A CASE OF THE WORLD: CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITHIN NATURAL SCIENCE

Barry Robinson, PhDEngaging in Promising Practices ConferenceSouth Seattle Community College

INTRODUCTION

Aristotle ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.’

INTRODUCTION

Aristotle ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.’

Johann Gottfried Von Herder ‘Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.’

INTRODUCTION

Aristotle ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.’

Johann Gottfried Von Herder ‘Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.’

St. Clement of Alexandra ‘If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.’

DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences.  These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.  It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

University of Oregon, 2015

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

HOW DOES THE US COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

51st in the quality of mathematics and science

HOW DOES THE US COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

51st in the quality of mathematics and science

5th in overall competiveness (and declining)

[World Economic Forum, 2014 Report]

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HOW DOES THE US COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

51st in the quality of mathematics and science

5th in overall competiveness (and declining) 27th in developed nations in the

proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in engineering and science

HOW DOES THE US COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

51st in the quality of mathematics and science

5th in overall competiveness (and declining) 27th in developed nations in the proportion of

college students receiving undergraduate degrees in engineering and science

Foreign graduate students out number US

HOW DOES THE US COMPARE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

51st in the quality of mathematics and science

5th in overall competiveness (and declining) 27th in developed nations in the proportion of

college students receiving undergraduate degrees in engineering and science

Foreign graduate students out number US Over 2/3 of the engineers receiving a

PhD are non-US citizens

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

Brain-Based Teaching Praise the effort, not the outcome Educators teach learning strategies

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

Brain-Based Teaching Praise the effort, not the outcome Educators teach learning strategies

Game-Based Learning Game structure mirrors the learning

process Harvard, MIT and others, achievement and

engagement

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

Brain-Based Teaching Praise the effort, not the outcome Educators teach learning strategies

Game-Based Learning Game structure mirrors the learning process Harvard, MIT and others, achievement and engagement

Power of Perseverance Failure is an opportunity to learn and

improve Important life skills for students

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

Brain-Based Teaching Praise the effort, not the outcome Educators teach learning strategies

Game-Based Learning Game structure mirrors the learning process Harvard, MIT and others, achievement and engagement

Power of Perseverance Failure is an opportunity to learn and improve Important life skills for students

Questioning Homework Homework = rigor or busy work Downtime + social interaction = success

TRENDS IN EDUCATION

Brain-Based Teaching Praise the effort, not the outcome Educators teach learning strategies

Game-Based Learning Game structure mirrors the learning process Harvard, MIT and others, achievement and engagement

Power of Perseverance Failure is an opportunity to learn and improve Important life skills for students

Questioning Homework Homework = rigor or busy work Downtime + social interaction = success

Cultivating Creativity Unique human quality Design thinking, think for yourself, brainstorm

and execute

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness Assess the diversity climate of the

school

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness Assess the diversity climate of the

school Begin a diversity interest group

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness Assess the diversity climate of the

school Begin a diversity interest group Develop diversity goals

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness Assess the diversity climate of the

school Begin a diversity interest group Develop diversity goals Create a simple diversity mission

statement

DIRECTIONS FOR ACADEMICS

Celebrate differences Highlight cultural awareness

Assess the diversity climate of the school

Begin a diversity interest group Develop diversity goals Create a simple diversity mission

statement

NATURAL SCIENCE VS SOCIAL SCIENCE Natural science, a science (such as

physics, chemistry, or biology) that studies the physical and natural world or the events that happen in nature

NATURAL SCIENCE VS SOCIAL SCIENCE Natural science, a science (such as

physics, chemistry, or biology) that studies the physical and natural world or the events that happen in nature

Social science, a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

NATURAL SCIENCE VS SOCIAL SCIENCE

NATURAL SCIENCE VS SOCIAL SCIENCE

ACTIVITY I Mr. Ngo has decided to see the doctor after his family forced him to get checked out after passing out at a family function.   The doctor asks why he has come to visit and Mr. Ngo reluctantly mentions that his family forced him to because a mishap that

happened the other day. After inquiring a little more, Mr. Ngo goes into details about the situation that his family is concerned about. He mentioned that while he was eating dinner during the family reunion he passed out for a moment but he was feeling better now so it was no big deal.

  As Mr. Ngo tells his side of the story, the doctor reviews the vitals taken at the beginning of the office visit and notices that Mr.

Ngo’s blood pressure was recorded at 167/105 and his heart rate was rapid. The doctor inquires is Mr. Ngo feels okay after noticing the he was beginning to sweat profusely. Mr. Ngo reports that he is a little nerve about being in the doctor’s office but other than that he was fine.

  The doctor asks Mr. Ngo if he taking any medication for his high blood pressure with a ‘NO’ as a quick response. The doctor states

that there is nothing wrong with taking medication to assist when our body needs assistance. Mr. Ngo nods and relaxes a bit as the doctor asks more questions about his medical history.

  Mr. Ngo admits that he use to smoke but now he is in the process of quitting but sometimes forgets to take his medication. The

doctor asks what type of medicine he is taking to assist in quitting. NicoDerm CQ, which is a step process over several week and he is stuck on the first step. Mr. Ngo believes that the medicine is too weak so he has been doubling up on wearing the patch for about two weeks. Mr. Ngo admits that he cannot think about his medication because it makes his mouth water. The doctor makes notes and continues to ask questions about his medical history; which reveals that last week Mr. Ngo has had a bad bout with diarrhea and vomiting after eating savory foods even though he has lost his appetite.

  In the final stages of obtaining a medical history, the doctor asks if Mr. Ngo has had any other strange problems or problems that

out of the normal. He mentions that he occasionally has problems hearing what people are saying and he does not know if that is because he has been told that he slurs his speech recently.

    What would your diagnosis and treatment be for Mr. Ngo?

ACTIVITY II Mr. Inoke Semi has been on prediabetic for over 8 years but has recently been feeling slightly different. A brief exchange of information about his life

style and history, you confirm some information while learning additional information that may or may not assist you in making an accurate diagnosis. Mr.Semi mentions that he has a family history of diabetes and he realizes that he is not taking good care of himself by watching what he eats and has been skipping out on exercising daily like his physician has recommended four years ago, which was the last time he saw a physician.

  You decide to take his vitals and they reveal that he is 6’5 and weighs 275 pounds with a BMI of 33, which places him in the obese range. His blood

pressure is a little high (i.e. 180/94), his glucose levels are low (i.e. 58 mg/dL; previously recorded at 185 mg/dL), his potassium levels were 6.9 mmol/L and his blood cortisol levels were conflicting with previous records in his medical records which showed that his levels were elevated (i.e. 37 mcg/dL) while current result is opposite (i.e. 2 mcg/dL).

  You inquire more about Mr. Semi’s history and he reveals that he had been in the hospital while on vacation a month ago in the Canary Islands with his

family. He was working on his uncle’s house when he lost his footing and fell off his uncle’s two-story house and hit the back of head in the base of the skull. He ended up with a mild concussion and ended up staying in the hospital for several days before being released.

  As you gather more information, he reveals that prior to the accident at his uncle’s house he could not sleep longer than two hours at a time and felt

drained/fatigued, which he blamed on his lack of good sleep. He also noticed that he bruised easily and had these wide purple-red striae over his abdomen and a few other areas on his body. Since he was not sleeping well, he believed that caused the acne that he is still dealing with but he is currently taking some acne medication for that. The only other thing that seems out of place over the last few weeks is the recent development of several dark patches, which are not bruises but just patches of located on his inner thigh and lower back. Strangely enough, those areas with the dark patches are slightly sensitive and tender.

  Being confused, you immediately order a head and abdominal region MRI for Mr. Semi. The results ultimately reveal nothing. There was some evidence of

scaring in the area of the hypothalamus, which could have occurred during the accident that Mr. Semi mentioned while in the Canary Islands.   Several days later, Mr. Semi calls the emergency room hotline to ask for suggestions for dealing with severe nausea and vomiting episodes that he has

been experiencing. The Hotline Nurse tells Mr. Semi to immediately report to the nearest hospital.       What is your diagnosis and treatment for Mr. Semi?    

ACTIVITY III Ms. LealaIzquierdois a 32-year old business administrator at Seattle City Lights; she stands 5’10 and has long black silky shoulder

length hair. She would be considered tall and slender with amazing features, which are only enhanced by her sophisticated glasses. Part of Ms. Izquierdo’s job is to maintain the assembly line is working properly and up to speed. One section of the company requires the use of a full body hazmat suit for protection from the harmful chemical vapors that are generated in that department. Unfortunately, last week, she was rushed to the hospital after passing out during a meeting that followed her touring the hazardous section of the company.

  Within a few weeks from the incident that caused her to be rushed to the hospital, she noticed that she had a weird rash on the

backs of her thighs that resembled stretch marks. In addition, she noticed an occasional tenderness in her abdominal region located on the lower right. During the episodes of tenderness, Ms. Izquierdo becomes nauseated by the pain associated each episode. After the forth episode, she became concerned and went to her family physician. Her physician immediately ordered a CT scan, which comes back negative with no inflammation of the appendix and therefore she was not experiencing appendicitis. He prescribes that she needs to drink clear cold water slowly and at least 32 ounces daily and eat light meals. Her conditions cleared up and she no longer tours the biohazard section of the company any more.

  Several months later while in a very emotional meeting with a contract company, she begins to feel like her chest has a ton of weight

pressing down on her causing her to have shortness of breath but she shakes it off. Shortly after she felt better, she became dizzy and almost fainted; and she felt herself beginning to sweat so she signals her assistant to call company nurse and have him meet her in her office. Upon checking her vitals, the nurse noticed that her heart was beating rather fast (i.e.tachycardia) with a slight murmur. Ms. Izquierdo dismisses the nurse’s comments and states that she is fine. She storms down the hall to get back to the meeting. As she rushed down the hall, she became dizzy and fell halfway down the hall. EMS arrived and took Ms. Izquierdo to Virginia Mason where she was admitted for observation after the doctor detected (i.e. an echocardiogram) irregular heartbeat, which suggests that she has a defective tricuspid valve. The other tests result did not reveal much with the exception of the low levels of endothelial factors, which is associated with auto-regulation of local blood vessels. Ms. Izquierdo demands to be released and blames her flat footedness, lanky body-frame and being extremely clumsy as a solution to her falling at work. The doctor politely states that this is the best option for her at the moment and she childishly agrees to stay.

    What are the patient’s diagnoses and treatment(s)?

CONCLUSION

Aristotle ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.’

Johann Gottfried Von Herder ‘Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.’

St. Clement of Alexandra ‘If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.’

THANK YOU…