Reflection #13

Vietnam and China

            Through week thirteen we discussed the differences between Vietnam and China.  Collectively, we put differences and similarities on the board in a graph format.  Given our discussion and outcomes, we realized that both nations have many similarities, however, remain different in many aspects as well.  Given the square area of both Vietnam and China, both nations have extremely high populations.  Also, the majority of these populations are living in poverty.  The wealth is very uneven, and distributed to the upper class.  In both Vietnam and China, the very poor, lower class is farmers or work in the sweat shops and factories.  Another large similarity between Vietnam and China are the set up of each government.  Both are socialist nations and have some communism spread throughout each of their long histories.  One extreme difference between these two nations is the substances that each nation import and export.  Both have large wealth as a whole and are able to trade with the rest of the industrialized world.  China is in fact the nation that the United States holds its greatest debt.  This debt is now in the trillions of dollars.

Reflection #12

 

Local Initiatives—Case of Curitiba

            The lecture from Thursday was very interesting and educational at the same time.  The sustainable cities video clip from you tube made a lot of sense.  The sustainable cities, including the small South American city of Curitiba have interesting designs with regards to their infrastructure and transportation systems.  The transportation systems of sustainable cities include many highway systems entering the busy section of the downtown.  This design helps reduce traffic thus combats the pollution from carbon monoxide into the surrounding atmosphere.  These cities also have an intricate subway and bus system.  This also reduces traffic and pollution.  I felt that this idea of a true sustainable city is amazing.  This should really be considered throughout the rest of the world and especially the United States.  The you tube lecture made it a point that planning for a true sustainable city should be efficient and affordable.  The man given the lecture was clear in stating that the cost of sustainability is minimal. The true price is among the people living in the city.  They must grow accustom to new changes that will only benefit the future generations and more importantly the overall growth of the city.   

Reflection #11

Technological Advancement in the Classroom

 

Gabriel’s lecture on technology in the classroom forced us to create a dialogue with one another with regards to areas of the classroom that use technology to increase the learning of the students.  We came to a conclusion that they are many positives and negatives to living in a world that brings some many technological advances to the classroom.  Some of the things or items that we discovered that were helpful included the projector, the computers, and the internet.  We are able to use the internet to watch youtube videos that enhance the learning process by giving the topics being discussed a visual appeal.  It also relates the topics to real life situations and scenarios.  The projector and the computers all play a role in this as well.  However, one might argue that these items such as the internet and the computer may leave students dependent on these technologies.  With a constant use of things such as power point slides and the internet the students will sometimes assume that this is the norm for all of their classes.  Some teachers might wish to stick to their old school methods and simply lecture and write on the chalkboard.  If students are dependent on the technologies of the internet and computers, they will be more likely to be interested in a course taught by a teacher who does not use these methods.

Reflection #10

Reflection # 10

 

Dr. Smith Lecture

 

The lecture from last Tuesday was interesting to say the least.  Dr. Smith although somewhat ancient seemed to be very passionate about what he was talking about.  This made the lecture interesting and humorous.  If he slammed his fist on the desk one more time, I would have laughed myself out of my seat.  The overall theme of his lecture was very confusing and did not make a whole lot of sense.  I felt as if I were in 3^rd grade again by the way he stood up there and read the power point slides.  However, the overall lecture was entertaining because of his passion for his topic of discussion. Dr. Smith made the possibly boring topic that made no sense at all an interesting one because his enthusiasm for the topic. 

Reflection #8

Nuclear Power and the Inequalities

 

Throughout class discussion this week the class discussed topics focused around nuclear power and weapons throughout the United States as well as the world.  One question that was ongoing was the idea that it was okay to produce and manufacture nuclear power in the United States.  Nuclear power in the United States however is extremely prevalent.  It is in fact the dominating country in nuclear power across the globe.  The signs of it decreasing in popularity are extremely thin.  Many Americans tend to fear nuclear power because they believe it has the potential to be harmful.  It can potentially be extremely harmful; however, the precautions that must be taken to produce and manufacture nuclear power are taken very seriously.  The other issue discussed in class was the policing of nuclear weapons the United States claims to have over other nations such as North Korea and Iran.  Iran for example has been attempting to gain nuclear power for decades.  The United States claims that if given the capabilities of nuclear warfare Iran would be potentially dangerous.  With the current government that is running the country of Iran they are several potential dangers that come along with nuclear power.  The argument however is does America as a world power have the authority to regulate nuclear weapons across the globe.

Reflection #7

Gender Issues and Technology

 

Through week 7 on the syllabus we discussed many different issues in technology related to gender.  Throughout the discussions many ideas and concepts were discussed including science and gender and women and innovation.  The innovative concepts discussed that were related to women included transportation and informational types of technology.  One specific part of the lecture brought up the discussion about a woman named Dame ‘Steve’ Shirley.  She was a woman who changed her name to Steve to see what kind of response it would get when she applied for jobs and did fundraising activities.  Not to her surprise, she was able to receive many more benefits and rewards due to a simple name change.  However, it was not just a simple name change; it was to that of a man.  Although this may seem like such a simple task for a woman to simply change her name, the effects that occurred after the change made it an incredibly innovative and powerful move on her part.  The main focus of her bold statement of changing her name to Steve was to solely see the effects on how it changed the perspective of the workforce she was in.  One thing is for sure, as the technology in this country advances, so does the opportunities for women increase to succeed and become more innovative in the workforce.

Reflection #5

Distributive Justice

In class this week, the class touched base on the idea of distributive justice. Throughout the discussion we developed many different feelings and opinions about the different theories for and related to distributive justice. One viewpoint that many distributive justice theorists argue is the libertarian point of view. This idea suggests that there should be an equal distribution of rights among citizens of a nation or country. This theory holds views that are immensely strong against the involvement of the government. However, funding for science and technology is looked upon as something that should be funded by the government, in such libertarian views. The center of this policy is the concern for individual rights, and the human rights of each individual. Thus meaning that the conditions of the individuals’ rights are at the center of what is important in a libertarian society. The next theory or view that we discussed in class was the idea of utilitarianism. This idea pushes for the greatest good for the greatest number. It focuses on the total happiness for the overall group, not focusing on each individual. It is stated in this theory that economic growth on a national level will always help the poor.

Outline

Topic: I would like to research and discuss on an intellectual level the oil situation in the Middle East.  To my understanding this is a situation where countries such as Dubai and the United States thrive off of the billion dollars a year industry while the rest of the Middle East lies in the third world.  This issue is an example of path dependency as well as technological momentum.  With this in mind, I feel that it would be apparent to choose this for a topic.

 

Research Methods:

           

Website Articles: CNN, NBC, New York Times

ASU Library:  Scholarly journals and articles

Class related material: Discussion board, blogs, lectures, readings

 

Outline

 

I.                   Introduction

1.      Thesis Statement:  The overall global effects of the oil industry are luxurious and lavish to some; however the outcomes can be detrimental and catastrophic to some many more.

2.      Attention Getter:  Facts, data, short story

3.      Introduce the overall theme of the paper

a.       Methods

b.      Researched facts

c.       Summarization of main points

II.                Body

1.      Negative impact of the oil industry

a.       Who, What, and How—Individuals and Nations

b.      Discuss material learned in class—path dependency and technological momentum

2.      Positive ideologies connected to the oil industry

a.       Who, What, and how—Individual and Nations

b.      Discuss and provide facts making the case siding with the oil industry

3.      Possible idea for a change

a.       Research what has been done to change the way things are going

b.      Research ways in which could possibly change how things are.

4.      Provide the framework

a.       Path dependency

b.      Technological momentum

III.             Conclusion

1.      Summarize main points

2.      Reform thesis statement

3.      Close paper

 

Relection #4

Technological Momentum and Path Dependency

 

            This out this week we discussed the intricacies of technological momentum and path dependency.  It is the technological momentum and path dependency that has shocked the Middle East through means of the oil industry.  The oil industry is the Middle East’s only means of exports and is the sole reason for the nations money struggles.  There is a huge discrepancy between those who run and control these countries and those who work in the oil fields and represent the lower class.  It is the lower class that represents the majority of the population and suffers from the drastic damages of path dependency.  It is the path dependency of these nations that has kept them in this vicious cycle for hundreds of years.  Giant corporations and oil companies make billions of dollars in nations such as Dubai and the United States of America. 

            It is nations like Dubai and the United States of America the existence of technological momentum is sufficiently present.  Globally speaking, it is not negative besides the fact that it leaves the other nations so far behind. However, these countries will continue to further their advancement technologically because they have all the power to do so.  Third world nations will continue to fall further behind.

Reflection #4