Learn Like a Sponge - Skepticality

Dr. Jeremy Friedberg

Learn Like a Sponge

Interview: Dr. Jeremy Friedberg founder of Sponge Lab

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The landscape of education is changing at a pace which might be considered 'warp speed'. With tools like Google and Wikipedia, along with a more tech savvy population new hurdles and challenges face professors and teachers at all levels. Computerized, online media is where many are turning for good resources and content. This week Derek sits down with Dr. Jeremy Friedberg, the founder and president of Spongelab, an online community which bills itself as "A Global Science Community". This community is full of resources, digital media, educational computer games, lesson plans and more aimed at professors, and teachers to further enhance and help them inform and get students excited about learning the beauty of science and the real world. Best part, all the content is free to use for any educator. Find out more about how one company is making sure that science and the real world are communicated in the most effective manner in our modern, cyber-enhanced world.

Show Notes

– Date – June 5, 2012
– Send your cool ‘SCIENCE!’ shout-outs to
.
– Theme song by Steve Seamans of the Daisy Dillman Band. Get the song HERE.
– Thank you to everyone who has been purchasing books, Skepticality stuff, or using our Amazon link to help us out!

Skepticism, Past and Future

– Mary Sue Hubbard was born June 17, 1931 and was prominent in Scientology.
– Russell Miller was born June 17, 1938 and wrote a biography of L.Ron Hubbard.
– The origin of the word bunkum (and hence, debunk) was covered in Skepticality #176.
– Henry K. Beecher’s key paper “The Powerful Placebo” was first presented June 7, 1955.
– Google Knowledge Graph was introduced for U.S. users in May, and shows many skeptic influences.
– James Randi in particular pops up now when you search for several prominent psychics.
– Learn more about skeptic editing of Wikipedia at Tim’s blog.
– Skeptic History facts are posted daily on social media find out where on this page at Tim’s blog.

Unnatural Virtue

– “The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers“
– Ad hominem in The Skeptic’s Dictionary and in Unnatural Acts that can improve your thinking
– Rupert Sheldrake’s psychic parrot: N’kisi & the N’kisi Project
– Ad hominem defense of Steven F. Hayward’s “Climategate” arguments
– On logical fallacies in The Skeptic’s Dictionary.
– The Skeptic’s Dictionary
– Unnatural Acts: Critical Thinking, Skepticism, and Science Exposed!

The Odds Must Be Crazy

– The Odds Must Be Crazy
– This week’s featured story is “Shirley You Can’t Be Serious“
– Story was submitted by friend of the blog, Ross Blocher of Oh No, Ross and Carrie!
– Ross Blocher designed The Odds Must Be Crazy’s logo.
– Please visit the story link for a more detailed analysis and to add your comments
– Additional thoughts and considerations provided by Barbara Drescher
– Our producer and audio engineer is Brian Hart
– Our theme music comes to us courtesy of Brian Keith Dalton, AKA Mr. Deity.
– Please visit The Independent Investigations Group Los Angeles.
– The Odds Must Be Crazy can be found on:
Twitter at http://twitter.com/OddsMustBeCrazy
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheOddsMustBeCrazy
Google+ at http://plus.google.com/110529024173364131720/
Wendy Hughes is on Twitter http://twitter.com/Wendy91602
Jarrett Kaufman is on Twitter http://twitter.com/TurboFool
Barbara Drescher is on Twitter http://twitter.com/badrescher
Brian Hart is on Twitter http://twitter.com/Zaphod900
Brian Keith Dalton is on Twitter http://twitter.com/MrDeity

SpongeLab – Dr. Jeremy Friedberg

– Jeremy founded and runs SpongeLab – A Global Science Community.
– You can explore all forms of FREE science content and lessons.
– Using Dragons to teach genetics and breeding is just fun!
– Spongelab won awards for thier ‘Build a Body‘ interactive puzzle game.
– “The History of Biology” game is a massive internet based exploration of factual science history.
– Learning just how fast the systems in our bodies actually get their jobs done in “Transcription Hero” is a great lesson in a game.
– If you are curious to interact with Spongelab, you can start with their ‘Practical Guide‘.

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