Search form

Back to Blog

Site Seeks to Overhaul Academic Review

Internet startup Academia.edu is moving forward with plans to change the way scientists publish papers, thanks to a second round of funding the company has recieved.

Flush with just over $11 million in capital, Academia is inching closer to its goal of publishing all scientific papers while simultaneously changing the way the peer-review porcess works. Currently, researchers must submit their papers to any of a number of academic journals. The journals then hand the papers over to a different researcher to review before deciding if they have merit and are worthy of publication. Under the Academia.edu model, those same papers would be reviewed by peers on the site, similar to Facebook.

"The goal is to have every single science PDF ever written available for free on the Internet and to build a network of scientists interacting with those papers that will change the face of peer review," the San Francisco-based company told CNet of its mission.

More

Obsessed?

I have one student~ who lives and breathes fishing. He knows more about different types of fish~ fishing gear~ and fishing conditions than most adults. He has read dozens of books and magazines on the subject~ written his own E-book on fishing~ and serves as a fishing guide for his father and other family members.

I think its safe to say hes obsessed with fishing.

In fact~ it can be quite common for gifted children and those highly curious and enthusiastic about...

Enrichment: Remember our Veterans

  1. Monday, November 11, 2013 is Veterans Day in the USA. Use the day to remind students of the etching on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.:Freedom Isn't Free. Use class time to ask about Veterans in the lives of our students; share storiesabout Veterans in your life.
  2. Veterans Day is a time to respect, reflect, and remember not only those who made the...

Enrichment: Twitter Manners

  1. Manners always matter; they help us negotiate complex and simple relationships. Manners serve as the guardrails for society. The internet too has guardrails to keep us from falling into trouble. In a recent infographic by Donna Queza~ (@twitter.com/donnaqueza)~ the following simple and essential Twitter Manners were highlighted for us to share with our students.
  2. 1. Don't ignore someone when he/she talks about you-even if it uncomplimentary.
  3. Think of Twitter as a...

Enlightenment: Difficult People

  1. As the Head of a High School, I am linked to situations that require me to address the behavior of difficult people. Some of these people are internal constituents, while others are external. The internal ones often leave the greatest scars on themselves and the culture of the school as they seek alliances and attempt to create enemies. Sadly, this is a reality of leadership.
  2. To address culture killers within an institution, I suggest the following seven tips:
  3. 1....

One Plus One Equals Success

"If we want them to achieve, we must link them with achievers....One plus one--Pass it on."
(H. Weinberg, The Public Television Outreach Alliance)

Sometimes my students simply amaze me.

I teach a second-grader, who is a full-blown animal lover. Last year, she collected supplies for the Humane Society. She devours books, often one per day, that have dogs and other animals in them. As part of her gifted project, she established a dog washing club in her...

Brattleboro Area Middle School: An...

After spending a day at Brattleboro Area Middle School (BAMS) in Vermont, Im considering how my career path could overlap with living in this district. It isnt likely, but my point is that I want my future hypothetical children to go to exactly this kind of school and as a resident, I would want my local tax dollars to support this type of institution and all the amazing professionals that educate and care for the students in it.

BAMS...

Enlightenment: Flow

  1. Flow is what MihalyCsikszentmihalyicalls a mental state of operation in which a person is fully immersed and focused in what he/she is doing. This is the central point of gaming. Flow involves full mental engagement in a process or activity. It is the ideal between boredom and anxiety or frustration. Csikszentmihalyi indicates eight components that make flow possible. Here are the eight components that align well with gamification of ideas in education.
  2. 1. Achievable Task
  3. ...

TEACHING KIDS THAT THEY HAVE A HISTORY...

TEACHING KIDS THAT THEY HAVE A HISTORY USING THEIR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TOY

When you think of your childhood~ does one toy or stuffed animal or other item~ comes to mine? Mine was Pinkie. Pinkie is beige(so go figure the name I chose as a little girl). My mom had to sew her eyes and nose back on a number of times and the stuffing got squashed when I dropped it in the street and a car ran after it before my dad heroically rescued Pinkie for me.

In the beginning of...

ADL Offers Bullying Webinars

ADLParents and educators are encouraged to participate in a series of free webinars provided by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that help to educate on the effects of prejudice and bullying on children.

The ADL belives that by educating parents and teachers about anti-hate values, children can be more educated and open-minded when it comes to living their lives. By...

Surfing into the Record Books! News...

In the news. Here is a short activity to start a class.

I can't even imagine surfing down such a wave of water!


Burle has surfed into the record books by hanging ten down a wall of water estimated to be 100 ft. tall! The beach at Nazare, Portugal,Praia do Norte, is famous for their REALLY big waves and Burle hit the jackpot thanks to the St. Jude storm that had recently hit the European area. Currently, the record for surfing the biggest wave, was done by Garret...

Pages