March 30/16 Blog Discussion

The blog discussion today is short, but please think about it. I'd like each student to be able to discuss at least 4 of the suggested topics below. You can also add different advice you might want to give, as long as you have four good points to discuss. Be ready to ask questions to other people too.

If you could go back in time and speak to your younger self, what advice would you give?

eg. something you should not do, something you should do, someone you should/shouldn't meet, somewhere you should/shouldn't go, something you should/shouldn't buy, etc. Make sure to think of more than just these examples.

March 23 2016 Discussion!

Please watch the entire video by clicking http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35631265

It is about 4 and a half minutes and is about food.

Also, please think about these questions.

1) What do you know about 3D printing? Is there a place that you can 3D print in your home city?
2) Do you think 3D printing and food go together? Why or why not?
3) Do you think this technology will reduce the number of chef jobs?
4) What other profession is technology entering these days?
5) Do you enjoy gourmet food or do you think it is a waste of money?
6) Would you eat this 3D printed food? Would you pay more for it? Why?

Wed, March 13 2016 blog discussion

Please read the article posted below. We will talk about this in class. There are no questions to prepare for. I will give these out in class.

Remember your reading strategy. Read one with no dictionary. Read again with a dictionary. Then read again however you would like.

See you in class!

A man in Britain can see again because of a new bionic eye. Ray Flynn, 80, became the first patient in the world to get the new device, which is an artificial retina. Mr Flynn suffers from a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is one of the most common problems with eyesight around the world. Flynn started losing his sight ten years ago. Doctors told him eight years ago that he had AMD. From that time, his sight became worse and worse. It became so bad that he could only see things out of the corners of his eyes. Everything in the centre of his eyes was blurred and he could not see shapes properly. He said that even looking at simple things made him very tired.

Mr Flynn's bionic eye cost $125,000. Britain's national health service hopes the cost of the operation will come down. This means many more people will be able to have the operation for free. Flynn had the surgery last month. Doctors spent four hours putting a microchip in the back of his eye. Doctors are very happy with the operation, which they said was a success. Flynn can now read a newspaper and admire the flowers in his garden for the first time in many years. His doctor, professor Paulo Stanga, said: "Mr Flynn's progress is truly remarkable. He is seeing the outline of people and objects very effectively." Professor Stanga hopes scientists can also help people who have been blind from birth.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3169864/Eye-sight-breakthrough-thousands-UK-scientists-invent-BIONIC-EYE-save-sight-80-year-old.html#ixzz3gYzWtYRM

Wed, March 9, 2016 Blog Discussion!

Please read the following article about a 10 year old model, look up any words you do not know, and be ready to discuss the questions below. See you in class!

Matthew

Discussion Questions

With your partner, discuss the following questions. Feel free to ask any follow-on questions you like.

1.      When you first looked at this article, read the title and saw the pictures, what were your initial thoughts?  Do you find the pictures disturbing?

2.      What is your opinion of Thylane’s parents?  Are they doing anything wrong? 

Do they deserve to be criticized?  Are they bad parents?

 

3.      What do you think life is like for a 10 year old supermodel? 

Do you think she enjoys her career?  Would you?  

4.      What do you think Thylane’s life will be like ten or twenty years from now? 

Will she still be modeling?  Will she be rich, successful and happy? 

5.      Is it good for a child to have a career?  Is it healthy?  Will they thank their parents for the opportunity or will they resent their lost childhood when they grow up? 

6.      Would you encourage your child to be a model?  What about a child actor or singer?    Why/why not?  What if you were offered a lot of money? 

7.      What is a good age for someone to start their first job?  How old were you when you started yours?  How did you feel?  How did you spend your wages?

8.      Did you have any special talents when you were young?  How did you use them?