Once a week he asks them some questions about what they are doing, how they feel, if they are tired or hungry..etc...He gets about 35000 responses in a month and uses some high powered programs to look for relationships.  Guess what is the number one idea that affects our happiness...the ability to focus.  It does not matter if you are changing a diaper, stuck in traffic or talking to a friend.  If you are focused, you are happy.  The flip side is that it seems if you are not focused, then you are not happy.  Take a minute to think about when and what makes you happy.  Are you focused during that time?  Probably.  So what does this have to do with inquiry.....

     Our brains have the ability to do some amazing things.  We have the ability to wonder.  We can say "what if".  It helps us think outside the box and be creative.  What happens when we go too far?  What happens when we get stuck?  Our minds wonder...we get frustrated...welcome to inquiry.  How many times have people said they hate science?  It is frustrating...hard to focus?

     So here is what I think I might be able to do to have students survive inquiry and not totally hate the process.  First, try to stay focused.  Second, trust the process (the scientific process).  Third, stay healthy.

     On another note we are now doing our "wonderings" in the Miami class.  I definitely want to do something with the internet, flipped assignments and being part of the kids network.  I think there is some possibility there.